Projects and Events
Some of our past and present activities which highlight the history of the island and engage the interest and involvement of the community.
Lobster Fishing in Berneray from 1850 to 1930 - 24 July 2025
As the Society's contribution to Berneray Week, Liam Crouse gave a talk about lobster fishing in Berneray between 1850 and 1930. Liam had researched the subject extensively from Tobar an Dualchais and other archives. He sang three Gaelic songs by Berneray bards. There was an appreciative audience of over 50, an excellent evening.
Talk and Slide show with Susanne Barding - 9th July 2025
The Nurse's Cottage was the setting when Susanne Barding, during a return visit to Berneray, gave a talk about her recent book, "What's Your Name?" The book is about naming traditions in the Hebrides and the Faroe Islands. Susanne's talk was accompanied by a display of her photographs taken during her stays in Berneray in the early 1970s.
The Cottage was packed for this entertaining and informative meeting when our new large screen television was used to show the photographs to their full advantage.
Seachdain na Gàidhlig - National Gaelic Week 24 February - 2 March 2025
Comunn Eachdraidh Bheàrnaraigh / Berneray Historical Society took part in Seachdain na Gàidhlig for the first time.
During National Gaelic Week Gaelic lessons took place in the Nurse's Cottage on two occasions. The lessons were available to all without charge inviting people to learn and use some basic Gaelic.
On a third day BHS arranged a Gaelic Coffee Morning, also in the Nurse's Cottage. Learners and fluent speakers came together with everyone present appreciating the opportunity to speak Gaelic at their own level of fluency. The Coffee Morning was a very enjoyable occasion, promoting the use of Gaelic in Berneray; we would like to thank the sponsors of Seachdain na Gàidhlig for their support.
Our aim was to build links between fluent Gaelic speakers in Berneray and people who are already learning Gaelic or who want to begin learning. We hope this will be the start of an ongoing project to build the confidence of learners and increase the use of Gaelic in the community.
‘Air a mhaoineachadh le Seachdain na Gàidhlig tro Mhaoin nan Tabhartas Beag, le taic bho Bhòrd na Gàidhlig // Funded by Seachdain na Gàidhlig’s Small Grants Fund with support from Bòrd na Gàidhlig.’
A Talk about Pabbay
On Wednesday 26 February 2025, Berneray Historical Society hosted a talk about Pabbay in the Community Hall. The talk was given by George Geddes a senior archaeologist at Historic Environment, Scotland who has been surveying Pabbay over a number of years and who knows the island well.
As well as using a slide presentation to reveal the many interesting archaeological sites and remains on Pabbay, George explored the links between the history of both Pabbay and St Kilda -the common themes and the differences between them. The talk was followed by many questions from the audience, reflecting how much interest there is in our neighbouring island of Pabbay.
This was an enjoyable, interesting occasion and we would like to thank George for freely offering us his time and expert knowledge.
Dùthchas
Since 2023 we have been privileged to show this hour long documentary film at the Nurse's Cottage during opening hours. Dùthchas, or Home, features previously unseen archive film of everyday life in Berneray in the 1960s and 70s, intercut with present day interviews with people from the island. The film shows repeated scenes of departure from Berneray and is an emotive exploration both of what departure means to the people who leave and the effect of their departure on the community left behind. Through its use of haunting Gaelic songs and melodies, the soundtrack is an effective, emotive accompaniment to the film.
Open Evening with talk by Peigi MacKillop
On 6 March 2024 the Society held a well attended Open Evening in the Nurse's Cottage for the community. Everyone was welcome to look round the museum and the exhibits and enjoy tea and coffee. Peigi MacKillop then gave an interesting talk about "Heritage Research", enjoyed by all present.
Book Launch and Ceilidh
The launch of Susanne Barding's book "Beàrnaraigh na Hearadh" took place on 29 September 2023. Arranged by Berneray Historical Society and the Islands Book Trust, this event saw a large audience from Berneray, Uist and beyond gathered in Berneray Community Hall to enjoy a memorable evening. Susanne Barding, attending from the Faroes, talked about the genesis of her book and her connection with Berneray. Her fascinating talk was followed by a book signing and refreshments. A traditional community ceilidh brought an excellent event to a close.
In-House Productions -details on the Bookshop page
Since 2018 a Historical Society newsletter has been produced twice each year.
2020 The Place Names of Berneray. Completely revised from the original 2008 edition.
2018 The Island of Berneray and its History by Alick Morrison. Completely revised from the original 1989 edition.
2015 Bèarnaraigh tro na Linntean / Berneray through the Ages
Book Launch
April 2013 Songs by Hector MacKinnon - the Berneray Bard
This well-attended event took place in the Community Hall. It was jointly organised by Acair, the Gaelic book publisher, and Berneray Historical Society.
Book Launch Event
December 2012 saw the launch at the Nurse's Cottage of The Story of Emigration from Berneray, Harris written by Peter Kerr. This was the culmination of the Society's project, 'A' tilleadh ar n-eachdraidh dhachaigh (Bringing Our History Home). The project sought to explore the impact of emigrations from Berneray by establishing who went where, when, how and why. It discovered aspects of Berneray’s Gaelic island culture that the emigrants took with them and which have been maintained in their new lands by their descendants. The project also included a conference held in the Community Hall in August.
The Gaelic version of the book is available online as a free download.
