Co-labhairt Eilthireachd Innse Gall a’ Gabhail Thagraidhean
Outer Hebrides Emigration Conference Open for Bookings
Bookings are now open for a conference on the theme of Outer Hebridean emigration which takes place this autumn in Stornoway.
A three-day conference ‘Saoghal Mòr Farsaing’, will be held at Lews Castle, Stornoway, from 30th September to 2nd October 2025. This event is being organised by Museum & Tasglann nan Eilean, part of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Heritage and Culture Team, and will consider the theme of Outer Hebrides emigration from a range of perspectives.
The conference programme offers a wide and varied consideration of emigration – a subject so significant to the history of the islands. The first two days of the conference will feature a series of academic speakers from Scotland, Canada and the USA. Subjects covered will include chain migration, state directed colonisation, forced child migration, ancestral tourism and the artistic portrayal of emigration.
Some presentations will be through the medium of Gaelic with simultaneous translation for in-person delegates. This will include ‘Gaelic language and culture in Nova Scotia: a’coimhead air n-ais, is a’ coimhead air adhart’ and ’S e Crìoch Gach Comunn Dealachadh: Contextualising the experiences of the emigrant Gael through their poetry and song’.
Other subjects discussed will be the living traditions carried through language, culture and music, today’s understanding of the effect of migration on human psychology and relationships with the Peoples whose lands were settled.
The keynote address will be delivered by University of Aberdeen Professor Marjory Harper who is also a renowned author of several books on the subject of Scottish diaspora and emigration.
We are delighted that three academics from the University of Alberta, whose research is focused on the fur trade, have received funding to attend the conference in person. We look forward to welcoming them to the Outer Hebrides and exchanging ideas and research.
On the third day in-person delegates will have the option of three field trips to community venues and sites in the isle of Lewis connected to emigration, arranged in partnership with Outer Hebrides Heritage Forum members.
Delegates can attend the event in person, or the conference will also be accessible online. There will be a mix of in-person and virtual speakers allowing for input from overseas.
The conference has received funding from Museum Galleries Scotland and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar/Crown Estates, with venue sponsorship from Together Travel.
Cllr Kenny Macleod, Convener of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar said: “Saoghal Mòr Farsaing will be an important and informative event marking a crucial aspect of island history. This conference will tell the story of the impact and legacy of emigration over hundreds of years.”
Thathas a-nise a’ gabhail thagraidhean airson àiteachan aig co-labhairt mu eilthireachd à Innse Gall a bhios a’ tachairt ann an Steòrnabhagh san fhoghar sa tighinn.
Bidh ‘Saoghal Mòr Farsaing,’ co-labhairt a mhaireas trì latha, a’ gabhail àite ann an Caisteal Leòdhais, Steòrnabhagh, bho 30 Sultain chun an 2 den Damhair 2025. Bidh an tachartas air a chur air chois le Museum & Tasglann nan Eilean, meur de sgioba Dualchais agus Cultair Chomhairle nan Eilean Siar, ‘s bithear a’ beachdachadh air eilthireachd às Innse Gall bho ghrùnn sheallaidhean.
Bidh a’ cho-labhairt a’ tairgse bheachdan gu math farsaing ‘s eadar-dhealaichte air eilthireachd – cuspair a tha cho cudromach ann an eachdraidh nan eilean. Cluinnear bho grùnn òraidichean à Alba, Canada agus Ameireaga thairis air a’ chiad dà latha. Thèid cuspairean leithid eilthireachd sreatha, tuineachadh air a bhrosnachadh leis an stàite, eilthireachd chloinne dhan aindeoin, turasachd sìnnsearachd agus an dòigh anns a bheil luchd-ealain a’ riochdachadh eilthireachd a dheasbad.
Bidh cuid de na h-òraidean no taisbeanaidhean ann an Gàidhlig ach bidh eadar-theangachadh beò ann dhan fheadhainn a bhios an làthair ‘s aig am bi feum air a leithid. Am measg nan taisbeanaidhean seo bidh, ‘Cànan is Cultar na Gàidhlig ann an Alba Nuadh: A’ coimhead air n-ais, is a’ coimhead air adhart’ agus ’S e Crìoch Gach Comunn Dealachadh: ‘A’ toirt co-theacsa do na thachair ri eilthirich Ghàidhealach tron cuid bàrdachd agus òrain.’
Am measg chuspairean eile thèid a dheasbad bidh na cleachdaidhean beatha a th’air an giùlain tro chànan, cultur agus ceòl, tuigse san latha an-diugh air buaidh eilthireachd air ìnntinn mhic an duine agus an daimh ris na daoine a bha fuireach anns na dùthchannan sin bho thùs.
Bidh phrìomh òraid air a lìbhrigeadh leis an Ard-Ollaibh Marsaili Harper bho Oilthigh Obar Dheathain a tha na h-ùghdar ainmeil air grùnn leabhraichean mu sgaoileadh-sliochd agus eilthireachd Alba.
Tha sinn air leth toilichte gun d’fhuair triùir sgoilearan à Oilthigh Alberta, a tha air a bhith rannsachadh gnìomhachas na bèine, maoineachadh gus tighinn chun na co-labhairt. Tha sinn a’ dèanamh fiughair ri bhith a’ cur fàilte orra anns na h-Eileanan Siar ‘s air cothrom gus coimeas a dhèanamh eadar beachdan agus dòighean rannsachaidh.
Air an treas latha, bidh cothrom aig buill a bhios an làthair taghadh a dhol air thrì cuairtean gu àitichean no làraich coimhearsnachd ann an Lèodhas a tha co-cheangailte ri eilthireachd. Bidh seo air a chur air chois ann an co-phàirt ri buill Forum Dualchais Innse Gall.
Faodaidh buill a bhith an làthair no faodar ceangal a-steach chun na co-labhairt air loidhne.
Bidh measgachadh de luchd-labhairt an làthair ach tha gu bheil cuid air loidhne a’ ciallachadh gum faod feadhainn de na h-òraidean tighinn bho thall thairis.
Tha a’ cho-labhairt air maoineachadh fhaighinn bho Thaighean Tasgaidh agus Galaraidhean na h-Alba agus Comhairle nan Eilean Siar / Oighreachd a’ Chrùin, ‘s taic ionaid bho Together Travel.
Thuirt Coinneach Macleòid, Neach-gairm Comhairle nan Eilean Siar: ‘S e tachartas cudromach, ìnntinneach a bhios ann an “Saoghal Mòr Farsaing” a’ comharrachadh pàirt gu math cudtromach de dh’eachdraidh nan eilean. Innsidh a’ cho-labhairt seo sgeulachd, buaidh agus dìleab eilthireachd thairis air ceudan bliadhna.”
Fiosrachadh mun làn phrògram ‘s mu mar a dh’fhaodar clàradh.
