[Dòmhnall Moireasdan – Neach-aithris] Caoraich - tha croitearan measail orra an-diugh, ach ‘s iad a bha mar mhiann aig na h-uachdarain le làn chead na stàit air cuipean mòra dhen Ghàidhealtachd ‘s na h-Eileanan fhalmhachadh do shluagh. Dè eile a bh’ ann ach do-bheart oifigeil?
[Roddy Murray] Fìor droch dhìol a chaidh a dhèanamh air daoine, mar a chaidh daoine a sgiùrsadh às an dachaighean, a chur a’ falbh gu dùthchannan cèin agus dìreach droch rud uabhasach a chaidh a dhèanamh orra. Nam b’ ann anns an linn seo a bhiodh ann, bhiodh na daoine sin anns na cùirtean le eucoirean an aghaidh a’ chinne daoine, nam b’ ann an-diugh a bhiodh ann.
[Dòmhnall Moireasdan – Neach-aithris] Dhan stàit e bha seo àite a ghabhadh feum a dhèanamh dheth, chan e feum a dhèanamh dha. Ach tro Strì an Fhearainn, deireadh na naoidheamh Linn Deug, thòisich sin ag atharrachadh. Chaidh sluagh na Gàidhealtachd air an casan.
[Dòmhnall Moireasdan – Neach-aithris] An strì an Fhearainn a bha seo anns A' Bhràighe ‘s ann an àiteachan eile air feadh na Gàidhealtachd is nan Eilean. Thàinig rud dha na sgìrean nach robh a-riamh ann ron sin. Dh’ èist ùghdarrasan aig deas airson a’ chiad uair ri na feumalachdan aca.
[An t-Oll Dòmhnall Uilleam Stiùbhart] Chì sinn na Gàidheil a’ tòiseachadh ri obrachadh ann an dòigh gu math seòlta. Bha iad gan cur fhèin air aghaidh, tha mi a’ smaoineachadh mar sluagh a bha air leth bho chàch, ach ‘s e an fhìrinn a bh’ ann. ‘S e sin tro na h-iomairtean sin, chaidh an toirt a-steach gu poilitigs Bhreatainn ann an dòigh nach robh iad roimhe.
[Dòmhnall Moireasdan – Neach-aithris] Uidh air n-uidh, dh’ atharraich beachd na stàite Tro choimisean Napier, thàinig achd a’ toirt còraichean do chroitearan airson a’ chiad uair. Dh’ èist Riaghaltas Libearalach Ghladstone ann an Lunnainn, bha co-obrachadh a-nise eadar na Gàidheil ‘s feadhainn a bha a’ strì airson còraichean dhaibh fhèin anns an aon dòigh ann an Èirinn. Dh’ èirich seòrsa de chùmhnant eadar muinntir a’ Chinn a Tuath agus an stàit. Bidh sibhse dìleas is feumail dhuinne is coimheadaidh sinn às ur dèidh. Ach, an-dèidh dòrtadh fala a’ Chiad Chogaidh, sgaoil an cùmhnant sin gu ìre mhòr.
[An t-Oll Dòmhnall Uilleam Stiùbhart] Tha mi a’ smaoineachadh gun deach sin a dholaidh ri linn a’ Chiad Chogaidh, ‘s e sin àm nuair a chaidh na mìltean de Ghàidheil, a chogadh fo bhratach na h-Ìmpireachd, Bratach Bhreatainn agus ‘s e glè bheag a fhuair sinn air a shon, chaidh còraichean fearainn ghealltainn dha na Gàidheil an dèidh làimh, na Gàidheil anns na h-Eileanan, cha d’ fhuair iad sin idir.
[Dòmhnall Moireasdan – Neach-aithris] Bha an uair sin sluagh ghairm a-rithist a dhìth, an dèidh bliadhnaichean a thoirt a’ sabaid, ‘s a’ call an cuid de Bhreatainn, chaidh iomairt eile a dhèanamh airson talamh is cothrom air bith-beò. Tha cuimhneachain sin air feadh nan Eilean an-diugh. Chaidh fuil nan Gàidheal cho math ri càch a dhòrtadh a-rithist anns an Dàrna Cogadh. Às a dhèidh, fhuair iad buannachd seirbheis slàinte, peinnseanan is eile bhon stàit. Ach ‘s e an duine-se, Tom MacIain, Rùnaire Làbarach na h-Alba, ‘s dòch bu mhotha a rinn de dh’fheum dhan Ghàidhealtachd. Stèidhich e an Hydro agus chaidh e fhèin bhos a chionn.
