Seaweed is the focus of annual symposium

Ceòlas’s annual symposium has become an integral part of Uist’s July calendar, allowing for a community-led scrutiny of their shared heritage.

 

The foreshore and its resources – specifically seaweed – featured as this year’s topic.

 

For generations, the people of Uist have used seaweed in a plethora of ways, perhaps most notably during the kelp boom of the 18th and 19th centuries.

 

However, with new developments in research and global commerce, the seaweed business may enjoy a resurgence on Uist.

 

Ceòlas’s aim for the symposium was to explore the industrial history and potential avenues for future development.

 

A series of lectures were presented by speakers Philip Kerrison, of the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), and Dr Kevin Grant, of Historic Environment Scotland (HES), on the history and archaeology of seaweed extraction in Uist and on current trends in the industry globally.

 

A series of walks to the foreshore were led by Heather Beaton, from the RSPB, and Fiona Bird, an author and forager. Participants explored the shore habitats and discovered which foods are available naturally in the area.

 

Dr Grant also led an archaeology walk of the kelp industry at Taobh a Tuath Loch Aoineart, where many tons of kelp and potash left Uist’s shores for international markets.

 

Ceòlas also hosted Gaelic author Màrtainn Mac an t-Saoir on Sunday evening as he launched his new novel, Samhradh ’78, about a young man who comes to Uist in 1978 and records exponents of the oral tradition.

 

Those present at the book launch, organised in partnership with Luath Press, also enjoyed listening to a selection of field recordings made by Màrtainn in the 1990s in Uist.

 

In the evenings, Talla an Ìochdair hosted two concerts. The piping concert, opened by Ailis Sutherland, featured the trio of Ali Hutton, Ross Ainslie and Jenn Butterworth. The family cèilidh, hosted by Mòrag Dhòmhnallach of Radio nan Gàidheal, featured a line-up of local musicians, many of them under 20.

 

The symposium opened Sunday afternoon with the annual symposium mass in Eaglais Àird Choinnich in Ìochdar, given by Mgr Mìcheal MacDonald, the parish priest. The symposium was then drawn to a close by the Rev Ishie MacLean during a service in Eaglais Thobh’ Mòir.

 

The Ceòlas symposium was generously funded by HIE, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Creative Scotland.