The Map
Am Map
Air a’ mhap seo gheibh sibh clàraidhean fuaim. Tha cuid dhiubh mu ainmean-àitean, is e òrain, bàrdachd no sgeulachdan a tha ann am feadhainn eile. Tha iad uile mar fhiosrachadh ionadail agus co-cheangailte ris an fhearann. Ma tha thu a’ tadhal is tu fada air falbh, cluinnidh tu guthan muinntir an àite a’ bruidhinn sa Ghàidhlig, an cànan dùthchasach aca. Tha na h-ainmean-àite cuideachd air an sgrìobhadh sa Ghàidhlig, agus is e sin mar a chanar iad.
On this map you will find placenames and sound recordings. Some of the tracks are of the placenames, others are of songs, poems or stories. All are of local lore and connected to the land. If you’re visiting from afar, you can hear the voices of locals speaking Gaelic, their native language. The placenames have been passed down through generations of people and are a living archive of the relationships with the land that the communities here in Barvas and Bru have had.
Tuath / North
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Hover over images to reveal sound files, and click play to listen.
To zoom in and out, click on map.
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Tuath / North - Sound file Descriptions
1. Cladach Bhrù bho thaobh Àrnoil
Tha Angaidh a’ bruidhinn mu chladhachadh arceòlach a chaidh a dhèanamh o chionn 20 bliadhna an uair a chaidh bann-dùirn a lorg faisg air ceann cnàimhneach nighean òg. Bha seo 2,000 bliadhna a dh’aois. Gheibhear tuilleadh fiosrachaidh mun chladhachadh arceòlach AN SEO.
Angaidh tells of an archaeological dig that took place around twenty years ago where they found a young girl’s skeleton with a bracelet placed next to her head. The finds were two thousand years old. For more information about the archaeological dig see HERE
2. Loch Eirearagh, Loch Urraghag
Tha Angaidh a’ leughadh nan ainmean eadar Loch Eirearagh agus Loch Urraghag.
Angaidh reads the names between Loch Eirearagh and Loch Urraghag.
3. Bodach a’ Chaiseil
Tha Angaidh agus Noraidh a’ bruidhinn mun drochaid a tha a’ dol tarsainn na h-aibhne eadar Brù agus Àrnoil agus ag innse mu na sgeulachdan mu ‘bhodach eagallach’ a bhithte a’ cleachdadh gus clann a chumail air falbh bhon uisge, ach cha robh na h-inbhich iad fhèin airson a dhol tarsainn na h-aibhne nan aonar air an oidhche. Tha Màiri a’ faighinn a-mach gu bheil an t-àite eagallach seo air an rathad mhòr agus tha i ag ràdh gum bi ise a’ glasadh nan dorsan aice an ath thuras a thèid i thar na drochaid
Angaidh and Norrie discuss the bridge that crosses the river between Bru and Arnol and the stories of the scary ‘old man’ that were told to keep children away from the water, but that adults didn’t like to cross the river by night alone. Mairi finds out this scary spot is on the main road and jokes that she’ll be locking her doors next time she crosses the bridge!
4. Lòn Mòr Mhurdaigean
Tha Angaidh ag innse gu bheil an loch a tha faisg air seo air ainmeachadh an dèidh a sheanair Murdaigean (Murchadh Macleòid). Chan eil i glè dhomhainn ach an uair a bhios an t-uisge ann bidh i a‘ lìonadh.
Angaidh tells how the nearby loch is named after his grandfather Murdaigean (Murdo Macleod). It’s not very deep but when it rains it fills.
