An Comunn Gàidhealach Publications > Sruth > Volume 2 > No. 77, 5 March 1970

SRUTH, Di-ardaoin, 5mh latha de’n Mhairt 1970
THREE
New North Minch '^,
- . . ^ Thailleir”
Link?
After a number of years of
discussion and controversy about
the provision of a North-Minch
Stornoway to Ullapool sea-link,
it looks as though the folk on
the Isle of Lewis will see a new
mainland contact within the next
decade.
This was revealed at a recent
meeting in Dingwall by mem¬
bers of the Scottish Transport
Group.
The meeting was attended by
S.T.G. officials, representatives
of three local authorities, har¬
bour and pier groups, fishing
interests, the Scottish Develop¬
ment Department, and the
Highlands and Islands Develop¬
ment Board.
It was said at the meeting
that the S.T.G. would initiate
talks with Stornoway Pier and
Harbour Commission, Ullapool
Pier trustees and members of
Ross and Cromarty County
Council and Stornoway Town
Council. The purpose of these
talks would be to prepare de¬
signs and estimated costs of the
necessary developments to the
piers at Stornoway and Ulla¬
pool
A spokesman for the S.T.G.
said that the members felt it
was necessary for the North
Minch sea-link project to be
considered as a communications
provision which was justified.
From a forecast analysis it ap¬
peared that there would be suffi¬
cient traffic and work for both
the new ferry and the existing
Uig-Tarbert (Harris) service.
The S.T.G. appreciated and
understood the fears of the
people at Kyle of Lochalsh.
They were very worried about
the future, particularly in view
of the real possibility of the
present social grant which is
keeping the Inverness-Kyle rail¬
way open being refused in two
years time — leading to the
closure of the line.
“The members of the Group
were' confident that Kyle will
remain the gateway to Skye.”
This was said by Col. P. M.
Thomson, S.T.G. chairman.
“We are producing the roll¬
on, roll-off ferries to operate
there and the slipways are being
constructed. This, to my mind,
puts Kyle on a major trunk
route with terrific scope for de¬
velopment.”
The S.T.G. have also said
that it was almost certain the
Loch Seaforth steamer service
from Mallaig and Kyle of Loch¬
alsh would cease. The Loch
D unvegan cargo service between
Glasgow and Stornoway would
be phased out. But the Uig-Tar-
bert (Harris) ferry would con¬
tinue to operate.
As expected the S.T.G. would
not make any comments on the
litical aspects of its proposals.
No mention was made of the
nrosposed Kyle-Skye bridge
which was the subject of a
special feasibility survey con¬
ducted last year by the Scottish
Council (Development and In¬
dustry).
It is expected now that the
matter of the North-Minch sea-
link has been brought out into
the glare of an official light, the
S.T.G. proposals will be dis¬
cussed with heat and fervour in
the next few months.
Bha dibhersain aighearach
agus grinn aig sluagh Chille-
mhoire Throtarneis bho chion
ghoirid. Is e Iain Tormod
Macafee a tha na mhaisghir-
sgoile agus clann na sgoile
a chuir air adhart fear de na
deilbh-qhluich aig ar bana-
charaid choir nach maireann,
Catriona Dhughlas. Bha
chlann a ghabh pairt bho aois
sia bliadhna agus air adhart,
agus bu taitneach an sealladh
e am feasgair a chaidh a chuir
seachad le oigridh agus le
daoine dheth gach aois.
Tha mor mheas aig clann
agus oigridh ann a bhi gab-
hail parit ann an leithid so a
rud agus tha cheart uiread a
thlachd aig daoine is sine ann
an ni cho neo-chionteach,
agus cho tlachdmhor ,agus gu
h-araidh deilbh-qhluich col-
tach ri obair Chatriona. Be
an dealbh a chluich iad.
“ Agus O thaillear ” sgeime
dibhersaineach air an taillear
a bha cho traing a suiridhe’s
gun robh sluagh a bhaile ann
an luideagan le cin an eud-
aich, a featheamh air cim-
hlionadh nan geallaidhean a
rinn an taillear dhaibh.
Tha ar beannachd aig an
og- bhean-teagaisg, agus a
luchd-cuidichidh a ghabh
a leithid a shaothair leis a
chlann. Meall an naigheachd
dhaibh uile !
Nach bochd an ni e nach
eil an leithid so a gabhail
aite ann an iomadh sgoil am
measg nan eileanan agus nach
bochd an ni e nach eil deilbh-
chluich Chatriona uile air an
clodh-bhualadh agus air an
cuir ann an lamhan gach bean-
sgoile Gaidhealach og aig am
bheil toil agus tlachd ann an
leithid a ni.
Royal Opening For Highlands
Countryside Festival
Princess Margaret will open
the Festival of the Country¬
side at Gairloch on Monday,
May 11th. The Festival has
been devised by the High¬
lands and Islands Develop¬
ment Board as a major
contribution to the Scottish
programme for European
Conservation Year 1970 and
will run to May 22nd. It is
being promoted by the Board
in association with the Wes¬
ter Ross Area Toursit Or¬
ganisation.
On hearing the news the
Tourist Organisation’s chair¬
man, Mr Michael Reyntiens,
said: “ I am delighted that
H.R.H. has agreed to come
to Wester Ross and honour
us by opening the Festival.
