The Islands Book Trust

AIMS

The Book Trust was formed in 2002 with two main aims:

1. To further understanding of the history of Scottish islands in their wider Celtic and Nordic context.
2. To generate economic, social, and cultural benefits for local communities in the islands.

ACTIVITIES

We have promoted these aims by:

• Organising talks and conferences. For example, we have held or plan major conferences on Martin Martin, Sea-bird fowling traditions, St Kilda, and Alexander Carmichael.
• Arranging visits to islands and other remote areas, such as the Shiants, Scarp, Pabbay, Mingulay and South Pairc in Lewis.
• Publishing books and other material about Scottish islands, for example, a new illustrated and annotated edition of Martin Martin’s description of the Western Isles, a ground-breaking new book on St Kilda, a lavishly illustrated history of croft housing, the proceedings of our conferences, and a series of Island Notes.
• Encouraging education and research about Scottish islands, based particularly on archives with which we have close links: Michael Robson’s collection at Port of Ness, and the Angus Macleod archive at Kershader, Lewis.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

We believe that knowledge can be advanced by bringing together people from different backgrounds. All our events aim to do this, combining the views of local people with those of academics and outside experts.
We also believe there are considerable benefits from comparative research on different islands, both those within Scotland and in relation to islands in Ireland, the Faroes, and other parts of Northern Europe.
While most of our events are in English, the Trust is committed to encouraging Gaelic, and there is a substantial amount of Gaelic material in the two archives mentioned above.
The Trust’s aims are complementary to those of the Comuinn Eachdraidh, and we aim to work in partnership with other historical societies.
Although our base and roots are in Ness, the most northern part of Lewis, our activities now extend to all parts of the Western Isles, and we have plans to hold events in other areas.

FURTHER DETAILS

For up to date information about the Trust and our activities, please contact us.

MEMBERSHIP OF THE TRUST

By joining the Trust, you will be making an invaluable contribution to achieving our ambitious aims. All members receive regular newsletters containing full details of all our projects, and are entitled to reduced charges at Trust events. Gold members in addition receive free copies of our Island Notes series. If you support our aims, please join us.

AGNES RENNIE TO GIVE THE 2010 ANGUS MACLEOD MEMORIAL LECTURE ON LAND REFORM

This year’s prestigious Angus Macleod memorial lecture will take place on Thursday 28th October in Pairc School, Gravir, it was announced today. The speaker will be Agnes Rennie, a crofter from Galson, Ness, Lewis, and well known for her work with the Crofters Commission, Bord na Gaidhlig, councillor for the Nis is an Taobh Siar of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, and currently chair of Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn (Galson Trust).

Agnes, who will speak in Gaelic (with simultaneous translation into English) will be taking as her subject the land struggle, land reform, and community ownership of land – a subject dear to the heart of the late Angus ‘Ease’ Macleod MBE and not tackled in previous lectures.more