[Dòmhnall Moireasdan – Neach-aithris] Bha Tom MacIain lèirsinneach, chunnaic e cothrom agus rinn e rud nach robh duine air a dhèanamh ron seo, àrainneachd na sgìre a chleachdadh agus obraichean mòra a thoirt dhan àite, le dàm a thogail agus dealan a thoirt do dh’ Alba.
[Dòmhnall Moireasdan – Neach-aithris] Bha sin na thoiseach tòiseachaidh. ‘S e Riaghaltas Làbarach eile, Riaghaltas Harold Wilson anns na trì-ficheadan a ghabh an ath cheum mhòr, a’ stèidheachadh bòrd-leasachaidh na Gàidhealtachd ‘s nan Eilean an HIDB.
[An t-Oll Tormod MacGilliosa] ‘Fhios agad, bha na rudan mòra againne anns na dà ficheadan leis an Hydro. An uair sin anns na trì ficheadan, bha Bòrd Leasachaidh na Gàidhealtachd againne agus an dà rud a tha sin, thug iad buaidh mhòr air a’ Ghàidhealtachd agus ghluais iad a’ Ghàidhealtachd air adhart. Agus tha mi a’ smaoineachadh air sgàth sin gun robh a’ Ghàidhealtachd a’ dèanamh barrachd smaoineachaidh mu dheidhinn nam feumalachdan againn fhìn ann an dòigh agus ciamar a bha sin a’ cluich taobh a-staigh an deilbh mhòir a thaobh Alba.
[Agnes Rennie] Chan eil teagamh sam bith agamsa nach do rinn an HIDB, nach e ‘s iongantach buidheann cho cudromach ‘s a thàinig a-riamh air a’ Ghàidhealtachd. Agus tha mi a’ smaoineachadh gur e rud a bha sònraichte mu dheidhinn sin, chan e a-mhàin gun robh uallaichean orra a thaobh obair mhòr eaconomaidh a chur iad air adhart ach bha cuideachd uallach sòisealta orra.
[Dòmhnall Moireasdan – Neach-aithris] Chan eil teagamh nach tàinig piseach. Faighnichidh sinn an ath-oidhch’ na rinn fèin-riaghladh na h-Alba anns a’ chòig bliadhn’ deug mu dheireadh atharrachadh agus an ann fon bhratach sin a thig an tuilleadh leasachaidh no ‘eil Alba neo-eisimeileach a dhìth? Dòmhnall Moireasdan, BBC An Là.
[Donald Morrison – Reporter] Sheep – crofters are fond of them today, but they were a luxury of the landlords, full of the state’s permission, over big strands of the Highlands and Islands, emptying it of population. What else was this but an official form of sport?
[Roddy Murray] A truly awful revenge that was exacted on people, as people were removed from their homes, sent to countries abroad and just an awful thing that happened to them. If this happened in this century, those people would be in the courts for crimes against humanity, if it was to happen today.
[Donald Morrison – Reporter] For the state, this was a place where a use could be made from it, not a need for it. But through the Land Struggle at the end of the 19th Century, it began to change. The people of the Highlands took to their feet.
[Donald Morrison – Reporter] The Battle for the Land that was here in Braes and in other places all over the Highlands and Islands. Something came to the areas which was not here before then. The lords from south listened to the first time to their needs.
[Dr Donald William Stewart] We see the Gaels starting to work in a very sly way. They were putting themselves against them, I think, as a people that were different from others, but it’s the truth. It’s through those campaigns that they were introduced to British politics in way that they were not before.
[Donald Morrison – Reporter] Little by little, the opinion of the state, through the Napier Commission, changed to bring rights to crofters for the first time. Gladstone’s Liberal Government listened in London, there was co-operation now between the Gaels, the people who were fighting for rights for themselves in the same way in Ireland. A sort of contract arose between people in the north end and the state. You will be faithful and people will look after you. But after the bloodshed of the First World War, that contract expanded greatly.
