Skyecomuseum

Dà cheud bliadhna air ais – air Dihaoine an 31mh latha den Chèitean 1822 - thachair Bàthadh na Duibh-sgeir. San dealbh gu h-àrd chithear An Duibh-sgeir ri taobh Rubha nam Bràithrean, a tha ri lorg ann am Bhaltos, Ìochdar Thròndairnis san Eilean Sgitheanach.

Air madainn na tubaist bha buidheann à Bràigh An Taobh Sear an dèidh seòladh gu Port Rìgh. A-rèir na chaidh sgrìobhadh anns an Inverness Journal (air 21 An t-Òg-mhìos 1822), is e latha fèill a bha ann.

Is ann air an t-slighe dhachaigh, ann an dorchadas na h-oidhche, a thachair an tubaist. Cha robh a h-uile duine a bh’air bòrd air am bàthadh, air sàileabh ‘s gu robh feadhainn air a dhol air tìr na bu thràthaiche ann an Ruig, deas de Rubha nam Bràithrean. Ach a-rèir an Inverness Journal, chaidh trì duine deug a bhàthadh, a’ fàgail naoinear banntraichean len cuid cloinne.

Chaidh an sgeulachd dhuilich seo a chlàradh le Calum Iain MacIlleathain nuair a rinn e ceilidh air an t-Urramach Tormod Dòmhnallach sa bhliadhna 1953. Chan fhaigheadh Calum Iain duine na bu fhreagarraiche oir is ann do Bhaltos a bhuineadh Tormod a bha na shàr-eòlaiche air eachdraidh na sgìre.

Chan e a-mhàin gun do lean an sgeulachd ann am beul-aithris, ach cuideachd chaidh òran-cumha a dheanamh le te de mhuinntir Ratharsair a bha eòlach air na fir. Bha co-dhiù feadhainn dhiu air tighinn beò às na cogaidhean Napòleonach roimhe. Agus as a dhèidh - ann an aisling na h-oidhche - thàinig dithis dhen fheadhainn a chaidh bhàthadh a dh’ionnsaigh am màthraichean le teachdaireachdan thiamhaidh.

Is e sgeulachd iongantach a tha ann am Bàthadh na Duibh-sgeir. Is fhiach èisdeachd ris. Càite am faighear e? Air làrach-lin Tobar an Dualchais – goireas a tha miorbhuileach agus a thogas a’ chridhe a dh'aindeoin sgeulachdan dhuilich. www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/track/2667

Na bheatha (1904-1978) rinn Tormod iomadh clàradh air dualchas nan Gàidheal le guth soillear, tuigseach is tarraingeach a bha freagarrach airson aithris agus seinn. Anns a’ chlàradh a rinn e fhèin is Calum Iain còmhla, tha e a’ gabhail seachd earranan den òran-cumha – gan gleidheadh, còmhla ris an sgeulachd fhèin, dha na ginealachdan a thigeadh às a dhèidh. San latha an-diugh, tha sinn fortanach gu bheil BA (le Urram) ann an Gàidhlig is Ceòl Traidiseanta air a theagasg le luchd cliùiteach aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. Is e cothrom ga rìreabh a th’ann. Agus tha an iomairt Fuaran - a chaidh a steidheachadh le Fèisean nan Gàidheal - a’ ceangal an ginealach òg ri seann òrain bhon sgìre aca fhèin. Is ann air Fuaran a chluinnear Ruairidh MacCarmaig a’ gabhail Bàthadh na Duibh-sgeir. Tha guth làidir, soillear aig Ruairidh cuideachd, agus guth a fhreagras air an òran. www.feisean.org/fuaran/gd/songs/bathadh-na-duibhsgeir

Tha Urras an Taobh Sear taingeil do Bhòrd na Gàidhlig a tha a' toirt taic dhuinn tro na sgeamaichean 'Taic Freumhan Coimhearsnachd' agus 'Sgeama nan Oifigearan Ghàidhlig'.

Dualchas from the Staffin District - The Year of Stories

The Drowning at Duibh-sgeir – Two Hundred Years

The photograph above was taken beside Brothers’ Point in Iochdar Trotternish on the Isle of Skye. It clearly shows the Duibh-sgeir (the black skerry), which claimed the lives of thirteen people who drowned in an accident two hundred years ago – on the 31st of May 1822.On the morning of the accident, a group of people had left the southern end of the district of Staffin and set sail for Portree. According to The Inverness Journal (of 21st June 1822), this happened on the Portree market day (Latha na Fèill) – a big occasion in the calendar of hard working people.

It was on the sail home that disaster struck in the darkness. Not all who set sail for home were lost. A number of people had disembarked at Rigg, south of Brothers’ Point. According to the newspaper mentioned above, thirteen men lost their lives and nine of those left widows. Many children lost their fathers.

The story was recorded in 1953 by Calum Iain Maclean when he visited the Reverend Norman MacDonald. Calum Iain could not have found a better person. Not only did Norman belong to Bhaltos but he was an authority on local history.Up to that point, the oral tradition had ensured this story was not forgotten. A lament was composed by a woman whose people belonged to Raasay and who knew some of the men on board – a number of whom had survived the Napoleonic wars. And afterwards, two of those who perished appeared to their respective mothers in dreams - each with a devastating message.

Bàthadh na Duibh-sgeir is an extraordinary story and one that is well worth taking the time to listen to. Where can you do that? On the website of Tobar an Dualchais – a marvellous resource that will bring light to your day. www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/track/2667

During his lifetime (1904 to 1978), the Reverend Norman contributed many recordings about local history and Gaelic Scotland. What makes Norman MacDonald exceptional is not just his knowledge but his authoritative strong clear voice. He was a good, clear singer, and in the recording, he sings seven verses of the lament, handing down the song and the story to the generations to come. We are fortunate that Sabhal Mòr Ostaig offers a BA (with Hons) in Gaelic and Traditional Music. This is a great opportunity to really delve into our music and song. Fuaran is a successful initiative by Fèisean nan Gàidheal to encourage young people to research and perform Gaelic songs from their own area. And through Fuaran, you may listen to Ruairidh Cormack singing Bàthadh na Duibh-sgeir. Ruairidh also has a strong, clear voice that suits this song. www.feisean.org/fuaran/gd/songs/bathadh-na-duibhsgeir

We are grateful to Bòrd na Gàidhlig, who provide financial assistance through their Scheme, ‘Taic-freumhan Coimhearsnachd’.and 'Sgeama nan Oifigearan Ghàidhlig' to Urras an Taobh Sear (Staffin Community Trust).

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