Visitors to Friends’ Day at the Lismore Gaelic Heritage Centre on 24 November 2013 heard Bob Hay, Helen Crossan, and Douglas Thorburn report on the progress made on the three top areas for development Friends had selected at last year’s meeting.
Friends’ Day 24 November 2013 Bob Hay
Bob reported that, in conjunction with Lismore Church Elders and Historic Scotland, funding had been acquired to lift and protect the unique gravestones in the churchyard. Helen showed the films she has already made recording the memories of the older residents with an emphasis on Lismore Gaelic. Douglas Thorburn spoke about the archaeological walkovers which means that all ruins and notable sites in Killandrist, and Portcharron and Baleovolan have been recorded. This will eventually be a digital record and with help from the MacQueens’ Foundation he will produce a leaflet for walkers with grid references.
Friends’ Day 24.11.2013 Douglas Thorburn
Another suggestion was the recording of the history of the island’s many crofts. Bob also told the meeting that, following Accreditation, the Museum can now begin to get items such as the Viking gold back on permanent loan although an expensive armoured case will be needed to exhibit it.
Friends’ Day 24 November 2013 John Randall
The last speaker was John Randall from The Islands Book Trust in Lewis who talked about the difficulty small communities have not in getting initial funding to promote the rich history and culture of Scottish islands, but in then managing to run an enterprise where profit is very difficult to generate. He is involved in the running of the Pairc Estate in Lewis which the small community bought and where the Islands Book Trust is based.
Friends’ Day 24 November 2013
Friends’ Day 24 November 2013 Heritage Centre cafe 2013