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Discover more about Tobar an Dualchais/Kist o Riches in the blogs published here, which cover a wide range of fascinating subjects from the website. We also publish information about our events, projects and resources in this section. Blogs are added on a regular basis so please re-visit this section to view the latest ones and keep up to date with what we’re doing.

Just Passing the Time?

Donald Smith is one of the workshop leaders for the ‘Learning from the Kist: Storytelling Workshop’, and he has been spending time on the Tobar an Dualchais/ Kist o Riches website undertaking research for the event. In this blog, Donald looks at the significance of tests, challenges and puzzles in storytelling.

A Kist Full of Gems

Jess Smith is one of three gifted storytellers taking part in ‘Stories from the Kist’, a special evening of storytelling in Scots and Doric relating to nature and place. In this blog, Jess reflects on the significance which recording equipment has had on the preservation of memories and folklore, and the access to them which has been made available through Tobar an Dualchais/Kist o Riches.

Kist o Riches’ Events Celebrate Scotland’s Year of Stories

Kist o Riches/Tobar an Dualchais has organised two storytelling events in Edinburgh in early May as part of Scotland’s Year of Stories. The events will feature some of Scotland's most talented storytellers and will showcase the Scots and Doric stories, including Traveller tales, on its website,

A Hero Called Jack

Donald Smith is one of the workshop leaders for the ‘Learning from the Kist: Storytelling Workshop’, and he has been spending time on the Tobar an Dualchais/ Kist o Riches website as part of his research for the event. In this blog, Donald focusses on the significance of the many ‘Jack’ stories to be found on the site.

Custom, culture and what accrues – the dresser’s place’

As part of a research collaboration between Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and Tobar an Dualchais, RAGHNAID SANDILANDS has been developing a new Gaelic cultural resource for schools. Here she discusses how the pine dressers became part of this work.

TOBAR AN DUALCHAIS: what can proverbs tell us about dùthchas?

Dùthchas – a Gaelic word which carries so much complexity, it needs its own thesis. Ryan Dziadowic looks at the traditional Gaelic concept of dùthchas and what it means in the modern world…..