The Festival will cover the
whole of Wester Ross with
events in Ullapool, Gairloch
and South West areas.”
Describing the Festival pro¬
gramme, Sir James Mackay,
the Board member for tourism
who is also a member of the
Countryside Commission for
Scotland, said that the wealth
of countryside resources in
Wester Ross would be on
display during the 12-day
period of the Festival.
The Forestry Commission,
Nature Conservancy and
National Trust for Scotland
have arranged special “open
days ” at their properties with
guided tours and demonstra¬
tions. During the second
week the R.M.S. “ King
George V ” has been char¬
tered to operate special day
cruises from Ullapool, Kyle
of Lochalsh and Gairloch.
An expedition to St Kilda by
chartered yacht is scheduled,
as is a programme of air tours
from Plockton Airstrip.
The Festival programme in¬
cludes many other interesting
events with visits to a Fishery
Research Station, a fisheries
exhibition, mountain rescue
demonstrations and a display
of peat cutting. The events
will also follow the country¬
side theme and include illus¬
trated talks by local and
national personalities. A
countryside cinema, at which
programmes of outstanding
films on wild life and country¬
side themes will be shown,
is to be operated through the
Highlands and Islands Film
Guild.
LAND RECLAIMED
More than 50 square miles
of hill land has now been re¬
claimed by crofters with the
assistance of grant from the
Crofters Commission. Most
of the work has been done by
surface treatment without
ploughing. In annoucing this
the Commission add that a
total of 2,781 acres were im¬
proved during the year 1969
compared with 2,587 acres
during 1968.
The enterprise and initia¬
tive shown by crofters in de¬
veloping their land in this way
was praised by Mr J. S. Grant,
chairamn of the Crofters
Commission.
“ The Commission’s aim is
to help crofters to help them¬
selves,” he said. “ The crofter
takes the decision and does
the work. When necessary the
Colleges of Agriculture give
advice. We give the grants
and make the land available.
Failte Do Lybster
THE PORTLAND ARMS
extends a warm welcome
Salmon Fishing, Trout Fishing
Sea Angling
Good Fare and a Fine Cellar
CroiteireannanUachdarain
Bheaga?
Ged nach croiteir mi ’sann de
chroiteirean a tha mi agus is
croiteirean mo shluagh am
feadh iomadh linn. A bharrachd
air a sin tha beagan solais agam
air fearann agus air cuisean na
Gaidhealtachd. Tha mor uidh
Le D. BUDGE
agus deigh agam a thaoobh cor
agus suidheachadh nan croitei¬
rean agus nan Eileanach. Air
dhomh a bhi deanamh moran
smuaineachaidh air an tairgse a
tha air a chur fo chomhair nan
croiteirean tha mi dheth’n
bharail gu laidir gur e mear-
achd mhor a bhiodh ann gab¬
hail ris an tairgse mar a tha t
air a cur fa’n comhair.
’Se bhiodh an seo cruidh-
leum aims an dorchadas, bho ni
dearbhta a dh’ionnsaidh ni
nacheil idir cinnteach, bho ni a
tha sinn a tuigsinn a dh’ionn¬
saidh ni a tha mi-chinnteach air
leth.
’S docha gum b’fheairde
staid na croiteireachd beagan
sgrudadh a bhi air a dheanamh
air, agus’s docha atharraichean
a bhi deanta a bhiodh freagar-
rach air an seorsa latha th’ann
an diugh, ach is e goraich mhor
a bhiodh ann a bhi tilgeadh air
falbh an ni is fhearr a thachair
riamh do’n chroiteir agus do’n
Ghaidhealtachd. Tha sinn ann
am mor chomain buill a Chom-
ission airson an t-saothair mhor
a ghabh iad agus airson gach
oidhirp tha iad fhathast a
deanamh air gach ceilp-tuislidh
a than anns an rathad a chuir a
thaobh, air an t-slighe a. dh’¬
ionnsaidh uachdaranachd (no
uachdarachd) a thoirt do na
Gaidheil. A dh’aindeoin sin, tha
fior eagal ann an cridheachan
nan croiteirean gur h’e tha air a
thairgsinn dhaibh faileas an aite
ni tha buan agus maireann.
Tha ni no dha a cur ioghnadh
air an fhear-sgriobhaidh agus’s
maith a dh’fhaoidhte air moran
eile! Carson a tha buill a
Chomission a’gearradh air falbh
na talamh bho bhonn an casan
fhein? Carson a tha iad
a’leigeil air falbh nam ballaich-
ean a tha ga’n dion fhein? Oir
ma thig an ni a tha fainear
dhaibh gu buil thig crioch air
croiteirachd agus air Commis¬
sion na Croiteirean!
Ni eile—cha deacha riamh
innseadh dhuinn co chuir air
(Continued on page 9)
move in friendly circles
why not join us,
THE Banking people?
Work in a congenial atmosphere, a chance to
make new but lasting friendships, good money
and working conditions, three weeks holiday
— in other words, enjoyable work!
CAN YOU OFFER ? —
GIRLS—A good educational standard
BOYS—4 ‘O’ Levels (including English)
(‘Highers’ preferred carrying
£100 extra on salary)
Contact your Local Manager or apply in
writing to
The Staff Managers
The Royal Bank
of Scotland
P.O. Box 31
42 St Andrew Square
Edinburgh, EH2 2YE