[Innes Rothach - Preseantair] Tha dìreach sia fichead ‘s a deich bliadhna on a bha aimhreit air taobh siar Ròis mu obair na Sàbaid. Bha blàr eadar luchd-eaglais agus am poileas, seach gun robh iasg ga chur gu tìr aig Port an t-Sròim air an t-seachdamh là agus trèanaichean ga ghiùlain gu deas air an rèile a bh’ air ùr-fhosgladh. Tha Padraig MacAmhlaidh ag aithris.
[Padraig MacAmhlaidh – Neach-aithris] Suas gu deireadh na Naoidheamh Linne Deug, bha Port an t-Sròim air leth cudromach airson malairt. Seo far an robh an rèile chun iar a’ tighinn gu crìoch. Seo far an robh airgead mòr ri dhèanamh. Ach, tha cùisean buailteach fàs teth, nuair a thig airgead agus creideamh gu chèile. Sin mar a bha e nuair a nochd aithrisean gun robh obair Sàbaid a’ dol air adhart aig Port an t-Sròim.
[Padraig MacAmhlaidh – Neach-aithris] Bha sluagh air gach taobh an loch a’ cumail sùil glè gheur air na bha tachairt. Agus goirid an-dèidh aon uair deug oidhche Shathairne, chunnaic muinntir Àrd an Iasgain shuas an rathad an seo steamer, an Harold à Steòrnabhagh a’ tighinn a-steach an loch, ‘s i dèanamh air Port an t-Sròim làn èisg.
[Padraig MacAmhlaidh – Neach-aithris] Bha an t-iasg a’ dol air trèana sìos gu margaidhean mòra Lunnainn. Ach chruinnich sluagh agus chuir iad bacadh air an obair. B’ fheudar feachd poileis a thoirt a-steach. Chaidh maidean is clachan a thilgeil orra! Bha luchd na Sàbaid air a’ phuing aca a dhèanamh.
[Padraig MacAmhlaidh – Neach-aithris] An-diugh san sgìre, ‘s e an Eaglais shaor Chlèireach as dlùithe a tha a’ cumail ri bunaitean na Sàbaid. An Eaglais far a bheil dreuchd aig Donnchadh MacCalmain.
[Donnchadh MacCalmain] Uill, tha e gu math duilich a chanainn dè am feum a rinn e. Thug e gu aire an t-sluagh, aire cuid eile de Bhreatainn, tha mi cinnteach gun, uill, sheall e gun robh buidheann mhath a bha deònach seasamh a-mach an aghaidh briseadh na Sàbaid aig an àm, ach aig deireadh an là, ‘s ann le luchd-briseadh na Sàbaid a bha an latha.
[Padraig MacAmhlaidh – Neach-aithris] Tha sàmhchair na Sàbaid gu cinnteach air a dhol à bith an seo agus cha b’ ann an-diugh no an-dè a thòisich sin.
[An t-Urr Ailean MacArtair] Thàinig mise ann an seo o chionn dà fhichead bliadhna. Tha eadar-dhealachadh mòr ann eadar na h-eileanan, far an robh mi ron seo. Agus ghabh mi iongantas, bha gu leòr a’ tighinn dha na searmoin sa mhadainn, ach gu leòr aca falbh sìos dhan taigh-òsta sa spot a bha an t-searmon seachad. Sin mar a bha an suidheachadh a chanainn a tha an seo a-nis. Tha sin ag innse dhuibh gun robh atharrachadh mòr air a thighinn ann as na bliadhnaichean a bha sin agus tha mi a’ creidsinn cuideachd gun robh daoine a’ tighinn a-steach dhan àite a dh’fhuireach agus bha sin a’ dèanamh diofar, bha iad eadar-dhealaichte bho na dhaoine a bha fuireach an seo.
[Donnchadh MacCalmain] Uaireigin, bha tòrr spèis aig a’ mhòr-shluagh a bha seo dhan chreideamh uile gu lèir agus bha iad a’ toirt urram dhan t-Sàbaid, ‘s bha iad a’ feuchainn ri bhith ga cumail, ‘s bha iad a’ deisealachadh air a son a’ dèanamh na b’ urrainn dhaibh, ach beag is beag, thòisich i air sìoladh às.
[Padraig MacAmhlaidh – Neach-aithris] Padraig MacAmhlaidh, BBC An Là, Port an t-Sròim.