[Dr Donald William Stewart] I think that is in accordance with the First World War, that is a time when thousands of Gaels, went to war under the banner of the Empire, the British Flag and they got very little for it, land rights were promised to the Gaels afterwards to the Gaels and the Islands and they did not get them.
[Donald Morrison – Reporter] The time came again to call upon the Gaels, years later, to come and fight and the loss that was felt by many of Britain, another campaign was made for land and livelihood opportunities. Those memories still live on in the Islands today. The blood of the highlanders was just as good as others to spill in the Second World War. Afterwards, they received the benefits of the health service, pensions and other things from the state. But it was this man, Tom Johnston, the Secretary of Scottish Labour, maybe who did the most for the Highlands. He set up the Hydro and he was on charge of it himself.
[Donald Morrison – Reporter] Tom Johnston was a visionary and he saw an opportunity and he did something that had not been done before now, he used the environment of the area and brought lots of jobs to the area, by building a dam and bringing electricity to Scotland.
[Donald Morrison – Reporter] That was the start of things. It was another Labour Government, the Harold Wilson government in the sixties who took the big step who set up the development board for the Highlands and Islands, the HIDB.
[Prof Norman Gillies] You know we had big things in the forties with the Hydro. Then in the sixties, we had the Highlands development board and those two things, they had a big effect on the Highlands and they moved the Highlands forward. And I think that because of that the Highlands gave greater thought to what our own needs were in a way and how we played inside the bigger picture of Scotland.
[Agnes Rennie] I have no doubt that the HIDB is the most important group that came to the Highlands. And I think that what was unique about it, it wasn’t only they had responsibilities for the big job of economy, but they had social responsibility too.
[Donald Morrison – Reporter] There is no doubt that improvement came. I’ll ask tomorrow evening did self-rule of Scotland in the past 15 years change anything and is it under that banner that more development will come, or is Independent Scotland required. Donald Morrison, BBC An Là.
[Dòmhnall Moireasdan – Neach-aithris] Caoraich - tha croitearan measail orra an-diugh, ach ‘s iad a bha mar mhiann aig na h-uachdarain le làn chead na stàit air cuipean mòra dhen Ghàidhealtachd ‘s na h-Eileanan fhalmhachadh do shluagh. Dè eile a bh’ ann ach do-bheart oifigeil?
[Roddy Murray] Fìor droch dhìol a chaidh a dhèanamh air daoine, mar a chaidh daoine a sgiùrsadh às an dachaighean, a chur a’ falbh gu dùthchannan cèin agus dìreach droch rud uabhasach a chaidh a dhèanamh orra. Nam b’ ann anns an linn seo a bhiodh ann, bhiodh na daoine sin anns na cùirtean le eucoirean an aghaidh a’ chinne daoine, nam b’ ann an-diugh a bhiodh ann.
[Dòmhnall Moireasdan – Neach-aithris] Dhan stàit e bha seo àite a ghabhadh feum a dhèanamh dheth, chan e feum a dhèanamh dha. Ach tro Strì an Fhearainn, deireadh na naoidheamh Linn Deug, thòisich sin ag atharrachadh. Chaidh sluagh na Gàidhealtachd air an casan.
[Dòmhnall Moireasdan – Neach-aithris] An strì an Fhearainn a bha seo anns A' Bhràighe ‘s ann an àiteachan eile air feadh na Gàidhealtachd is nan Eilean. Thàinig rud dha na sgìrean nach robh a-riamh ann ron sin. Dh’ èist ùghdarrasan aig deas airson a’ chiad uair ri na feumalachdan aca.
[An t-Oll Dòmhnall Uilleam Stiùbhart] Chì sinn na Gàidheil a’ tòiseachadh ri obrachadh ann an dòigh gu math seòlta. Bha iad gan cur fhèin air aghaidh, tha mi a’ smaoineachadh mar sluagh a bha air leth bho chàch, ach ‘s e an fhìrinn a bh’ ann. ‘S e sin tro na h-iomairtean sin, chaidh an toirt a-steach gu poilitigs Bhreatainn ann an dòigh nach robh iad roimhe.
