Understanding the cathedral church of Lismore, and how it was built, is like tracing the plot in a detective novel. The surviving structure, cut down from the medieval chancel, has undergone at least two major refits over the last 250 years, resulting in the...
Alexander Carmichael, folklorist, antiquarian, and author, was born on 1 December 1832 in Taylochan, Lismore, ninth and youngest child of Hugh Carmichael (1783-1862), farmer and publican, and Elizabeth (Betty) MacColl (1791-1863). After attending schools on the island...
2009 marked the centenary of the death of Hugh (Eoghan) Anderson, a Lismore-born bard, whose Gaelic songs are highly rated, but some details of his life remain a mystery.The certificate of Anderson’s death on 22 August 1909 in Stevenston, Ayrshire, states his age as...
Up to the middle of the nineteenth century, Lismore was an important source of grain for the West Highlands: every possible piece of cultivable land was used to produce oats for food and livestock feed, and bere barley for whisky distilling, as well as grain to pay...
Until 1734, Baligrundle was owned by the Campbell Lords of Glenorchy (Earls of Breadalbane from 1681), who were inveterate hoarders of family and estate papers. Many of these are now preserved in the National Archives of Scotland (NAS), including a unique plan of the...
GeologyThis island is something of a geological freak – composed almost entirely of Dalradian limestone. Crossing from South-East to North-West are basalt dykes: one in particular projects from a cliff-face and is at least 70ft high. There are no mountains, no...
The Heritage Museum at Ionad Naomh Moluag has appointed Lorraine King as its Assistant Curator, the position being funded from a grant from the Esme Fairbairn Foundation. Lorraine, who started on 1st August and will remain in post for a minimum of eighteen months,...
Over the years, the traffic of the many visitors to Tirfuir Broch, and the effects of rain and storms, have taken their toll of the structure, and Historic Scotland have been concerned to consolidate the damaged parts. The outer skin was mended in 2008 and, in 2009,...
Since the Museum Development Officers funded position finished, the work is being done by volunteers with Margaret Black as curator (Archive) and Bob Hay Curator (Objects). Recently Jennifer Baker has been appointed to a part time paid post as project officer curating...
The Comann Eachdraidh Lios Mor has said goodbye to its two Museum Development Officers who were responsible for getting the first exhibition at Ionad Naomh Moluag up and running in time for the opening in April 2007 and for developing the new exhibition for the 2008...
Emily Edwards from Ionad Chaluim Chille Ile (St Columba Centre Islay) visited Lismore to record oral history with some of the native Gaelic speakers. Emily runs the oral history unit in Islay and brought her experience to Ionad Naomh Moluag to hear stories from Duncan...
The rain failed to damp en spirits when Mrs Yeoman OBE formally opened the Heritage Centre Museum at Ionad Naomh Moluag on 17 March 2007. The ferries were busy all morning and a fleet of taxis carried the many visitors to the newly manicured grounds where...