On Saturday 20 July 2013, the hottest day of the year, Lismore Gaelic Heritage Centre hosted a Crofters’ and Crafters’ day which attracted visitors from all over the world. It was extremely well organised by Beth Campbell (in the main), with a treasure hunt, craft demonstrations, events, stalls and pony and trap rides. Casual weekend visitors were delighted to discover all this on what they may have thought was an uninhabited island.
The day started at 11am with a treasure hunt for the children, They had to find animals and solve animal clues with the winners getting animal t shirts and all the children going home with packs of animals. The 27 eager children ran around intent on their quest and said it was a great treasure hunt.
Demonstrations followed with Freda Drysdale showing children and adults how to make oatcakes and butter and cook them on the griddle in the cottage following this with a spinning demonstration, while Sarah Campbell showed how felt was made..
Freda Drysdale Spinning
Sarah Campbell Felting
The perennially popular Sgioba Luaidh Inbhirchluaidh, visiting for the day, entertained with storytelling in Gaelic, song with actions, and lots of audience participation, before their famous waulking the tweed action songs.
Waulking the tweed
Locals join in
Measuring
Rolling up
Meanwhile the stalls were set up where the many very hot visitors could buy a range of island goods including hand painted stones, hand made walking sticks, garden produce, highland beef from Sailean, seafoods, baking, bath products, jams and preserves, knitwear, Mogwaii textiles for the home as well as home made cosmetics. The Tombola was popular all afternoon raising money for the Vine trust and the café was extremely busy and extremely hot serving a non stop stream of hungry and thirsty customers.
Sophie King Crofters’ and Crafters’ day 20 July 2013
Sophie King’s decorated stones
Sarah Jones with cards, soaps , bath products etc
Sarah’s stall
Roxanne Prando’s Made in Lismore stall
A happy customer
Jennifer Baker of Camas Growers
Camas basil
Mogwai Textiles
Tombola
Duncan MacCormick walking sticks
Highland beef from Sailean
The Dixon Spain Highland beef brand was available to sample cooked and served in large lettuce leaves. Beside them Norma Black was selling helpings of prepared langoustines, prawns and crabs which were very popular. These are both star Lismore brands.
Catherine Bloy’s cakes and preserves
Moira Thompson’s knitwear
Dot Hay and her Pony Cass and trap were ferrying children and adults as long as it was possible for the horse in such heat.
Cass the Pony and trap
The afternoon continued with refreshments in the cafe, a dance in the hall at 6pm and a barbecue a the heritage centre ..
Returning Liosachs – The MacCormicks
MacColl’s Achinduin
The Cook Family
The Coghill family visiting
No room on the decking
And then the dancing. Scottish Country dancing teacher, Anne Livingstone, introduced visitors and locals of all ages to various dances with the help of her regular dancers who meet every week during much of the year.
Under the bridge dance
Anne Livingstone dancing
Anne Livingstone teaching
Anne Livingstone teaching
Country dancing
Country dancing
Country dancing
A foursome
Duncan and Colette
Despite the heat it was greatly enjoyed by all who enthusiastically danced a Highland Welcome, a Cumberland reel, Gay Gordons, Lochness Monster, a Virginia reel, a Nice and Easy finishing with a Circle of Cheer. There was a break for tea and home baking without which it would not have been a Lismore event.
The day finished with a barbecue at the cafe prepared and served by Beth Campbell and Carol MacLean.