Explore the culture of the shieling at new Skye exhibition
ùir-sgeul | earth story is a new exhibition by artist Eilidh MacKenzie, exploring oral traditions, maps, landscapes, archaeology and written materials related to Skye’s shieling culture – and it can be explored this summer at the Skye and Lochalsh Archive Centre, Portree.
Shieling, or àirigh in Gaelic, is the name given to both a summer pasture and to the small turf and stone bothies constructed on it, which were historically used as shelter or dwellings during the summer months. By way of song, stories, written and recorded memory, the exhibition brings together various accounts of shieling life in Skye, examining the relationship sheiling culture has to land use, biodiversity, community and tourism today.
Eilidh MacKenzie is a musician, visual artist and educator from North Skye. She has a deeply-rooted interest in Gaelic culture and local tradition, and her work explores aspects of the island’s physical and cultural landscape through printmaking and mixed media. Her work for the exhibition includes paintings, earth pigments, sound, historical objects and sculpture, as well as artwork made with children at Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Phort Rìgh.
ùir-sgeul | earth story is part of Curious Travellers, a wider, ongoing collaborative research project between the University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies, Glasgow University and the Natural History Museum, London.
Curious Travellers focuses on the 18th century travel writer Thomas Pennant, who visited Skye and the Hebrides in 1772, and on how travel writing may have shaped contemporary perspectives of the Hebrides. Pennant’s writing is notable for its depth of engagement with people, place, and culture, an approach that was arguably very different to many of his peers. Eilidh was invited to take part in a Curious Travellers artist residency with ATLAS Arts in 2024, with support from Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture.
Curious Travellers project partner Prof Nigel Leask of Glasgow University said: “After editing Pennant’s account of visiting Skye in 1772 I’ve really enjoyed connecting with Eilidh and the team to put Pennant back into a Gaelic context and history, without which the full meaning of his book is lost. It’s a tremendous project that moves between 18th century sheilings and 21st century tourist pods, and we’re very excited to see the outcomes first hand.”
On this residency, Eilidh encountered an image of a shieling site in Jura from 1772, which was drawn by Pennant’s travel companion, the artist Moses Griffith. Seeing this rare first hand account led Eilidh to begin to map various shielings across Skye, (of which there are hundreds), and to draw connections between the material culture, songs, and ecological significance of these places. In a chapbook to be published as part of the exhibition, on shieling life, and the urgency of the research, Eilidh commented: “There feels a powerful connectedness through place, stone and soil to generations past, and at the same time an overwhelming sense of cultural loss; the loss of indigenous knowledge and culture, of sounds and language of place, a way of seeing and being that was shaped entirely by the land. In terms of physical proximity you can’t get any closer than where I sit to the shieling culture that has otherwise disappeared – but in the time that has passed between the last milking and my curiosity – almost everything else around this place is changed.
“You need to be motivated to go deeper and look harder to find out about the history, heritage, culture, language, stories or music of a place, and it is the case that these are aspects of place that are not always of interest to visitors. Many who have made their own journeys to Skye have been attracted by visual imagery – often virally-shared, digitally-enhanced images of dramatic landscape and raw, atmospheric elements, which for them is overwhelmingly more appealing.”
The exhibition runs from 20 June to 29 August, with an exhibition preview from 2pm on Friday 20 June, and a day of talks and sharings at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on Thursday 19 June, as part of the wider Curious Travellers project. Curious Travellers collaborator Mary-Ann Constantine from The University of Wales said: “It's been wonderful to work with colleagues here on Skye, and to feel Thomas Pennant's writings come alive in the landscape and the imaginations of people who live here.”
The exhibition is also accompanied by a new publication to be launched with an artist talk on 7 August, available to purchase for £10. Book sale proceeds will go to Skye Mountain Rescue.
Planning
Some of the latest applications in a quiet week for Ward 10 all available for viewing on the Council website.
Expiry Date for lodging Representations 27/06/2025 Description of Works Siting of mobile sauna Location of Works Staffin Harbour Office, Staffin, Isle Of Skye, IV51 9JS, Community Council Staffin Community Council Applicant Name Staffin Sea Sauna.
