Eathraichean nan Salm

Bàta nan Salm: a’ comharrachadh 10 bliadhna (English summary below)

’S iomadh port ris na shuath sinn: many places we’ve travelled

An dèidh na h-òrdaighean Diluain, bhiodh na h-eathraichean a fàgail eaglais Eilean Thabhaidh an Ceòs, dol gu taobh thall Loch Èirisort. Thogadh duine air tìr sailm, chumadh na daoine anns na h-eathraichean an sailm a dol. ’S iad fo sheòl no buille nan ràmh, a-mach an loch.

Seo an dealbh inntinn a las am buidheann coimhearsnachd Bàta nan Salm. Tha deich bliadhna bhon uair ud agus ’s iomadh port ris na shuath sinn. Bhiodh an aon chleachdadh, an sgìrean timcheall nan lochan mara, an Leòdhas agus Na Hearadh. Bha leth chuimhne air, agus criomagan ri chruinneachadh.

Thug na h-eathraichean sin sinn, a-steach a dhachaighean fasgaidh, tallaichean coimhearsnachd, làraich far an robh an soisgeul ri chluinntinn thar nam bliadhnaichean agus gu muir cuideachd.

Crossbost 2015: re-enactment with Falmadair’s ‘Sgoth Niseach’ boats.

 

The Psalm Boat community is celebrating 10 years in 2020.

The inspiration came from an account given by Donalasdair Smith to artist déirdre ní mhathúna. During the Spring and Autumn Communion Season, the people walked and came by boat to attend the services in Keose. On departure on Monday as the boats left the shore to return to the home port a Gaelic psalm would be sung with the response coming from those aboard the boats as they sailed or were rowed out of sight.

This was also a custom in areas, around other sea lochs in Lewis and Harris. The project has made links with those areas and gathered accounts of community life, pre road.

That is the power of a grass roots initiative which developed without funding support.

The archiving has begun….

2015: déirdre ní mhathúna, map and installation. Donald S. Murray, “Psalm Boat” monograph with Hugh Bryden, Roncadora Press.

See our Facebook page Psalmboat Project

Coimhearsnachd/community

Ged nach eil tachartasan mòra air a bhith againn o chionn ùine, bidh muinntir Bàta nan Salm a’ tighinn còmhla gach mìos.  ‘S anns a’ Ghàidhlig a bhios sinn a’ conaltradh mar as àbhaist, ach daonnann ‘s iad na Sailmean Gàidhlig a bhios ga seinn againn!

Chaidh còig càraichean dhuinn a’ tadhal air Manais o chionn seachdain no dhà air ais.  Abair feasgar snog!

Although it’s a while since we’ve had a big event, the Psalmboat community usually come together each month.  Everything  normally happens through Gaelic, and the psalms are always sung in Gaelic!   A couple of weeks ago five cars travelled in convoy from Lochs to Manais in Harris to be there for “Sailm air Feasgar Samhraidh”, a beautiful event put together by Hamish Taylor, using his own boat to ferry the precentors a short distance to the Church.  We made a recording of the evening, noises and all, which will be deposited at the School of Scottish Studies Archives shortly.

Bha e iongantach muinntir an àite a chluinntinn ‘s iad a’ seinn còmhla cho làidir is cho grinn. Cuiridh sinn an tèip ri Tasglann Sgoil Eòlais na h-Alba ann an ùine nach bi fada.

Cùm suas rinn an seo/Keep up with our activities here

Residency 2017 is really taking off!

Today we had a full house for an inspired and inspiring lunchtime talk by Alastair McIntosh, “Poachers Pilgrimage and the faith history of Lochs”.  There were several folk here too with a wealth of knowledge about placenames and local history.  Bha an lòn blasda nas motha! Just a wee reminder: Soval House is before Keose on the road south from Stornoway, postcode HS2 9JR.

lunch @ Soval House, 23/8

A few plans have changed – tides, people’s availability and general logistics mean that this Saturday is the right time to visit Eilean Chaluim Chille – or Crobeg as it is also known. Join us at Soval House @ 1pm with your walking gear and picnic!

Diardaoin 24/08: Exploring our archive from previous events.  Reflection day.

Dihaoine 25/08:    7pm, TALK and SOCIAL:   Peter Kerr “A personal research journey: my Orinsay ancestors, the Angus Ease accounts of the flitting and their moves to Steinish and Stornoway”.