[Innes Munro - Presenter] It is just 130 years since there was a riot on Wester Ross about work on the Sabbath. There was a battle between churchgoers and the police, as fish was being landed at Stromeferry on the seventh day and trains were transporting them south onto the newly-opened railway. Peter MacAulay reports.
[Peter MacAulay – Reporter] Up to the end of the 19th Century, Stromeferry was really important for trade. This is where the railway came to an end. This is where big money was to be made. But things are inclined to heat up when money and religion come together. This is how it was when reports came that work on the Sabbath was going ahead in Stromeferry.
[Peter MacAulay – Reporter] There were people on each side of the loch keeping an eye on what was happening. And shortly after 11 O’clock on Saturday night, the people of Àrd an Iasgain up this road saw a steamer, the Harold, from Stornoway coming into the Loch, and she was making her way to Stromeferry full of fish.
[Peter MacAulay – Reporter] The fish was going on a train down to the great markets of London. But the people gathered and they put a stop to the work. A police force had to be brought in. They had sticks and stones thrown at them! The observers of the Sabbath had made their point.
[Peter MacAulay – Reporter] Today in the area, it’s the Free Presbyterian Church who most closely observe the Sabbath. The church where Duncan Murchison works.
[Duncan Murchison] Well, it’s very difficult to say what good it has done. It brought it to attention of people, attention of many other people in Britain, I am sure that, well it showed that there was a good group of people who were willing to stand up against breaking the Sabbath at the time, but at the end of the day, the Sabbath breakers have had their day.
[Peter MacAulay – Reporter] The tranquillity of the Sabbath is certainly extinct here and it was not today, or yesterday that this happened.
[Rev Alan MacArthur] I came here over 40 years ago. There is a big difference between the islands and here. And I thought, there was plenty who came to the sermon in the morning, but plenty of them would go down to the pub the minute that that the sermon was over. That is how the situation is here now. That tells you that there was a big change that occurred in the years ago to present day and I believe, too, that people came to the area to live and that made a difference, they were different to the people that lived here.
[Duncan Murchison] One time, people had a lot of respect here for the faith and they gave respect to the Sabbath, and they tried to keep it and they prepared for it in every way they could, but little and little, that has declined.
[Peter MacAulay – Reporter] Peter MacAulay, BBC An Là, Stromeferry.
[Innes Rothach - Preseantair] Tha dìreach sia fichead ‘s a deich bliadhna on a bha aimhreit air taobh siar Ròis mu obair na Sàbaid. Bha blàr eadar luchd-eaglais agus am poileas, seach gun robh iasg ga chur gu tìr aig Port an t-Sròim air an t-seachdamh là agus trèanaichean ga ghiùlain gu deas air an rèile a bh’ air ùr-fhosgladh. Tha Padraig MacAmhlaidh ag aithris.
[Padraig MacAmhlaidh – Neach-aithris] Suas gu deireadh na Naoidheamh Linne Deug, bha Port an t-Sròim air leth cudromach airson malairt. Seo far an robh an rèile chun iar a’ tighinn gu crìoch. Seo far an robh airgead mòr ri dhèanamh. Ach, tha cùisean buailteach fàs teth, nuair a thig airgead agus creideamh gu chèile. Sin mar a bha e nuair a nochd aithrisean gun robh obair Sàbaid a’ dol air adhart aig Port an t-Sròim.
[Padraig MacAmhlaidh – Neach-aithris] Bha sluagh air gach taobh an loch a’ cumail sùil glè gheur air na bha tachairt. Agus goirid an-dèidh aon uair deug oidhche Shathairne, chunnaic muinntir Àrd an Iasgain shuas an rathad an seo steamer, an Harold à Steòrnabhagh a’ tighinn a-steach an loch, ‘s i dèanamh air Port an t-Sròim làn èisg.
[Padraig MacAmhlaidh – Neach-aithris] Bha an t-iasg a’ dol air trèana sìos gu margaidhean mòra Lunnainn. Ach chruinnich sluagh agus chuir iad bacadh air an obair. B’ fheudar feachd poileis a thoirt a-steach. Chaidh maidean is clachan a thilgeil orra! Bha luchd na Sàbaid air a’ phuing aca a dhèanamh.
[Padraig MacAmhlaidh – Neach-aithris] An-diugh san sgìre, ‘s e an Eaglais shaor Chlèireach as dlùithe a tha a’ cumail ri bunaitean na Sàbaid. An Eaglais far a bheil dreuchd aig Donnchadh MacCalmain.
