As part of the celebrations to mark 100 years since the resettlement of Galson village,
Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn will host one of Community Land Scotland’s talks in its
Simon Fraser Memorial series, with Brian Wilson, during its extended heritage festival,
Dùthchas next month.
Brian Wilson, former Labour MP and former Chair of Harris Tweed Hebrides, will present
“Why Land Reform Matters: The power of people and place”. The series, which has seen
Community Land Scotland deliver six events in Edinburgh, Gigha, Glasgow, Staffin
and London, was established in memory of Simon Fraser. The series has focused on
the stories of community owners, the change they created, and how their legacy might
shape the future, whilst paying tribute to the memory of Simon Fraser, a solicitor
and pioneer of land reform in Scotland, who was instrumental in the success of some
of the early community buyouts.
Iain Craig, Community Land Scotland, commented: “Each event in the Simon Fraser Memorial
series discusses and unpicks different elements of community land ownership in Scotland.
It’s been a joy to celebrate Simon’s life and achievements through lively discussions
and by inspiring folk to think about what might be possible in their own community.
Each of these events has been livestreamed and recorded, so they can be accessed
on the Community Land Scotland website at any time.
“I’d particularly like to thank each of the hosting organisations events for their
commitment and hard work, and to Simon’s family for their support of and participation
in the programme. It’s been an honour to deliver this series in Simon’s memory. He
worked tirelessly, and we would most likely not be celebrating 100 Years of Community
Ownership now, without his contributions. This project aims to build a digital archive
of community ownership across Scotland, which can be accessed at www.100years.scot.”
Brian Wilson’s talk will be the finale event of Dùthchas, on Friday 20th September,
and will take place at the Clan MacQuarrie Community Centre. Tickets are free however
early booking is advised as there is limited space available.
Dùthchas, which is a Gaelic word to describe a place, land or country one was born
in/feels akin to or a custom which has been passed down through generations, starts
on the 7th September and over the two weeks will feature over 25 events, from guided
historical walks through Galson and Borve in North Lewis, daily Gaelic classes, ceilidhs,
films, poetry workshops, discussions with authors, cookery demos and more. The festival,
which first took place in 2018, aims to highlight the heritage of the region, bringing
awareness to local traditions and cultures, whilst also proving to be a great opportunity
for visitors to the area to learn about Galson.
Other highlights of this year’s festival include musical lunches at Comunn Eachdraidh
Nis with musician and singer Robert John MacInnes, and DB and Murdigan; discussions
with Acair authors Frank Rennie and Joni Buchanan about their latest books; a ceilidh
to celebrate Comunn na Gàidhlig’s 40th anniversary, in partnership with Blas Festival;
and cookery demonstrations and tastings with The Niseach Chef, Allan Macritchie,
where he will be teaching participants how to cook some favourite Hebridean dishes,
with the chance to taste it all too.
Janet Macleod, Cultural Engagement Officer, Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn, said: “The
area is home to a rich heritage and we hope that the range of events this year goes
some way in showcasing this, with something for everyone. Whether you have lived
here all your life, or happen to be on holiday, we welcome everyone to come along
to one of our events and enjoy the traditions and culture Galson Estate has to offer.
“We are grateful to all our partners for working with us to produce such an interesting
festival programme this year and thankful to those who will be sharing their wealth
of knowledge and talent with our audiences throughout the festival next month.”
Festival celebrates centenary of Galson Estate
29 August 2024