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Updated by
11.00am on the first Thursday of the month
July 2008
Wedding in a
romantic setting
by Fiona Burnett
Castle Varrich, the ruined castle overlooking the village and
Kyle of Tongue, believed by some to have been a stopping off
place for the bishop of Caithness on his visits to Durness in
the late Middle Ages, was a centre of attraction on Saturday,
June 21 Midsummers Day at three oclock
when family and friends gathered to witness local painter and
decorator Scott Coghill and German-born Silke Plass exchanged
marriage vows. More
Sisters make
dash for charity
Strathnaver sisters, Marsaili (left) and Catriona MacLeod, raised
£450 for Cancer Research UK when they took part in the
charitys Race for life in Aberdeen on June
2. More
Bookends
by Kevin Crowe
Mandy Haggith The Last Bear, Two Ravens Press, 2008.
£8.99.
This story, set in North West Scotland over a thousand years
ago, pits two groups against each other: the Vikings from Scandinavia
who at the time the novel is set have settled to a mainly peaceful
life and the Celts who earlier arrived in Scotland from across
what is now known as the Irish Sea. More
The Inner Man
by Chris Duckham
At the restaurant
we love to use the freshest local fish, and one of my personal
favourites is sea trout. More
Some other reports
and features from this months print edition
Shucksmith report receives
poor reception at North West meetings
You would not guess by listening to crofters in North West Sutherland
that the authentic voice of Scottish crofters is
conveyed in the Shucksmith report on the future of crofting.
New life is being breathed
into Kinlochbervie crofting
A woman in Harrogate phoning a friend in Kinlochbervie said:
Im fed up with the rising cost of food; Im
going to grow my own."
Fiona Burnett talks
to Douglas Pearson, Skerray
Douglas Pearson, Achtoty, Skerray, has experienced life from
a great height.
Lairg Music Fesitval:
a matter of teamwork
At the 2008 Lairg Music Festival the usual array of musical talent
drawn from all round the country was on display.
June 2008
Dangerous
Shucksmith raises crofter temperatures
The Shucksmith report on crofting, published last month, has
been described to us as a "dangerous" document offering
"Eastern block" solutions to the challenges facing
today's crofter. More
Gallaibh nan
Gàidheal s nan Gall (Caithness of the Gael and the
Lowlander)
by Domhnall Uilleam
Stiùbhart
Recently weve all been hearing and reading rather a lot
of opinions, not all of them particularly well-informed, about
the question of Caithnesss Gaelic heritage. More
Backcoasters
diary
It seems
that conservation plans reported in these columns a month ago,
plans designed to save the River Naver from anglers, are not
going according to plan. More
Natures
call
by Andy Summers
I was feeling a bit sore this morning. More
History file
by Malcolm Bangor-Jones
In July 1765 the factor for the estate of Coigach in the parish
of Lochbroom reported that several of the tenants had lost cows,
horses, sheep and goats during the previous winter. More
May 2008
Scotland-wide
rural scheme discriminates says MacRae
Crofters leader, Allan MacRae of 83 Torbreck, Lochinver,
describes aspects of the Scottish governments flagship
Scottish Rural Development Programme, which received EU approval
in January, as hugely disappointing. More
Skye parents
aim for Gaelic school
by Arthur Cormack
Ninety-nine
children currently attend Gaelic-medium in Portree, while 136
attend the mainstream school. More
Nostalgic reunion
for Lovat Scouts
by Willie Morrison
Three Lovat
Scout veterans of World War II relived the dangers, fears and
excitement of more than sixty years ago when they met again this
week for lunch at Achness House Hotel, near Rosehall. More
Litir bhon a
Cheathramh
le Alasdair MacMhaoirn
Taighean
Geala agus smachd sòisealta. Thàinig an smaoin
seo a-steach orm bho chionn ghoirid nuair a fhuair mi brath bho
charaid mu colbh a bh anns The Herald (12/4/08). (Billingual)
More
Bookends
by Kevin Crowe
Review: The
Thistle and the Crescent by Bashir Maan. Argyll Publishing
2008. £12.99. More
April 2008
Rhiconich crofter
favours right to buy
In evidence
submitted to the Scottish governments Committee of Crofting
Inquiry, a North West Sutherland crofter, who for a number of
years was a prominent member of the Scottish Crofters Union North
West Sutherland Area, illustrates the advantages of both the
tenants right to buy and of the tenancy system itself.