[Donnchadh MacCalmain] Uill, tha e gu math duilich a chanainn dè am feum a rinn e. Thug e gu aire an t-sluagh, aire cuid eile de Bhreatainn, tha mi cinnteach gun, uill, sheall e gun robh buidheann mhath a bha deònach seasamh a-mach an aghaidh briseadh na Sàbaid aig an àm, ach aig deireadh an là, ‘s ann le luchd-briseadh na Sàbaid a bha an latha.
[Padraig MacAmhlaidh – Neach-aithris] Tha sàmhchair na Sàbaid gu cinnteach air a dhol à bith an seo agus cha b’ ann an-diugh no an-dè a thòisich sin.
[An t-Urr Ailean MacArtair] Thàinig mise ann an seo o chionn dà fhichead bliadhna. Tha eadar-dhealachadh mòr ann eadar na h-eileanan, far an robh mi ron seo. Agus ghabh mi iongantas, bha gu leòr a’ tighinn dha na searmoin sa mhadainn, ach gu leòr aca falbh sìos dhan taigh-òsta sa spot a bha an t-searmon seachad. Sin mar a bha an suidheachadh a chanainn a tha an seo a-nis. Tha sin ag innse dhuibh gun robh atharrachadh mòr air a thighinn ann as na bliadhnaichean a bha sin agus tha mi a’ creidsinn cuideachd gun robh daoine a’ tighinn a-steach dhan àite a dh’fhuireach agus bha sin a’ dèanamh diofar, bha iad eadar-dhealaichte bho na dhaoine a bha fuireach an seo.
[Donnchadh MacCalmain] Uaireigin, bha tòrr spèis aig a’ mhòr-shluagh a bha seo dhan chreideamh uile gu lèir agus bha iad a’ toirt urram dhan t-Sàbaid, ‘s bha iad a’ feuchainn ri bhith ga cumail, ‘s bha iad a’ deisealachadh air a son a’ dèanamh na b’ urrainn dhaibh, ach beag is beag, thòisich i air sìoladh às.
[Padraig MacAmhlaidh – Neach-aithris] Padraig MacAmhlaidh, BBC An Là, Port an t-Sròim.
[Innes Munro - Presenter] It is just 130 years since there was a riot on Wester Ross about work on the Sabbath. There was a battle between churchgoers and the police, as fish was being landed at Stromeferry on the seventh day and trains were transporting them south onto the newly-opened railway. Peter MacAulay reports.
[Peter MacAulay – Reporter] Up to the end of the 19th Century, Stromeferry was really important for trade. This is where the railway came to an end. This is where big money was to be made. But things are inclined to heat up when money and religion come together. This is how it was when reports came that work on the Sabbath was going ahead in Stromeferry.
[Peter MacAulay – Reporter] There were people on each side of the loch keeping an eye on what was happening. And shortly after 11 O’clock on Saturday night, the people of Àrd an Iasgain up this road saw a steamer, the Harold, from Stornoway coming into the Loch, and she was making her way to Stromeferry full of fish.
[Peter MacAulay – Reporter] The fish was going on a train down to the great markets of London. But the people gathered and they put a stop to the work. A police force had to be brought in. They had sticks and stones thrown at them! The observers of the Sabbath had made their point.
[Peter MacAulay – Reporter] Today in the area, it’s the Free Presbyterian Church who most closely observe the Sabbath. The church where Duncan Murchison works.
[Duncan Murchison] Well, it’s very difficult to say what good it has done. It brought it to attention of people, attention of many other people in Britain, I am sure that, well it showed that there was a good group of people who were willing to stand up against breaking the Sabbath at the time, but at the end of the day, the Sabbath breakers have had their day.
[Peter MacAulay – Reporter] The tranquillity of the Sabbath is certainly extinct here and it was not today, or yesterday that this happened.
[Rev Alan MacArthur] I came here over 40 years ago. There is a big difference between the islands and here. And I thought, there was plenty who came to the sermon in the morning, but plenty of them would go down to the pub the minute that that the sermon was over. That is how the situation is here now. That tells you that there was a big change that occurred in the years ago to present day and I believe, too, that people came to the area to live and that made a difference, they were different to the people that lived here.
[Duncan Murchison] One time, people had a lot of respect here for the faith and they gave respect to the Sabbath, and they tried to keep it and they prepared for it in every way they could, but little and little, that has declined.
[Peter MacAulay – Reporter] Peter MacAulay, BBC An Là, Stromeferry.