Expiry Date for lodging Representations 27/06/2025 Description of Works Formation of glamping pod site Location of Works Land 100M South Of Cnoc Coillier, 3 Eyre, Portree, Isle Of Skye, , Community Council Skeabost Community Council Applicant Name Mr Donald Nicolson.
Expiry Date for lodging Representations 26/06/2025 Description of Works Extension to house to form annexe for family use Location of Works 1 Treaslane Park, Treaslane, Portree, Isle Of Skye, IV51 9NX, Community Council Skeabost Community Council Applicant Name Mr R MacDonald.
Centre of Excellence
12 June 2025
Pioneering traditional music school marks 25 year
The National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music in Plockton is celebrating its 25th anniversary and on Thursday (19 June) past and present students will come together at Eden Court Theatre in a showcase of the very best from the Scottish traditional scene. Known as Sgoil Chiùil na Gàidhealtachd, the Centre has been a cornerstone in nurturing some of the country’s most talented young musicians while preserving Scotland’s rich musical heritage. This celebratory performance highlights the Centre’s legacy as the only one of its kind in Scotland. The school has done such marvellous work to support traditional music and culture in our region and what better place to have this precious asset than at Plockton High, in the heart of the Highlands. Some of our very best musicians have come through the school and it is fantastic to see them teaming up with the next generation to celebrate the 25th anniversary. Here’s to many more.”
The concert will feature a stellar line-up of alumni who have gone on to forge highly successful careers. Returning to perform alongside current students are:
Innes White (originally from Dingwall & he will be the Musical Director the event), multi-instrumentalist known for collaborations with Julie Fowlis, Eddi Reader, Karen Matheson, Sian, Siobhan Miller and many others
Kim Carnie (Oban), singer-songwriter, member of popular folk group, Mànran, and TV presenter
Ewan Robertson (Carrbridge) and Conal McDonagh (Poolewe) of award-winning folk group, Breabach
Catriona Hawksworth (Perthshire) and Megan Macdonald (Lairg), members of six-piece band, Heisk
Malin Lewis (Skye), acclaimed piper and instrument maker
Mairearad Green, Achiltibuie musician, composer and artist
Charlie Grey (Fort Augustus) and Joseph Peach (Achiltibuie), celebrated fiddle and piano duo
Deirdre Graham (Breakish, Skye), Gaelic singer and tutor at the Centre, who will also act as Bean an Taighe (host) for the evening
These musicians will be joining the current intake of talented young musicians back in Plockton for rehearsals prior to the event, where the future generation will learn from the alumni.
Mike Vass, Centre Manager, said: “It’s a real honour to celebrate 25 years of the Centre with so many of our talented alumni and current students.
"This event is not just a celebration of our past, but a testament to the strength and future of traditional music in Scotland.
Tickets are available now online via the Eden Court website.
* Students of the school who have been on tour in 2025. Picture John Sikorski
Roads
Contrary to rumours road works are continuing around Skye with work on the A855 from Uig toward Staffin having been carried out which has made a significant difference. Work will cease for a short time as the roadmen are needed to complete work on the road to Neist Point but they will be back within a few days to carry on in the direction of Portree. Meantime the first stretch of resurfacing is due to start in a couple of nights from the Budhmor junction northward which will mean road closures with some amnesties during the night.
Local Election
Thursday 19th is local election day for ward 10 with an interesting list of Candidates. Please remember it is not a first past the post but a transferable vote system so you can choose as many as you wish by placing a number beside each name in preference of your choice. Only use numbers e.g 1 , 2, 3
If you choose Martin Baillie 1 and he is elected he will be part immediately of the administration which is delivering two new schools over the life of this Council plus continuing the £3 million per annum for our roads. No one else is can guarantee that at the moment especially the two candidates who live in the inverness Area and have been parachuted in by their respective political parties. That is not local politics.
That’s It for this week folks, thanks for reading