5. Uighean na curracaig, a’ poidseadh, bainne geal, each geal / Lapwing eggs, poaching, flowery milk, white horse
Tha Angaidh Eubaidh ag innse gum biodh a mhàthair a’ dèanamh sgonaichean le uighean curracaig a bhiodh iad a’ faighinn shìos aig ceann an lot mus deach cur às dhiubh leis a’ mhionc. Mar a’ mhòr chuid de theaghlaichean, bha caoraich aca agus crodh airson am bleoghan agus bhiodh na nàbaidhean a’ dèanamh cinnteach gun robh gu leòr bainne agus ìm aig a h-uile duine agus bhithte a’ fuine mar bu trice gach latha. Bhiodh iad a’ sailleadh na feòla agus ga crochadh faisg air an t-similear gus an tiormaicheadh i. Bhiodh iad cuideachd ag ithe bradan nam b’ urrainn dhaibh sin a dhèanamh, a’ seachnadh ‘Fred’ an geamair agus bhiodh an còrr dheth a’ dol gu Billingsgate ann an Lunnainn. Cha bhi Ciorstaidh, bean Angaidh a-nis a’ cur bainne dhan teatha aice oir bhiodh crodh an teaghlaich aice ag ith na flùraichean samhraidh agus bha sin ag adhbharachadh gun robh am bainne le còmhdach crèiseach agus blas nan sìthean. Tha Angaidh agus Tarmod a’ bruidhinn mu na h-eich a bhiodh air feadh nam bailtean. Bha each geal aig athair Angaidh a fhuair e bho fhear a bha a’ reic èisg ann an Steòrnabhagh.
Angaidh Abaidh tells that his mother used to make scones with lapwing eggs from the bottom of his croft before their population was affected by the mink. Like most families, his family kept sheep and cows for milking and the neighbours made sure everyone had enough milk and butter and most days there was homebaking. They salted the meat and hung it around the chimney stack to dry it. They also ate salmon when they could, avoiding ‘Fred’ the gamekeeper and the rest would be taken to Billingsgate in London. Angie’s wife Kirsty no longer takes milk in her tea after the cows in her family ate the summer flowers which gave the milk a greasy, flowery film. Angaidh and Norman talk about the horses they would have around the villages. Angaidh’s father had a white horse which he got from the fishmonger in Stornoway.
6. Bho Cròig, Tuath
Tha Noraidh a’ leughadh nan ainmean-àite ri taobh a’ chladaich gu tuath bho Croig.
Norrie reads the shoreline placenames from Cròig, North.
7. Cnàimhneach / Skeleton
Tha Angaidh a’ bruidhinn mu chladhachadh arceòlach a chaidh a dhèanamh o chionn 20 bliadhna an uair a chaidh bann-dùirn a lorg faisg air ceann cnàimhneach nighean òg. Bha seo 2,000 bliadhna a dh’aois. Gheibhear tuilleadh fiosrachaidh mun chladhachadh arceòlach AN SEO.
Angaidh tells of an archaeological dig that took place around twenty years ago where they found a young girl’s skeleton with a bracelet placed next to her head. The finds were two thousand years old. For more information about the archaeological dig see HERE.
8. Fuaim a’ mhuir - Mnathan a’ Bhac
Tha Angaidh ag innse mun abairt ‘Fuaim a’ mhuir air an leac, a’ cur clisg air mnathan a’ Bhac’ - mar a bha fuaim nan clachan a’ gluasad air cladach Bharabhais ga chluinntinn thall air a’ Bhac agus a’ cur an eagail air na boireannaich air a’ Bhac.
Angaidh shares the saying ‘Fuaim a’ mhuir air an leac, a’ cur clisg air mnathan a’ Bhac’ the sound of the stones rolling on the shoreline in Barvas can be heard as far away as Back and it scared the women of Back.
9. Barabhas Uarach
Tha Angaidh a’ leughadh nan ainmean-àite ann am Barabhas Uarach, bhon rathad chun a’ chladaich.
Angaidh reads us the placenames from Upper Barvas, from the road, towards the sea.
10. Àirighean Abhainn Thoraidh
Ainmean nan àirighean a tha air bruaichean abhainn Thoraidh. Tha Angaidh gan leughadh a-mach, a’ crìochnachadh le àirigh a sheanar.
The names of the sheilings that are on the banks of the river Toraidh. Angaidh reads them, finishing with his grandfather’s sheiling.
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11. Àirighean Eiscleit
Tha Angaidh a’ leughadh ainmean nan àirighean ann an Eiscleit. Bha cuid dhiubh sin na bu mhotha na na h-àirighean àbhaisteach agus b’ e
taighean-earraich a bh’ aca orra.
