Plans are proceeding for commemorative events to mark the 100th anniversary of the sailing to Canada of the SS Metagama and SS Marloch in 1923.
These include ecumenical services in Lewis and Uist, the erection of plaques at appropriate locations and exhibitions.
A range of events are being organised by Stornoway Historical Society to mark the centenary.
The Leaving Home Exhibition will open on 21st April in Stornoway Town Hall for six weeks. It will be opened by Kenny Macleod, convener of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.
The exhibition tells the story of Hebridean emigration from 1770 through to the 1923/24 emigrant departures on the Marloch, Metagama and SS Canada ships.
The exhibition will then move in June to Ionad Stoodie for a week before being displayed in the Clan Macquarrie Centre in July. It will then return to Stornoway for Tattoo week from 7th August to 12th August.
The exhibition will visit the Southern Isles on dates to be confirmed.
During the summer Stornoway Historical Society will hold a separate emigration exhibition in their Town Hall premises. This will tell individual stories of the ships and the men and women who emigrated.
On the 21st April at 6pm Pipe Bands will play on No 1 Pier in Stornoway
Tattoo week in Stornoway in August will include craft fairs, continental market, fair and carnival.
Friday will feature the Tattoo Metagama on the Lews Castle Green:. Ten Pipe Bands led by the 78th Fraser Highlanders from Toronto will feature with mass bands and solo performances.
Uist, Barra, Skye and Lewis pipe bands and also mainland bands will also take part.
A mass Highland Jig is planned. Sambayabamba from Glasgow and Chinese Dragons from Inverness will be appearing whilst there will also be a mass Gaelic choir, other musical performances and a firework finale.
Saturday afternoon will be Carnival Day with a mass band parade through Stornoway.
A grand concert on Saturday 12th August will feature the 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipeband as well as Alyth McCormack accompanied by an Irish band.
Singers include Eleanor Macleod, and Willie Campbell with school group
The Ragtime Dolls -
Taking the stage will be a mass Gaelic choir in addition to Sambayabamba.
Pipe band tattoo spectacular amongst series of centenary events to mark seminal wave of Hebridean emigration
28 March 2023
