The island has undergone a major
transformation in recent times which has changed our way of life forever.
In May 2000, the long-awaited causeway
was started to link us with South Uist, a mile and a half away to
the north. Work on it started from both ends and the initial
link-up was made on November 20, 2000. It has now been completed
and traffic was allowed onto it on July 12, 2001. As with everything,
there are pros and cons but it has made our lives easier and we aren't
be dependent on the tides any more. Unlike Vatersay which has
a solid causeway linking it to Barra, Eriskay is still, strictly speaking,
an island as our causeway includes a bridge!
The official opening ceremony
of the causeway was conducted by the Earl and Countess of Wessex on
September 11, 2002. This opening date, beyond the control of
the islanders, was seen by many as somewhat insensitive and was the
cause of some controversy. The day went very well, however,
with their arrival by helicopter which landed on the football field
after which, the were driven over the causeway to South Uist and back
and on to the Community Hall where the islanders were all waiting.
The original plan was to have had the ceremony at the Eriskay
end of the causeway but this was abandoned because of bad weather
and held in the Hall instead.
An hour-long film called Cabhsair
Eirisgeidh (the Eriskay Causeway), which was all about the making
of the causeway, was broadcast a week later by the BBC on
September 19. It isn't known whether there are any plans to
release it on video yet but if and when they become known, I'll let
you know. Stay tuned.
In addition to the causeway,
work on the new harbour just south of Prince Charlie's Beach on the
west side of the island has also been completed. The new car
ferry link from there to Barra started on March 4, 2002 thus completing
the whole link from Berneray in the north to Vatersay. However,
the ferry itself was the same one that was used between Eriskay and
South Uist and could carry only 5 cars and was used purely as a temporary
measure until the "Loch Bhrusda" was able to take over.
This was planned for early April 2003 and, prior to that, the
road on the island had to be upgraded to take the extra wear and tear
of the increased car and truck traffic. At the time of
writing this, the upgrading is finished and the "Loch Bhrusda"
arrived on station on June 7, 2003.
Apart from all the goings-on
to do with the upgraded road and the causeway, Eriskay is not just
another island but is famous for being the place where Bonnie
Prince Charlie landed from France in 1745 to start his ill-fated
Jacobite Rebellion. Its other claim to fame arose when the "SS
Politician" ran aground off the north east coast of the island
in 1941. She wasn't just any old ship either for she was carrying
a large cargo of whisky and the events that followed spawned the book
by Compton MacKenzie called "Whisky Galore" which was later made into
the film of the same name.
As well as our wandering sheep,
the wild Eriskay ponies
keep us company too. They're a little bigger than their Shetland
cousins, very friendly and sturdy and were used for carrying peat
etc. in the old days. Sadly, only a few remain on the island
now but they are still breeding so that's good news. Eriskay
is also the home of the unique Eriskay jumpers.
There are about 15 main pattern designs and each of them can be varied
which enables its origins to be identified.
And finally, can there be anyone
who has not heard of the well known "Eriskay Love Lilt"
sung by Fr. Sydney MacEwan and others? I managed to find two
links relating to this on the web, one showing the words
and the second listing this
and other songs by him.
So you see, small though it may
be, Eriskay is certainly not 'just another little island'.
- 22-12-2003
