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Mnathan Luaidh – Waulking Group

What an amazing turn out for our Waulking group today! It was wonderful to see such a great crowd for our cloth Waulking demonstration. Many thanks to everyone who joined us!

waulking group 1.jpg

Am Bogsa-Ciùil

What a fantastic start to our Sunday session with a great turnout from our young box players! It's wonderful to see such enthusiasm and skill on display. We hope to see everyone again next week and extend a warm welcome to anyone else hiding out there. Please dust off your box and come along—young and old alike! 
 

Calling all closet box players - young and old!

Am Bogsa-Ciùil

Calling all closet box players – young and old! 

Come and enjoy making music together at the 

Heritage Centre on a Sunday afternoon 2-4 pm. 

Sessions starting on Sunday 19th May 2024. 

Players of all ages and abilities welcome. 

TURN UP AND TUNE UP at 2.00 pm! 

Mnathan Luaidh – Waulking Group

Come along to the Heritage Centre

on Thursday 23rd May 2024 between

1300 and 1400 when the Waulking Group

will give a demonstration of waulking

the cloth – with songs and laughter.

Have fun and join in if you wish!

The Catalina Crash

The 12th May 2024 marks the 80th Anniversary of the Catalina Crash on Vatersay.  The Catalina JX273 was flying a night operational flying exercise out of 302 FTU Base at Oban on 12th May 1944.  Whilst climbing out, the aircraft hit the rising ground in Vatersay between 600-700 ft.  Of the nine crew members, three were killed and six were injured.  One of the injured crewmen Flight Engineer Sgt Richard Whiting will be 100 years old on the 24th May 2024!  Sgt Whiting wishes to pass on his deepest thanks to all involved in the rescue for their thought and kindness all those years ago.  The people of Vatersay and Barra wish Sgt Whiting the happiest of birthdays – an amazing milestone!  Sgt Whiting is standing in the back row, second from the right.  A model of the Catalina was donated to the Heritage Centre by the South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum and Don Valley Model Flying Club in memory of all the aircrew that lost their lives defending our country.  

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YPI - Youth and Philanthropy Initiative

The delighted committee of Comunn Eachdraidh Bharraidh agus Bhatarsaidh received a cheque for £3000 from S3 pupils Eilidh MacLeod, Sorcha MacDougall and Calum MacNeil (missing from photo) who won the YPI (Youth and Philanthropy Initiative) for their chosen charity Barra Heritage Centre.

Ceud Mile Taing.

Canna Schooldays:
A Century of Teaching and Learning
on the Isle of Canna by A K Riley

The Comunn Eachdraidh welcomed author Kate Riley to the Centre recently.  She signed copies of her book Canna Schooldays which tells the history of a Century of Teaching and Learning on the Isle of Canna.  She herself taught in Canna for six years from 1986.  Signed copies are available for sale at the Centre.

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Author Kate Riley signing a copy of her book at the Heritage Centre. 

Kate Riley photo with Calum_edited.jpg

Author Kate Riley signing a copy of her book at the

Heritage Centre along with Calum MacNeil. 

Author Kate Riley at the

Heritage Centre along with Calum MacNeil, Flora Thompson and Sorcha MacDougall, School pupil. 

An Sgoilear Bàn - Grinn School

​She also donated the teaching certificates of An Sgoilear Bàn and they can be viewed at the Centre.  He was born in Mingulay in 1878 and not only taught in several schools, including Mingulay and Grìnn but also in Canna.  He passed away from 1940 at Earsary.

You can purchase a signed copy of her meticulously

researched account at the Heritage Centre.

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