A' tilleadh ar n-eachdraidh dhachaigh was part-financed by the Scottish Government and the European Community LEADER Innse Gall 2007-2013 programme.
As the Society's contribution to Berneray Week, Liam Crouse gave a talk about lobster fishing in Berneray between 1850 and 1930. Liam had researched the subject extensively from Tobar an Dualchais and other archives. He sang three Gaelic songs by Berneray bards. There was an appreciative audience of over 50, an excellent evening.
Talk and Slide show with Susanne Barding - 9th July 2025
The Nurse's Cottage was the setting when Susanne Barding, during a return visit to Berneray, gave a talk about her recent book, "What's Your Name?" The book is about naming traditions in the Hebrides and the Faroe Islands. Susanne's talk was accompanied by a display of her photographs taken during her stays in Berneray in the early 1970s.
The Cottage was packed for this entertaining and informative meeting when our new large screen television was used to show the photographs to their full advantage.
Seachdain na Gàidhlig - National Gaelic Week 24 February - 2 March 2025
Comunn Eachdraidh Bheàrnaraigh / Berneray Historical Society took part in Seachdain na Gàidhlig for the first time.
During National Gaelic Week Gaelic lessons took place in the Nurse's Cottage on two occasions. The lessons were available to all without charge inviting people to learn and use some basic Gaelic.
On a third day BHS arranged a Gaelic Coffee Morning, also in the Nurse's Cottage. Learners and fluent speakers came together with everyone present appreciating the opportunity to speak Gaelic at their own level of fluency. The Coffee Morning was a very enjoyable occasion, promoting the use of Gaelic in Berneray; we would like to thank the sponsors of Seachdain na Gàidhlig for their support.
Our aim was to build links between fluent Gaelic speakers in Berneray and people who are already learning Gaelic or who want to begin learning. We hope this will be the start of an ongoing project to build the confidence of learners and increase the use of Gaelic in the community.
‘Air a mhaoineachadh le Seachdain na Gàidhlig tro Mhaoin nan Tabhartas Beag, le taic bho Bhòrd na Gàidhlig // Funded by Seachdain na Gàidhlig’s Small Grants Fund with support from Bòrd na Gàidhlig.’
A Talk about Pabbay
On Wednesday 26 February 2025, Berneray Historical Society hosted a talk about Pabbay in the Community Hall. The talk was given by George Geddes a senior archaeologist at Historic Environment, Scotland who has been surveying Pabbay over a number of years and who knows the island well.
As well as using a slide presentation to reveal the many interesting archaeological sites and remains on Pabbay, George explored the links between the history of both Pabbay and St Kilda -the common themes and the differences between them. The talk was followed by many questions from the audience, reflecting how much interest there is in our neighbouring island of Pabbay.
This was an enjoyable, interesting occasion and we would like to thank George for freely offering us his time and expert knowledge.
Dùthchas
Since 2023 we have been privileged to show this hour long documentary film at the Nurse's Cottage during opening hours. Dùthchas, or Home, features previously unseen archive film of everyday life in Berneray in the 1960s and 70s, intercut with present day interviews with people from the island. The film shows repeated scenes of departure from Berneray and is an emotive exploration both of what departure means to the people who leave and the effect of their departure on the community left behind. Through its use of haunting Gaelic songs and melodies, the soundtrack is an effective, emotive accompaniment to the film.
Open Evening with talk by Peigi MacKillop
On 6 March 2024 the Society held a well attended Open Evening in the Nurse's Cottage for the community. Everyone was welcome to look round the museum and the exhibits and enjoy tea and coffee. Peigi MacKillop then gave an interesting talk about "Heritage Research", enjoyed by all present.
Book Launch and Ceilidh
The launch of Susanne Barding's book "Beàrnaraigh na Hearadh" took place on 29 September 2023. Arranged by Berneray Historical Society and the Islands Book Trust, this event saw a large audience from Berneray, Uist and beyond gathered in Berneray Community Hall to enjoy a memorable evening. Susanne Barding, attending from the Faroes, talked about the genesis of her book and her connection with Berneray. Her fascinating talk was followed by a book signing and refreshments. A traditional community ceilidh brought an excellent event to a close.
In-House Productions -details on the Bookshop page
Since 2018 a Historical Society newsletter has been produced twice each year.
2020 The Place Names of Berneray. Completely revised from the original 2008 edition.
2018 The Island of Berneray and its History by Alick Morrison. Completely revised from the original 1989 edition.
2015 Bèarnaraigh tro na Linntean / Berneray through the Ages
Book Launch
April 2013 Songs by Hector MacKinnon - the Berneray Bard
This well-attended event took place in the Community Hall. It was jointly organised by Acair, the Gaelic book publisher, and Berneray Historical Society.
Book Launch Event
December 2012 saw the launch at the Nurse's Cottage of The Story of Emigration from Berneray, Harris written by Peter Kerr. This was the culmination of the Society's project, 'A' tilleadh ar n-eachdraidh dhachaigh (Bringing Our History Home). The project sought to explore the impact of emigrations from Berneray by establishing who went where, when, how and why. It discovered aspects of Berneray’s Gaelic island culture that the emigrants took with them and which have been maintained in their new lands by their descendants. The project also included a conference held in the Community Hall in August.
The Gaelic version of the book is available online as a free download.
A' tilleadh ar n-eachdraidh dhachaigh was part-financed by the Scottish Government and the European Community LEADER Innse Gall 2007-2013 programme.