Disathairne 26/08:   1pm: Soval House – meet up & be ready to go in convoy – or should that be pilgrimage – to Eilean Chaluim Chille.     8pm: TAIGH-CHÈILIDH BÀTA nan SALM. Bean & Fear an Taigh: Maggie Smith and Donald Saunders.  Bring instruments, voices, photos, stories to tell.

Diluain 28/08:            Developing the narrative: interviews, visits to sites on the loch.

Dimàirt 29/08:         2pm:  MurielAnn MacLeod and Bàta nan Salm community working on the stories of the psalmboats.    7pm, TALK: Greta MacKenzie “What Took me on a journey from Keose to Patagonia”

Diciadain 30/08:      Site visits – Psalmsinging in landscape – poss. Uig on Bernera. Evening plans TBC.

Diardaoin 31/08:     Visit Angus Ease Collection, Garyvard, Kershader.  7pm, TALK: Fr Roddy Johnston  “Early Christianity on Lewis and the Celtic monks’ use of the Psalms in their worship”.

Dihaoine 01/02:      Pick-up for any missed things, FINAL COMMUNITY MEAL/TRIP (possibly to Scalpaidh!),  planning ahead.

aig Sobhail, 21/8 – 02/9

Fàilte chridheil don choimhearsnachd chruthachal a tha air tighinn còmhla son Bàta nan Salm 2017 Residency.  A big welcome to the creative community that has come together for the residency at the original Soval House (HS2 9JR – on a bend on the main road, between turnoffs for Leurbost and Keose).  We will be open to droppers-by from Monday 21st, and you are most welcome to eavesdrop on the AGM that evening. You will be rewarded with home baking and good conversation, and there will surely be a psalm or two sung as well.

We are thrilled that Mairi M Martin will join us to photograph key events during the residency.  Also our good friend Kirsty will be keeping a close eye on practicalities – yes the boring bits like risk assessments, contact numbers, permissions and all that.  Taing mhòr don dithis aca!  We also look forward to inventing some special (weather-dependent) events with Falmadair Trust traditional skippers, sailors and yarnspinners. For taigh-chèilidhs and socials,  bring instruments or a dish or be ready to tell a tale or two. Chì sinn ann sibh!

The programme so far (events in bold confirmed, others, details still TBC):

Diluain 21/08:       7pm, AGM & social, Bàta nan Salm Association

Dimàirt 22/8:         Gathering photos, stories, artwork at the lodge: OPEN DAY

Diciadaoin 23/08:  1pm, COMMUNITY LUNCH & TALK:   Alastair McIntosh, “Poacher’s Pilgrimage and the faith history of Lochs”

Diardaoin 24/08: Exploring our archive from previous events.  Supper in Soval House

Dihaoine 25/08:    7pm, TALK and SOCIAL:   Peter Kerr “A personal research journey: my Orinsay ancestors, the Angus Ease accounts of the flitting and their moves to Steinish and Stornoway”.

Disathairne 26/08:   On the loch, daytime.     8pm: TAIGH-CHÈILIDH BÀTA nan SALM. Bean & Fear an Taigh: Maggie Smith and Donald Saunders.  Special guests to be announced very soon!

Diluain 28/08:            Developing the narrative: interviews, visits to sites on the loch. 7pm: TALK/ gathering TBC

Dimàirt 29/08:         2pm:  MurielAnn MacLeod and Bàta nan Salm community working on the stories of the psalmboats.    7pm, TALK: Greta MacKenzie “What Took me on a journey from Keose to Patagonia”

Diciadain 30/08:      Site visits – ? Angus Ease Collection, Garyvard, Kershader.  7pm: TALK/ gathering TBC

Diardaoin 31/08:     Visit Eilean Chaluim Chille, Psalmsinging in landscape. 7pm, TALK: Fr Roddy Johnston  “Early Christianity on Lewis and the Celtic monks’ use of the Psalms in their worship”.

Dihaoine 01/02:      Pick-up for any missed things, FINAL COMMUNITY MEAL,  planning ahead!

Bàta nan Salm 2017 Residency

Thig còmhla rinn! Come join this growing, creative Gaelic community!

Bàta nan Salm will be based at Old Soval Lodge, on the main road between Leurbost and Keose for two weeks in August and from there, we plan to host a great conversation in the landscape as well as a series talks and taigh-chèilidhs in the lodge.  Mòran Taing  to the Kershaws and to all at Soval Estate for making this possible, and to all who have contributed to our fundraising efforts, which are ongoing.

STOP PRESS: We are delighted to welcome photographer Mairi M Martin to join the Residency!