[Dòmhnall Moireasdan – Neach-aithris] Uidh air n-uidh, dh’ atharraich beachd na stàite Tro choimisean Napier, thàinig achd a’ toirt còraichean do chroitearan airson a’ chiad uair. Dh’ èist Riaghaltas Libearalach Ghladstone ann an Lunnainn, bha co-obrachadh a-nise eadar na Gàidheil ‘s feadhainn a bha a’ strì airson còraichean dhaibh fhèin anns an aon dòigh ann an Èirinn. Dh’ èirich seòrsa de chùmhnant eadar muinntir a’ Chinn a Tuath agus an stàit. Bidh sibhse dìleas is feumail dhuinne is coimheadaidh sinn às ur dèidh. Ach, an-dèidh dòrtadh fala a’ Chiad Chogaidh, sgaoil an cùmhnant sin gu ìre mhòr.
[An t-Oll Dòmhnall Uilleam Stiùbhart] Tha mi a’ smaoineachadh gun deach sin a dholaidh ri linn a’ Chiad Chogaidh, ‘s e sin àm nuair a chaidh na mìltean de Ghàidheil, a chogadh fo bhratach na h-Ìmpireachd, Bratach Bhreatainn agus ‘s e glè bheag a fhuair sinn air a shon, chaidh còraichean fearainn ghealltainn dha na Gàidheil an dèidh làimh, na Gàidheil anns na h-Eileanan, cha d’ fhuair iad sin idir.
[Dòmhnall Moireasdan – Neach-aithris] Bha an uair sin sluagh ghairm a-rithist a dhìth, an dèidh bliadhnaichean a thoirt a’ sabaid, ‘s a’ call an cuid de Bhreatainn, chaidh iomairt eile a dhèanamh airson talamh is cothrom air bith-beò. Tha cuimhneachain sin air feadh nan Eilean an-diugh. Chaidh fuil nan Gàidheal cho math ri càch a dhòrtadh a-rithist anns an Dàrna Cogadh. Às a dhèidh, fhuair iad buannachd seirbheis slàinte, peinnseanan is eile bhon stàit. Ach ‘s e an duine-se, Tom MacIain, Rùnaire Làbarach na h-Alba, ‘s dòch bu mhotha a rinn de dh’fheum dhan Ghàidhealtachd. Stèidhich e an Hydro agus chaidh e fhèin bhos a chionn.
[Dòmhnall Moireasdan – Neach-aithris] Bha Tom MacIain lèirsinneach, chunnaic e cothrom agus rinn e rud nach robh duine air a dhèanamh ron seo, àrainneachd na sgìre a chleachdadh agus obraichean mòra a thoirt dhan àite, le dàm a thogail agus dealan a thoirt do dh’ Alba.
[Dòmhnall Moireasdan – Neach-aithris] Bha sin na thoiseach tòiseachaidh. ‘S e Riaghaltas Làbarach eile, Riaghaltas Harold Wilson anns na trì-ficheadan a ghabh an ath cheum mhòr, a’ stèidheachadh bòrd-leasachaidh na Gàidhealtachd ‘s nan Eilean an HIDB.
[An t-Oll Tormod MacGilliosa] ‘Fhios agad, bha na rudan mòra againne anns na dà ficheadan leis an Hydro. An uair sin anns na trì ficheadan, bha Bòrd Leasachaidh na Gàidhealtachd againne agus an dà rud a tha sin, thug iad buaidh mhòr air a’ Ghàidhealtachd agus ghluais iad a’ Ghàidhealtachd air adhart. Agus tha mi a’ smaoineachadh air sgàth sin gun robh a’ Ghàidhealtachd a’ dèanamh barrachd smaoineachaidh mu dheidhinn nam feumalachdan againn fhìn ann an dòigh agus ciamar a bha sin a’ cluich taobh a-staigh an deilbh mhòir a thaobh Alba.
