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3rd August 2007

Durness Highland Gathering

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Chieftain Willie Morrison is piped to the village square accompanied by games President Iain Anderson
Chieftain Willie Morrison peruses the 2007 Games Field

Just before midday last Friday a short but heavy rain shower looked to threaten the busiest day on the Durness calendar as the crowds gathered in the village square to watch and join the parade to start the 2007 Durness Highland Gathering. Fortunately the dark skies cleared and for the rest of the afternoon a bright sky with light winds prevailed and the Games were completed without a hitch. From the village square Chieftain Willie Morrison followed the Forres Pipe band and the Ullapool and District Junior Pipe band leading the parade to the Games field in Shore Park, set with a wonderful seascape backdrop and a natural arena with a small hill perfectly positioned to accommodate a crowd of spectators

Supported on the platform by a small band of past chieftains chairperson of the Games Iris Mackay greeted visitors from home and abroad to this years events, the annual celebration of culture and heritage before she welcomed the Chieftain for 2007 to officially open the 2007 Gathering. Willie Morrison is a native of Durness brought up in Sangobeg with his brother David on the family croft where until very recently lived their elderly mother Jess. Willie was educated at Durness Primary school and Dornoch Academy before attending Glasgow College of Commerce and perusing a very successful career in journalism working with various newspaper groups always managing to give Durness a mention when appropriate. He recently received the Barron award for a lifetime achievement to journalism which was great honour. Willie now lives in Inverness with his wife Jennifer and they have two grown up sons and a grand daughter who all love to come to the family home in Durness when ever they can. A native Durness Gaelic speaker Willie started his introductory speech in his much loved tongue Gaelic, one of the very few remaining local speakers. Willie is regularly to be found singing Gaelic songs at ceilids whenever the occasion arises. In his opening speech Willie admitted he was honoured to be Chieftain although not one for achieving many sporting accolades but was looking forward to meeting up with old friends and watching others participating in the sports. He confessed he was not much of a speechmaker preferring to put his thoughts in writing but in a mild and meant manner he paid tribute to old friends and hoped everyone would enjoy themselves.
The Games field was surrounded by stalls of all varieties, some local, catering, crafts, confectionary, Fair trade and local produce giving the site a carnival spirit. Hew Haw Donkeys were kept busy providing children with short rides and the helicopter offering a thrilling opportunity to see Durness from the air was constantly carrying people around the locality for about six minutes a go. The crowds were in excess of recent previous years but even with all the competitions open to everyone competitors were slightly down even with compare Graham Bruce encouraging and explaining the history behind all the events. At just after 4pm the events drew to a close and the cups were awarded to the winners and the raffle was drawn.
In 1970 the Durness Games were revived after they had ceased to come about for a number of years. Two people, Danny Mackay and Dorothy Frazer have been on the games committee since and were presented with engraved glasses and decanters on behalf of the games committee by President Iain Anderson at the end of the day bringing the Highland Gathering to another successful conclusion. Later in the evening the Sports night dance was held in the village hall where dancing to Rhythm ‘n’ Reel went on into the small hours.


Ceannabeinne Archaeology

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As part of the interpretation project at the preclearance township of Ceannabeinne local enthusiast Graham Bruce and archaeologists from Glasgow University have been working on 3 specific sites and mapping the entire place recording various features. Initial results show that the site was intensely farmed using every available fertile area and the houses were in the most sheltered places out of the wind. The three sites being archeologically examined will be detailed on the interpretive panels along with the historical story on the trial being developed with artists impressions of the locality. The archaeology is exploring 3 long houses each with a different aspect. The first has been shown to have a fireplace in a gable end wall. This is significant in determining the period that the house was lived in as moving away from the central hearth was a significant social move. This house also shows signs of plaster on the walls and possible glass windows as fragments of glass have been found. The second archaeological site is exploring a drain proving to be from a byre at one end of another house where occupants kept cattle. Artefacts have been found in the drain and will be identified and dated and used to help further the explanation of the township. At the third archeologically site the dig appears to be uncovering a longhouse with a central hearth off set to the door giving a less modernised abode. There is still much work to be carried out but current resources have indicated that this area developed over a long period and housed families in different kinds of living accommodation all based on the traditional longhouse. Much stone tumble has been found and thus appears to be indicating that a severe and deliberate effort was made to destroy the buildings tying in with the historical records that the site was cleared quickly in 1842. This project is being funded by Scottish Natural Heritage, Heritage lottery Fund and Highland Years of Culture of which the archaeology is only one aspect. An environmental overview looking at the flora in the area and a comparison with 1841 has been ongoing and the Drama Group are reconstructing in theatre the stories that have been documented of the period. The final account of the project will include a DVD of the features included in the scheme.

Book Signing

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Kevin Crowe, partner in Loch Croispol Bookshop, Restaurant & Gallery, and Balnakeil Press.
Michael Merritt, freelance journalist and organiser of John Lennon Northern Lights Festival.
Michael Russell, author of "Shirley McKie: The Price of Innocence" and "The Next Big Thing", as well as various other titles. SNP list MSP for South Scotland, and Environment Minister in the Scottish Executive.

On Saturday 28th July, at Loch Croispol Bookshop, Restaurant & Gallery, SNP MSP Michael Russell signed copies of his two most recent books: "Shirley McKie: The Price of Innocence", co-written with Shirley's father Iain McKie, which recounts the miscarriage of justice she suffered and which resulted in her losing her job as a police officer, and ultimately receiving compensation; and "The Next Big Thing", a novel published by Durness based Balnakeil Press in which previously unknown poems by John Lennon are discovered on the walls of a ruined croft. It was the publication of "The Next Big Thing" that led to the organising of the John Lennon Northern Lights Festival taking place in Durness at the end of September. Tickets for the festival are available form the Loch Croispoil Bookshop or online at http://www.northhighlandsscotland.com/festival/ . Many of the events out with e main arena of the Hall are free.