The Arts - Na h-Ealain

Oral Traditions - Beul-Aithris

In addition to the written legacy, the culture of the Outer Hebrides has traditionally placed a high value on oral recollection. From the ancient Gaelic and Norse legends, anecdotes of local and national history, to the detailed chronological listing of the pedigree of familys ancestors, the collective folk memory is strong despite the diluting influence of television. It is common for many people to trace their ancestry back many generations from memory. Although many of the folk tales have been collected and written down by scholars, there are still many anecdotes that are unrecorded, surviving only in memory.

In 1978 a small project was started to encourage greater access and appreciation to the unwritten history of these islands and this has since resulted in the formation of a number of independent local history societies (the Comuinn Eachdraidh) throughout the island chain. These local groups collect photographs; tape recorded interviews and sometimes local artefacts.

From the north of Lewis to the south of Barra a number of them have held exhibitions and cultural events to display and interpret different aspects of the local history of their area. Most of the work of these local history societies has naturally been in the native Gaelic, but people are only too happy to explain the materials to visitors who want to gain further knowledge.