Comann Eachdraidh Lios Mor

Aireamh Carthannais/Charity No. SC023503

www.celm.org.uk

Ionad Naomh Moluag

Newsletter             April 2007

It has finally happened. We are open. After a total of twelve years hard work Ionad Naomh Moluag has become a reality. The official opening on March 17th was an overwhelming experience with over two hundred guests attending. The appalling weather daunted no one. CELM owes a debt of gratitude to all who organised the day and to all who helped

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Retirals

Cathie Carmichael. Treasurer

Cathie Carmichael has been treasurer of Comann Eachdraidh Lios Mňr since 1994 and also a director for the last few years. She has been diligent and reliable in keeping our financial records in order – carefully watching and administrating – and, may I say – they were never overstretched. Along with Margaret MacDonald and myself, Cathie was one of the original founders.

We are sorry that she has decided to call it a day just when the future of Ionad Naomh Moluag is assured. We hope you pay us a visit from time to time and share a cup of tea with us. Ha sin moran nar comain a Chathie choir.

David White. Company Secretary.

David, who is also a long term member of CELM joined us just when we needed someone with computing skills for, in 1995, none of us were familiar with this  innovation. David was a pioneer and an expert in the widest sense of the word.

He has subsequently done a huge amount of research on a variety of subjects pertaining to Lismore’s distinctive history. He has also amassed a unique collection of antique books in English and Gaelic many of which are rare indeed.

We will miss your skills very much, David. In good time when you’ve had a rest maybe we could tempt you back.  our sincere and grateful thanks, David.                         Donald Black (Chair)

 

 

On Tuesday 17th April there was a full day course held in the Centre on how  to handle and document archive run by David Powell, archivist at Glasgow University. It was a practical and very informative day. Participants worked with our own archive material. There is a large amount of archive to be catalogued but, with so many of us now having specialist knowledge gained from the course, the backlog of work should be completed fairly quickly.

 

There are great plans for this celebratory year :

On Friday 22nd June at 7.30pm there will be a talk in the hall from Dr Tertia Barnett, Project Manager for Scotland’s Rural Past. Abandoned rural settlements and farmsteads on Lismore were recorded by the Royal Commission for Historic and Ancient Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) in the 70’s. They have not, however, been surveyed or researched. We have been selected as one of only four locations in Scotland to carry out this work. The project is to support local communities in investigating the sites and recording findings. The idea is that we, as a community, investigate the sites on our island and that those who wish to can choose a site or sites and do their own investigation. All equipment needed will be supplied and an information and education officer will be available for support. schools will be involved also and school packs will be provided. She will work on identification of sites listed and unlisted and about how, in general, the work will be carried out. She will return in September to give a taster session and provide training and then, hopefully, crowds of us will work on our chosen site(s).

We have plans, too, to work with Dr Simon Stoddart of Cambridge University towards the stabilisation of the Broch to prevent further erosion. Simon is looking into costings at the moment but our costs will be subsumed within our plan for the funding of Historic Island Trails  which is at the proposal stage.

 

Gift Shop

The Castle Coeffin Logo gift range was established to assist in funding for the CELM and was initially displayed in two cases; one in the schoolhouse and the other in the site portaccabin.

With the completion of the new Centre the original range plus additional items will now be in a more prominent position in the shop in the reception area.

The crucial aspect is now the important facility of displaying and retailing craft items produced on Lismore. To this end, I would be delighted to discuss the possibility of extending the range available.

                                                                               Tony Perkins.

 

 

 

Library

With Ionad Naomh Moluag up and running, we are now in the process of setting up two libraries: the Comann Eachdraidh library which already contains many gems in both Gaelic and English and books covering all genres, will be for use in Ionad Naomh Moluag  for study and research or just for interest.

The Public Library should be ready for all old, middle aged and young bookworms about the middle of April, including an exciting range of books and a special bookcase for the children.

We would like our library to be a much used and loved place, so please -make it just that.                   Barbara MacDougall

 

Lismore Café

As a wonderful asset to the museum, the Lismore Café opened officially on +Sunday 1st April to glorious sunshine and an enthusiastic crowd of eaters and drinkers. The 1st April may seem to many an unpropitious day to launch a new business but it was the wedding anniversary of the proprietors Gill and Davie Meddes so for them and for Rurigdh, Tess and Josie it was the best day to open.

Since then the café has been extremely busy. It’s been a long time since Lismore has had a place to meet and eat and, although meeting in each others’ houses has long been a tradition – and will continue to be so – it’s lovely to have a place where we can bring friends and not have to do the  cooking ourselves.

 

Book of Kells

We are delighted to host a replica of the Book of Kells in the summer. It will be housed in the library and will be a wonderful attraction for scholars as well as our usual summer visitors. More details of this as well as our other summer events in the next newsletter.

New Artefacts

Come and see the Gold Norse link plate (8th -10th century) and fragment of stone axe head (around 3000 BC) both found on Lismore and loaned to the museum by Argyll and Bute.

We are now looking for new committee members and volunteers. If you are willing to help – even the odd hour or two – then please contact Ina MacColl on  760247.

 

 

IONAD NAOMH MOLUAG

Opened 17th March 2007

Visits

Several visits have been planned for the near future:

Saturday 21st April                                          Appin Historical Group

Wednesday 9th May                                       Luing Historical Group

Wednesday 16th May – Thursday 17th May          Aran Islands Group

Saturday 19th May                Extraordinary General Meeting of CELM

Monday 21st May                                    Nadair Trust Board Meeting

Monday 11th June                            Meeting of 25 Members of  ISLA

Friday 22nd June               Dr Tertia Barnett, Scotland’s Rural Past

Tuesday 10th July                                                  Musical Recital

July/August                           Display of a replica of the Book of  Kells

 

Other proposals for the summer:

Outdoor theatre

Re-enactment weekend.

Two students from Minnesota to work in the Centre

A student from Cambridge University to work on archaeology.