Angaidh reads the names of the sheilings in Eiscleit. Some of these sheilings were larger than the regular ‘airighs’ and are called ‘taigh-earraich’.
Deas / South
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Deas / South - Sound file Descriptions
12. Àirighean Bhrù
Tha Angaidh a’ leughadh ainmean nan àirighean a bha muinntir Bhrù a’ cleachdadh.
Angaidh reads the names of the sheilings that were used by the people from Bru.
13. Eilean Rìomhach an Fhraoich
Air a chlàradh aig farpais aig a’ Mhòd Nàiseanta ann an 1996, sheinn Murchadh (Domino) Macleòid à Brù amhran a sgrìobh athair ris air an do chuir e fhèin fonn. Tha briathran an amhrain ag innse mun àirigh mar a bha i an uair a bha am bàrd na bhalach òg. Tha e a’ dèanamh dealbh air na seallaidhean a bhiodh e a’ faicinn. Cha robh guth aig na daoine òga air a bhith a’ dèanamh airgead an uair a bhiodh iad a’ dannsa air na cnuic; bha iad uile air an aon ràmh. Ach tha an saoghal air atharrachadh agus làn farmad agus còmhstri. Tha na companaich a bha aige aig an àm sin a-nis sgapte air feadh an t-saoghail. Tha gàirdeachas na h-àirigh a-nis air falbh. Air a chleachdadh le cead bhon BhBC.
Recorded at the national Mod competition in 1996, Murdo (Domino) Macleod from Bru sings a song written by his father which he set to music. The words tell of the sheiling as it used to be in the writers’ youth. He describes the sights he used to see. There was no talk of money among the young people as they danced on the hills; they were all equal. But the world has changed and is full if envy and conflict. The companions of his youth are now scattered all over the world. The laughter of the sheiling has gone. Reproduced with permission from the BBC
14. Dòmhnall Cam
Tha Angaidh ag innse mun Mhoireach agus Iain Ruadh MacPhàil a thàinig air tìr ann an Lìonal ann an Nis an dèidh dhaibh teiche bho bhlàr air tìr mòr. Fhuair iad comraich ann an Lìonal agus an dèidh sin chaidh àite-fuirich a thoirt do dh’Iain ann am Bràgair agus bha an t-àite sin air a chleachdadh gus fios a chumail ris na Moireasdanaich ma bha Clann MhicAmhlaigh à Ùig a’ tighinn a ghoid an crodh. Chaidh a’ char a thoirt à Dòmhnall Cam MacAmhlaigh à Ùig agus chaidh a ghlacadh air bòrd bàta agus a thoirt a dh’Ulapul còmhla ri ‘Calum nan casan beaga’ Fhuair e saor bhon t-sèine a bh’ air agus ghoid e fhèin agus Dòmhnall bàta agus thàrr iad às, ged a bha sèinichean fhathast orra agus ràinig iad Ùig mu dheireadh thall. An uair a chuala Iain ‘Ruadh’ gun robh Dòmhnall Cam air tilleadh, bha eagal a bheatha air. Chaidh e air falach ann an dùn ann am Bràgar ach ghlac dusan de luchd-taic Dòmhnaill e agus cheangail iad e ged a rinn e oidhirp mhòr faighinn air falbh. Chaidh a thoirt gu Circebost ann an Ùig agus a cheangal ri post agus chaochail e ann an sin. Cha do rinn iad a’ chùis air gus an do chladhaich iad an talamh fo na casan aige.
Angaidh tells of Murray and Iain Ruadh MacPhail who landed at the shore in Lionel, Ness after fleeing a battle on the mainland. They were given sanctuary in Lionel and Iain was given a place to stay in Bragar and was used as a lookout for the clan Morison in Ness to warn them if the clan Macauly from Uig were coning to steal their cattle. Donald Cam Macaulay from Uig was tricked by the Macauly’s and they captured him aboard a boat and took him away to Ullapool with a man ‘Calum with the small feet’. He slipped his chain and he and Donald stole a boat to escape, still in chains, eventually making it back to their home to Uig. When Iain ‘Ruadh’ heard that Donald ‘Cam’ had returned he feared for his life. He hid in a Broch in Bragar but Donald’s twelve followers caught him and tied him up and despite a valiant attempt at escape, he was walked to Kirkibost in Bernera where he was tied to a post and set to death. They were unable to succeed until the cut the ground from under his feet.
