Dìleab 2024: Leverhulme

19 January 2024 at 17:43:08

Tro bhith a' lìbhrigeadh phrògram leantainneach, adhartach, thairis air beagan bhliadhnaichean ann an com-pàirteachas ri sgoiltean, tha pròiseact Dìleab a' deànamh cinnteach gu bheil òigridh nan Eilean Siar an sàs ann an ionnsachadh mu chànan, cultar, ceòl agus dràma ann an dòigh èifeachdach a tha a' coileanadh nan amasan agus builean a tha air an stèidheachadh anns a' Churraicealam airson Sàr Mhaitheas.

Eu-coltach ri prògraman lìbhrigidh eile, chan e aona thachartas a-mhàin a tha seo, ach sgrùdadh mhionaideach air eachdraidh ar daoine 's ar coimhearsnachdan ann an dòigh leantainneach.  Tha a' choimhearsnachd aig cridhe chùisean agus thathar ag iarraidh gur e na h-eòlaichean a tha againn nar sgìrean a bhios a' rannsachadh, a' lìbhrigeadh agus a' sgrìobhadh na bhios ri fhaicinn anns a' phròiseact.  Tha Dìleab na fìor dheagh eisimpleir air sàr phractas ann an ionnsachadh eadar-ghinealach le buannachdan don uile.  Tha com-pàirteachas bho Fhèisean nan Gàidheal agus na Comuinn Eachdraidh air a bhith air leth cudromach ann a bhith a' toirt a' phròiseict gu buil.

Air 3 Sultain 1923, bhruidhinn Viscount Leverhulme, tiotal a chaidh a bhuileachadh air ann an 1922, ri Comhairle Baile Steòrnabhaigh agus Comhairle Sgìreil Leòdhais ann an coinneamh a bha e fhèin air a ghairm.   Thabann Leverhulme dha na buill cothrom smachd a ghabhail air an cuid fearann agus na planaichean a bha aca fhèin a thoirt gu buil.  Ghabh muinntir Steòrnabhaigh agus nam bailtean mun cuairt ris an tairgse gu toileach. Bha iadsan misneachail, eòlach air a bhith a' ruith gnìomhachais agus bha airgead gu leòr aca. Leis a sin, chaidh a' chiad urras fearann coimhearsnachd riamh a stèidheachadh ann an 1924 fo ainm Urras Steòrnabhaigh. Cha robh na sgìrean eile cho cinnteach àsta fhèin ged-tà 's le eagal nach deidheadh aca air na cosgaisean laghail a bhiodh an lùib a' chùmhnaint a phàigheadh gach bliadhna, dhiùlt iad an talamh a ghabhail dhaibh fhèin. Beag air bheag, chaidh an còrr de Leòdhas a reic ri uachdarain prìobhaideach aig nach robh ùidh ann an iasgach agus urchaireachd.

Thèid sgrùdadh a dheànamh air na rèidean a ghabh àite nar coimhearsnachdan a thuilleadh air an dìleab a dh' fhàg am Morair Leverhulme.  Thig seo gu buil le ceithir chuirmean eadar-dhealaichte:

• Bunsgoil Steòrnabhaigh, An Lanntair, 14 Màrt 2024
• Sir E Scott, Sgoil an t-Oib, Sgoil Sir E Scott, 27 Màrt 2024
• Sgoil an Rubha, An Lanntair, 8 Cèitean 2024
• Àrdsgoil Mhicneacail, An Lanntair, 15 Cèitean 2024

Ann an 1923 dh'fhàg mòran theaghlaichean na Hearadh agus an Rubha gus coimhearsnachd ùr a stèidheachadh ann am Portnalong san Eilean Sgitheanach.  Chaidh grunn theaghlaichean às na Hearadh gu ruige Lochportain ann an Uibhist a Tuath cuideachd.  Bidh Sgoil Uibhist a Tuath ag obair air a' chuspair seo agus gabhaidh cuirm àite aig an sgoil ro shaor-làithean an t-samhraidh.  Bidh Sgoil an Rubha, Sgoil Sir E Scott agus Sgoil an t-Oib a' rannsachadh seo a thuilleadh air an obair aca mu dheidhinn a' Mhorair Leverhulme.

Tha gach sgoil ann an Leòdhas cuideachd gu bhith ag ionnsachadh mun eachdraidh agus mu na sgeulachdan cò-cheangailte ris a' chuspair seo agus tha grunn sgoiltean gu bhith ag obair le sgrìobhadairean gus dealbhan-cluich a thoirt chun an àrd-ùrlair aig Mòd Ionadail Leòdhais 2024.

Bu mhath le Comhairle nan Eilean Siar taing a thoirt do Riaghaltas na h-Alba airson an taic maoinichidh a thug iad seachad gus Dìleab 2024 a thoirt gu buil.   Tha an taic a bhios sinn a' faighinn bho ar com-pàirtichean, Fèisean nan Gàidheal, na buannachd leantainneach dhuinn uile.

Dileab 2024: Leverhulme

By delivering a progressive, ongoing programme of thematic activities over a number of years, in conjunction with schools, the Dìleab programme is ensuring that young people in the Western Isles engage with aspects of language, culture, music and drama in a structured way that equates neatly and effectively with the experiences and outcomes of Curriculum for Excellence.

Unlike many other curriculum inserts, this is not a bolt-on, one-off event which leaves little legacy, but a well-planned, in-depth study of major historical milestones in the history of our communities. The community is indeed the focus of the study and its members are actively encouraged to participate in all aspects of the planning, preparation, delivery and appreciation of Dìleab activities. It is an excellent example of intergenerational collaboration with all participants benefitting. Partnership from Fèisean nan Gàidheal and local Comunn Eachdraidh societies has been crucial in bringing this to fruition.

On 3 September 1923, Viscount Leverhulme, as he had become the previous year, addressed the Stornoway Council and the Lewis District Council at a meeting which he had asked to be specially convened.  The new Viscount Leverhulme invited members to take ownership of the land and make their proposed system work, but only Stornoway, always well-disposed to Leverhulme's plans, accepted the gift, set up the Stornoway Trust, and to a large extent made it work for the benefit of the town and surrounding villages. Left with so much of the island he no longer wanted, Leverhulme sold off as much as he could, to buyers who were only interested in shooting and fishing.

The theme of land raiding and the legacy left by Leverhulme will be explored against this background and the activities will culminate with the following showcase concerts:

• Stornoway Primary School, An Lanntair, 14^th March 2024
• Sir E Scott/Leverhulme Memorial, SES School, 27^th March 2024
• Sgoil an Rubha, An Lanntair, 8^th May 2024
• The Nicolson Institute, An Lanntair, 15^th May 2024

In 1923, a large number of families left both Harris and Point to settle in Portnalong in Skye.  A number of families also left Harris to move to Lochportain, North Uist.  Sgoil Uibhist a Tuath will be working towards an event commemorating this which will be showcased in the summer term. Sgoil an Rubha, Sir E Scott and Leverhulme Memorial will also explore this important part of their history as part of their 2024 involvement.

In addition to this, all schools will be participating in the historical and storytelling elements and several schools will also be working with creative practitioners to produce plays for Mòd Ionadail Leòdhais 2024.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar would like to thank the Scottish Government for their support in bringing Dìleab 2024 to fruition.  Ongoing support from partner agency, Fèisean nan Gàidheal, continues to produce benefits for all.