More
Council ploughs
on with cluster head at primaries
Opposition by Tongue parents to the joint headship of Tongue,
Farr and Melvich primary schools, revealed in Am Bratach last
month, has not deterred Highland Council from pressing ahead
with the appointment of a single teacher to supervise the three
schools. More
Local lads set
up building business in Tongue area
A brand new
building business, Kyle of Tongue Construction, has been set
up by Graeme Gunn, Melness, and Richard Mackay from Tongue. More
St Kilda
the edge of the world
by Jaqqi Carney
It is no
easy feat getting your feet on St Kilda. More
Natures
call
by Paul Castle
The early
part of the year is a relatively quiet period for us countryside
rangers before the mad, head-down rush of spring and summer really
begins. More
March 2008
Parent council
was ignored over cluster appointment
Education bosses performed a climbdown of sorts the day after
we questioned the local authoritys procedures for appointing
a new joint head teacher to Tongue, Farr and Melvich primary
schools. More
Writers and artists
explore Strathbrora
Thumbing
through this booklet, some will ask why it has been published
by a heritage society when the first impressions are of a work
not obviously concerned with the past. More
Litir bhon a
Cheathramh
by Alasdair MacMhaoirn
Deagh naidheachd ann an Inbhir Theòrsa! (Billingual.)
More
History file
by Malcolm Bangor-Jones
In 1818 Dugald Gilchrist took over the sheep-farm of Shinness:
some of the large population of sub tenants were not permitted
to remain or chose not to. More
February
2008
Planners
dream
After examining
evidence garnered from seventeen public meetings held in June
and August of last year...More
Broadband on
the blink for two days
by Fiona Burnett
Broadband
users in Strathnaver, Altnaharra and Kinbrace, left without a
connection for two days late last month, were told their computers
were to blame. More
Ùrachadh
success at Celtic Connections
Taigh na Gàidhlig Mhealanais project, Ùrachadh,
was well received at Celtic Connections, where the multimedia
show made its festival debut at the Tron Theatre on Burns Night,
reports secretary, Catriona MacLeod. More
View from the
croft gate
by John MacDonald
I see that regulation about the double tagging of sheep is kicking
in about now. More
History file
by Malcolm Bangor-Jones
The new sheep farm of Shinness was let to the Matheson family
in 1808. Ten years later it was taken over by Dugald Gilchrist
of Ospisdale, sheep farmer, road contractor and minor landlord.
More
January
2008
Gaelic accounts
not acceptable
A small Skye-based
company has challenged the notion that the Gaelic language has
no place in official documentation by submitting its annual report
and accounts for 2006-2007 to Companies House, Edinburgh, in
Gaelic alone. More
Blas Festival
latest invite for minstrels
Ùrachadh, the group of Caithness and Sutherland Gaelic
singers and musicians presently preparing for their first
appearance at Celtic Connections on January 25 have further
dates to add to their diary, following an approach from the Blas
Festival. More
Rob Donn descendant
gives talk at Farr ceilidh
American Ellen Beard, a former labour lawyer turned student of
Gaelic at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, who has the distinction of
been descended from the Mackay bard, Rob Donn (1714-1778), spoke
of his poetry and of her family connection to the illustrious
poet at a special ceilidh organised by George Gunn, writer-in-residence
at Strathnaver Museum, Elliot Rudie and their associates at the
museum. It was held in the Farr Bay Inn, Bettyhill, just over
a month ago. More
Fiona Burnett talks to
Cathie Barbara
Mackay, Tongue
An interest in people and surroundings began early in life for
Cathie Barbara Mackay, a former Tongue councillor, and district
nurse respectively, who, at the age of ten found her voice. More
Backcoasters
Diary
In the month of the year when people all over the world celebrate
the birthday of Scotlands most famous poet, it is worth
remembering Robert Burnss talent for extemporaneous composition.
More
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