Comann Dualchas Innse Gall, the Outer Hebrides Heritage Forum, has hailed the efforts of the Western Isles community-
‘Hebridean Homecoming,’ or ‘Tillidh mi Dhachaigh’ in Gaelic, is an island-
It explores themes of emigration, diaspora communities, and return of people to land and place, with the catalyst being the centenaries of both the Metagama and the Marloch emigrant ship vessels which first departed the islands in 1923.
From the Butt of Lewis right through to Barra and Vatersay, events took place in 2023 to celebrate emigrant and diaspora communities. Many informative exhibitions and activities were run by comainn eachdraidh, or local historical societies, to mark these occasions.
These included the loan of the nationally significant Adabrock Hoard to Comunn Eachdraidh Nis, a number of in-
Throughout the island chain comainn eachdraidh were also consulted by organisations for projects and events.
These included Comhairle nan Eilean Siar education department’s Dìleab 2023, which delivered excellent school productions in collaboration with local historical societies, and MacTV, who have created two documentaries for release later this year.
Physical installations were also created to mark the occasions, such as plaques facilitated by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, and the Stòras Uibhist Marloch monument in Lochboisdale, South Uist.
Jasmine Montgomery Wilkie, development officer for Comann Dualchas Innse Gall (CDIG), said: “The everyday work done by our comainn eachdraidh is invaluable to both locals and visitors – this we know.
“Our comainn eachdraidh provide genealogical assistance, support archival visits and maintain examples of our local heritage for the benefit of generations to come. But the value of our comainn eachdraidh’s work has perhaps been especially evident over the last year.
“As an example, Comann Eachdraidh Bharraigh is Bhatarsaigh (Barra and Vatersay Historical Society) welcomed more than 800 visitors to their exhibition this summer in the Dualchas Heritage Centre in Barra.
“Many of these would have been visiting as part of the Comann Eachdraidh’s Homecoming Week, where more than 70 families descending from Marloch emigrants were invited home by the society to celebrate the centenary.
“Barra and Vatersay’s wider economy and local businesses will all have benefitted from this additional footfall through the events co-
“Research conducted by our comainn eachdraidh as part of Hebridean Homecoming has helped not only to inform family trees across the diaspora, but also national databases, such as the research Stornoway Historical Society did into the passenger lists of the emigrant vessels.”
“This project work has all been done in addition to the many enquiries and visits that groups handle on a daily basis. Whilst the volunteer hours spent on any of these previously mentioned projects is most likely significantly under-
The heritage forum continues to liaise with its membership regarding activities relating to Hebridean Homecoming for the coming years. Many emigration exhibitions will remain in situ for 2024 and marketing for other emigration-
Anyone in the diaspora looking for support with their genealogy or family trees are encouraged to contact CDIG via the dedicated website at www.hebrideanhomecoming.com. The website also hosts recordings and images from activity in 2023 and will be updated with more event information as it becomes publicly available.
Jasmine said: “These outlined projects are just a sample of the exciting work that the community-
“CDIG would urge everyone – local businesses, organisations and individuals – to engage with and support their local comann eachdraidh, to ensure this meaningful and economically-
Hebridean community historical society movement at the heart of 100 years of emigrant memories
1 November 2023