[Agnes Rennie] Chan eil teagamh sam bith agamsa nach do rinn an HIDB, nach e ‘s iongantach buidheann cho cudromach ‘s a thàinig a-riamh air a’ Ghàidhealtachd. Agus tha mi a’ smaoineachadh gur e rud a bha sònraichte mu dheidhinn sin, chan e a-mhàin gun robh uallaichean orra a thaobh obair mhòr eaconomaidh a chur iad air adhart ach bha cuideachd uallach sòisealta orra.
[Dòmhnall Moireasdan – Neach-aithris] Chan eil teagamh nach tàinig piseach. Faighnichidh sinn an ath-oidhch’ na rinn fèin-riaghladh na h-Alba anns a’ chòig bliadhn’ deug mu dheireadh atharrachadh agus an ann fon bhratach sin a thig an tuilleadh leasachaidh no ‘eil Alba neo-eisimeileach a dhìth? Dòmhnall Moireasdan, BBC An Là.
[Donald Morrison – Reporter] Sheep – crofters are fond of them today, but they were a luxury of the landlords, full of the state’s permission, over big strands of the Highlands and Islands, emptying it of population. What else was this but an official form of sport?
[Roddy Murray] A truly awful revenge that was exacted on people, as people were removed from their homes, sent to countries abroad and just an awful thing that happened to them. If this happened in this century, those people would be in the courts for crimes against humanity, if it was to happen today.
[Donald Morrison – Reporter] For the state, this was a place where a use could be made from it, not a need for it. But through the Land Struggle at the end of the 19th Century, it began to change. The people of the Highlands took to their feet.
[Donald Morrison – Reporter] The Battle for the Land that was here in Braes and in other places all over the Highlands and Islands. Something came to the areas which was not here before then. The lords from south listened to the first time to their needs.
[Dr Donald William Stewart] We see the Gaels starting to work in a very sly way. They were putting themselves against them, I think, as a people that were different from others, but it’s the truth. It’s through those campaigns that they were introduced to British politics in way that they were not before.
[Donald Morrison – Reporter] Little by little, the opinion of the state, through the Napier Commission, changed to bring rights to crofters for the first time. Gladstone’s Liberal Government listened in London, there was co-operation now between the Gaels, the people who were fighting for rights for themselves in the same way in Ireland. A sort of contract arose between people in the north end and the state. You will be faithful and people will look after you. But after the bloodshed of the First World War, that contract expanded greatly.
[Dr Donald William Stewart] I think that is in accordance with the First World War, that is a time when thousands of Gaels, went to war under the banner of the Empire, the British Flag and they got very little for it, land rights were promised to the Gaels afterwards to the Gaels and the Islands and they did not get them.
[Donald Morrison – Reporter] The time came again to call upon the Gaels, years later, to come and fight and the loss that was felt by many of Britain, another campaign was made for land and livelihood opportunities. Those memories still live on in the Islands today. The blood of the highlanders was just as good as others to spill in the Second World War. Afterwards, they received the benefits of the health service, pensions and other things from the state. But it was this man, Tom Johnston, the Secretary of Scottish Labour, maybe who did the most for the Highlands. He set up the Hydro and he was on charge of it himself.
[Donald Morrison – Reporter] Tom Johnston was a visionary and he saw an opportunity and he did something that had not been done before now, he used the environment of the area and brought lots of jobs to the area, by building a dam and bringing electricity to Scotland.
[Donald Morrison – Reporter] That was the start of things. It was another Labour Government, the Harold Wilson government in the sixties who took the big step who set up the development board for the Highlands and Islands, the HIDB.
[Prof Norman Gillies] You know we had big things in the forties with the Hydro. Then in the sixties, we had the Highlands development board and those two things, they had a big effect on the Highlands and they moved the Highlands forward. And I think that because of that the Highlands gave greater thought to what our own needs were in a way and how we played inside the bigger picture of Scotland.
[Agnes Rennie] I have no doubt that the HIDB is the most important group that came to the Highlands. And I think that what was unique about it, it wasn’t only they had responsibilities for the big job of economy, but they had social responsibility too.
[Donald Morrison – Reporter] There is no doubt that improvement came. I’ll ask tomorrow evening did self-rule of Scotland in the past 15 years change anything and is it under that banner that more development will come, or is Independent Scotland required. Donald Morrison, BBC An Là.