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Bàta na Sgeire Duibhe: soitheach a chaidh às an rathad.

Track Information

Original Track ID

SA1970.54.B1; SA1970.54.B2

Original Tape ID

SA1970.054

Summary

When the Russian boat was wrecked on the Black Skerry.

A Russian boat, from Archangel, with a cargo of pitch-pine was wrecked off Islay in c.1930. The entire crew of ship was lost and many are buried on the little island off Portnahaven. The contributor's great-grandfather was one of the first to sight the wood afloat. This wood was salvaged, permission being granted by the authorities through the local Excise Officer, and used in the building of Portnahaven and Port Wemyss. These two fishing villages were built in the 1830s to accommodate land-workers evicted during the Clearances. Mention is made of the emigrant ship 'Venus nan Gàidheal', on which many Islay folk sailed to Cape Breton in 1831.

Recording Location

County - Argyllshire

Island - Islay

Item Location

County - Argyllshire

Island - Islay

Language

Gaelic

Collection

SoSS

Source Type

Reel to reel

Audio Quality

Good