The Isle of Tiree

    Though much less known than some other parts of Scotland, Tiree has conserved much of the tradtional culture. One of the more remote islands in the the Inner Hebrides, one part of Tiree faces the Atlantic and on another part the island of Mull can be seen to the east. Tiree is flat in most places, but there are some high promontories which overlook picturesque bays and beaches as in the village of Balephuil, depicted at left. You can view an enlargement of the picture by pressing here.

    Where other islands show vestiges of Scottish tradition, visitors do not have far to look on Tiree. In addition to an Iron Age fort, there are several "black houses" and thatched cottages having very thick walls, which keep their occupants warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The Gaelic language continues to be spoken on the island, which is also famous for storytellers and musicians who lived there and who were interviewed extensively by fieldworkers from the School of Scottish Studies of the University of Edinburgh. One of the traditional bards, Donald Sinclair, lived in Balephuil.


Donald recalled many of the stories and songs of his older relatives, and he was able to recite them in either Gaelic or English. For example, the Battle of the Sheaves recalls a legend of how islanders fought off Vikings with some pretty improbable weapons. In another story, one much closer to his own time, Donald tells of a major disaster that afflicted Balephuil.

While Tiree is a bright spot in Scottish culture, it is also changing. Most young people on the island learn English in their earliest years and not Gaelic. Moreover, a bilingual education program has been very controversial. Even so, many islanders strive to keep not only the language alive but many other traditions as well.

Press here to see other pictures of Tiree.

Press here to learn about the activities of one school (on another island) established to promote the use Gaelic.