Mapping out local heritage
THE Heritage Maps project, an initiative to put the Western Isles' history, culture, folklore and legends 'on the map', kicked off in March of this year and last week saw the penultimate meeting of the project with a week long stay in the Isles, based at Langass Lodge North Uist.
The project, which has partners in Iceland, Norway, Scotland (Orkney and Uists) and as far as Hungary, aims to bring to tourists, schools and local tourism guides an illustrated and informative guide in the form of a map featuring cultural, heritage and historical events in the region's history from ancient times up until the modern day.
During their island stay, the group had the opportunity to visit the local school and to speak to the students to ask their opinions on what they would include in a young persons' map.
They, of course, came up with some interesting examples for inclusion in their map, such as red hair, or Irn Bru!
The group also met with Uists' historical society, talked with local artists and were entertained by musicians at the Uist campus of the Highlands and Islands University.
Project leader Rognvaldur Gudmansson (Iceland) said: "I am impressed with the depth of the heritage here in the islands and deeply moved by the beauty surrounding the lucky islanders on all four sides."
Another group member, Agnes Bocsac, is a director of a further education and vocational school in Salgotarean, Hungary and along with her son, a lawyer from Budapest, they were both encouraged and impressed by the knowledge and awareness of world affairs that the pupils showed and the free and easy way which the students spoke with the visitors from abroad.
Flora Macdonald, a spinner and weaver from Uist and Ole Furset, director of South Troms Museums, Norway, spoke at length about the connection between a Norwegian shipwrecked family (who have a living descendent on the islands) that were instrumental in building the islands' spinning wheels.
The next meeting of the project will be in Hardstadt, Norway and it is hoped the maps will be printed next spring.
A variety of topics will be featured on the maps from Icelandic Viking sagas in the north of Iceland, the history of the church in South Iceland, the WWII history of Orkney and of the castles, folk tales from Hungary and, of course, the history and cultural events that have shaped the Western Isles.
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Weather for Stornoway
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 19 C
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Temperature: 11 C to 20 C
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