The programme so far (events in bold confirmed, others, details still TBC):

Diluain 21/08:       7pm, AGM & social, Bàta nan Salm Association

Dimàirt 22/8:         Gathering photos, stories, artwork at the lodge: OPEN DAY

Diciadaoin 23/08:  1pm, COMMUNITY LUNCH & TALK:   Alastair McIntosh, “Poacher’s Pilgrimage and the faith history of Lochs”

Diardaoin 24/08:  TBC – Preparing stories? Out in the landscape, ? sailing from Stornoway? Supper in the Lodge

Dihaoine 25/08:    7pm, TALK and SOCIAL:   Peter Kerr “A personal research journey: my Orinsay ancestors, the Angus Ease accounts of the flitting and their moves to Steinish and   Stornoway“.

Disathairne 26/08:   On the loch, daytime.     8pm: TAIGH-CHÈILIDH BÀTA nan SALM. Bean & Fear an Taigh: Maggie Smith and Donald Saunders.  Special guests to be announced very soon!

Diluain 28/08:            Developing the narrative: interviews, visits to sites on the loch.

Dimàirt 29/08:         2pm:  MurielAnn MacLeod and Bàta nan Salm community working on the stories of the psalmboats                7pm: TALK TBC

Diciadain 30/08:      Site visits – ? Angus Ease Collection, Garyvard, Kershader.

Diardaoin 31/08:     Visit Eilean Chaluim Chille, Psalmsinging in landscape. 7pm: TALK. Fr Roddy Johnston ” Early Christianity on Lewis and the Celtic monks’ use of the Psalms in their worship“.

Dihaoine 01/02:      Pick-up for any missed things, FINAL COMMUNITY MEAL,  planning ahead!

Lorgan Bàta nan Salm

The psalmboat community are thrilled to be bringing the project to Tradfest in May 2017, at the invitation of the Scottish Storytelling Centre.

TICKETS: TRADFEST 2017, Bàta nan Salm

Thig muinntir Bàta nan Salm bho Sgìre Loch Èireasoirt, an Leòdhas a Dhùn Èideann le sgeulachdan, bàrdachd agus guthan eireachdal nan Salm Gàidhlig. Cluinnear mar a bhiodh iad a’ seòladh dhan t-searmoinn, dha banaisean, òrdaighean agus tiodhlaichean thar an locha. Èisd ri ciamar a roghnaich déirdre ní mhathúna, neach-ealain ann an Dùn Èideann , dualchas luachmhar Bàta nan Salm a ghlacadh gu cruthachail.

The Psalmboat community travel from Lewis bringing stories, poetry and the magnificent sound of Gaelic Psalms. Hear about sailing to church services, weddings, communion weekends and funerals, and discover how Edinburgh-based artist déirdre ní mhathúna was inspired to work with islanders to rediscover the cultural riches of the Psalmboats of Loch Erisort.

We are also delighted to have the support of local estate, Soval. The multi-disciplinary community will gather at Old Soval Lodge, Kinloch for a two-week residency in August 2017 from where we will re-envision, re-enact and record the psalmboat journeys of Lochs.

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To round off an important year for the project, Lorgan Bàta nan Salm-Traces of the Psalmboats will visit other communities on Lewis and Harris, when we participate in Luminate – Festival of Creative Ageing. We plan to produce an educational pack and to also visit island schoolchildren, ensuring that the rich traditions we are restoring to living memory can live on in the next generation.

A-mach às na tachartasan uile, gheibhear prògram airson rèidio, pasgan foghlaim, taisbeanadh agus an stuth airson fiolm “documentary”.  From all these events a radio programme, an educational pack and the material for a documentary film will emerge.

VIDEO (2016): A’ sireadh Bàta nan Salm-In search of the psalmboats

air ais dhan bhòrd/back to the drawing board

The Psalmboat re-enactments and events planned for August couldn’t go ahead for a hundred practical reasons, including funding difficulties. However our determined team of Leòdhasachs are not giving up yet! Committee meetings and creative meetings have carried on, the phone lines have been buzzing and we are all hopeful that there will be good news to share before long.

Na Lochan a Tuath

 

Bàta nan Salm: re-imagining the psalmboat journeys of Loch Erisort

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an sgeulachd gu nise/the story so far (2014-2015): research, re-enact, recollect.

August 2016/Lunasdal 2016: fingers and toes crossed, fabulous plans await funding confirmation!

Fiosrachadh mun phròiseact/project info an seo

Freumhan a’ phròiseact /roots of the project here