North Uist is an island of just over 1,200 people, spread out over a landscape of fresh and saltwater lakes. Long, sandy beaches make up its west coast, and it is surrounded by many other islands, making up the Scottish Outer Hebrideans.
There is a strong sense of community, despite the distance between the houses and crofts. People have been living on the island since the neolithic ages, and there are remains to show this. The sites have astonished people over the ages, and many stories and myths have been retold in Gaelic and passed down through generations, now even in English.
Storytellers
The tradition of oral storytelling is an ancient one and North Uist has a plethora of stories narrated by young and old. As part of this project, our youths interviewed prominent storytellers to learn more about the tales they have heard since they were young. These were told in English and in Gaelic, as there is something much more expressive in the way stories are told and captured in Gaelic.
Dun an Sticir
Dun an Sticir is an Iron Age broch on an island in the middle of a lake, north of Lochamddy. Getting to the broch is an adventure in itself as this is only possible by going over two causeways that can sometimes be partially submerged during high tides.
In the 16th century, a fort still stood on the island. It was the home of Hugh MacDonald of Sleat who plotted to murder his cousin. This story is dramatised in the retelling of the story below. It is also available in Gaelic here.