15. Obair na Mònach
Tha Angaidh agus Tarmod ag innse mu bhith an sàs ann an obair na mònach. B’ e obair shòisealta a bha seo anns an robh a’ choimhearsnachd air fad an sàs. Bho bhith a’ buain na mònach gu bhith a’ dèanamh na cruaich. Bhiodh trì tairsgeirean aca le sgioba de dhithis mu gach tairisgear; sianar ag obair trang fad latha gus mòine gu leòr a bhuain airson dachaigh airson bliadhna. Bhiodh Angaidh a’ cur seachad coladeug a’ togail a chruach mhònach agus bhiodh e a’ cur siota plastaig os a chionn gus a’ mhòr chuid den uisge a chumail dhith. Tha iad ag innse cho math ’s a bha a’ mhòine dhubh, cho math ’s a bha i a’ losgadh san teine agus bhiodh iad bruidhinn mu doimhneachd nam poll-mònach.
Angaidh and Norrie discuss working the peats, it was social, community work. From cutting to building a stack. Three tairsgeir (peat cutting spades) working in teams of two, six people would work for a full day to cut enough peat for a year. It would take Angaidh two weeks to build his peat stack and he’d put a plastic sheet over the top to keep the worst of the water out. They discuss the quality of the darker peat, how they burned and the depth of the peat banks.
16. Àirighean bho Sidhean Allt Fhuagro
Tha Tarmod a’ leughadh ainmean nan àirighean a bha air bruaichean Allt Fhuagro.
Norman reads the names of the sheilings that flank the sides of the river Fuagro.
17. Iain an Fhìdhleir
Leugh Tarmod am pìos bàrdachd seo a sgrìobh athair, Iain ‘An Fhìdhleir’ MacAoidh is e air bòrd a’ bhàta HMS Medway Queen ann an 1942. Tha a bhàrdachd a’ nochdadh a ghràdh airson a dhùthaich, a choimhearsnachd agus a charaidean.
This poem read by Norman, was written by his father Iain ‘An Fhìdhleir’ MacAoidh whilst aboard HMS Medway Queen in 1942 and shows his love for his homeland, community and friends.
18. Àirighean Chriostal
Tha Tarmod a’ leughadh ainmean nan àirighean a bha ann an Criostal.
Norman reads the names of the sheilings in Criostal.
19. Àirighean, Feamainn agus Crodh
Bha àirigh aig gach dachaigh a bhiodh iad a’ cleachdadh airson a’ chruidh a thoirt air falbh bhon lot gus am faigheadh iad air bàrr a chur. Bu chaomh leis a’ chrodh a bhith ag ithe feamainn an uair a bhithte gam bleoghan. Bhithte a’ coiseachd dhachaigh bhon àirigh leis a’ bhainne a h-uile latha. Anns gach baile, bhiodh fear an urra ri bhith a’ cumail nan caorach air falbh bho na lotaichean. Tha Angaidh ag innse dhuinn nach eil cuimhne aige-san air àm an uair nach robh feansaichean ann – bhithte a’ dèanamh feansaichean a’ cleachdadh fiodh bho sheann bhàtaichean.
Every house had a shieling they would use it to take the cattle away from croft so that they could grow crops. The cattle liked eating seaweed when they were being milked which would be carried back from the airigh to the house on foot, daily. Each village would have had a shepherd to keep the sheep away from the crofts. Angaidh tells us he doesn’t remember a time without fences – they were make from wood from old boats.
20. Àirighean Bharabhais Iaraich
Tha Angaidh a’ leughadh ainmean nan àirighean a bha muinntir Bharabhais Iaraich a’ cleachdadh.
Angaidh reads the names of the sheilings that were used by the people of Lower Barvas.