[Angela NicIlleathain – Preseantair] Thòisich còmhraidhean airson oidhirp shònraichte a dhèanamh 100 bliadhna bho na thachair uabhas an Iolaire a chomharrachadh. Chaill còrr is 200 duine am beatha nuair a chaidh an t-soitheach, air an robh fir a bha tilleadh bhon Chiad Chogadh, air na creagan faisg air Steòrnabhagh. Tha trì bliadhna gu leth ann mus bi an ceann-là ann, ach thathas airson tòiseachadh ag ullachadh tachartasan cuimhneachaidh. Tha an aithris-sa aig Murray MacLeòid.
[Murray MacLeòid – Neach-aithris] Chan eil mòran nithean ann an eachdraidh an eilein cho tiamhaidh ri oidhche na bliadhn’ ùire 1919. Chaill 200 duine am beatha, a’ chuid mhòr bhon eilean, dìreach slatan bho chofhurtachd is sàbhailteachd an dachaighean agus sin as dèidh tighinn troimhe uabhasan a’ Chiad Chogaidh. Cha robh teaghlach no coimhearsnachdan air an eilean air nach do bhuail e.
[Dòmhnall Màrtainn] Tha mi creidsinn nach robh tubaist aig an robh uiread de bhuaidh air teaghlaichean, air coimhearsnachdan ‘s air eileanaich ann an Leòdhas agus Na Hearadh ri call an Iolaire agus tha e freagarrach agus iomchaidh gu bheil sinn a’ beachdachadh air rudan a dhèanamh ann an 4 bliadhna eile airson 100 bliadhna a chomharrachadh. Agus chan e a-mhàin na rudan a tha sinn dol a dhèanamh aig ìre ionadail ach tha comataidh nàiseanta - panail comharrachaidh a’ Chiad Chogaidh – tha iad sin air aontachadh gur e seo an tachartas mu dheireadh a bhios ann ann an sreath phrògraman nan ceithir bliadhna agus air sgàth sin tha mi creidsinn gu bheil e iomchaidh gum bi an tachartas agus an tubaist a’ faighinn inbhe aig ìre nàiseanta agus eadar-nàiseanta.
[Murray MacLeòid – Neach-aithris] Ann an trì gu leth bliadhna eile, bidh 100 bliadhna air a dhol seachad agus tha ullachaidhean air tòiseachadh mar-thà airson an oidhche a chomharrachadh.
[Dòmhnall Màrtainn] Chithear dè dh’ fheumar a dhèanamh, sgrùdadh a dhèanamh ach am faic sinn dè na cosgaisean a tha gu bhith ann airson an obair calpa a dh’ fheumas a dhèanamh agus feumar an uair sin a dhol a-mach agus airgead a shireadh ‘s dòcha, airgead a thogail am measg choimhearsnachdan agus airgead fhaighinn bho na buidhnean poblach agus buidhnean prìobhaideach ‘s tha a h-uile càil a tha sin dol a thoirt ùine.
[Murray MacLeòid – Neach-aithris] Bidh ainmean an fheadhainn a chaill am beatha sgrìobhte gu bràth ann an eachdraidh an eilein. Ach chan e sgeulachd a th’ann aig a bheil fios aig cus dhaoine taobh a-muigh nan eilean fhèin? ‘S dòcha ge-tà gun cuir na tachartasan comharrachaidh sin ceart.
[Donaidh MacÌomhair] Tha mise an dèidh a bhith faighinn tòrr emails bho dhaoine a-mach à seo, legions eile, faighneachd dè a bh’ anns an Iolaire ‘s dè thachair. Chan eil tòrr fios feadh na dùthcha, ged a chaidh leabhraichean gu leòr a sgrìobhadh mu dheidhinn agus prògraman a dhèanamh mu dheidhinn. Timcheall na dùthcha chan eil fhios aig tòrr mu dheidhinn ‘s cha bu chòir dhan sin a bhith. Bu chòir cuimhne bhith againn air an rud a thachair an seo ‘s cho duilich ‘s a bha e aig an àm agus tha e duilich fhathast fiù’s a’ smaoineachadh air.
[Murray MacLeòid – Neach-aithris] Chan eil e na iongnadh sam bith gu bheil daoine airson cuimhne an iolaire a chumail beò.
[Donaidh MacÌomhair] Chan eil baile san eilean nach do chaill cuideigin, nach do chaill barrachd air aon duine anns an tubaist a bha seo agus tha daoine bruidhinn air fhathast. Chan fhaigh iad seachad air, ged a tha tìde dol seachad. Daoine a bha beò an uair sin, uill chan eil duine aca beò a bh’ann an uair sin ach an dèidh sin tha sinn a’ cumail cuimhne air.
[Murray MacLeòid – Neach-aithris] Tha sgeulachd an Iolaire fhathast gu mòr ann an inntinn nan eileanach agus tha fhios gu bheil e iomchaidh gu leòr 100 bliadhna bho thachair an t-uabhas a chur fa chomhair a’ mhòr-shluaigh mar chuimhneachain. Murray MacLeòid, BBC An Là.
[Angela Maclean – Presenter] Discussions regarding a special effort to mark 100 years since the Iolaire disaster have begun. More than 200 lives were lost when the vessel, with men returning from the First World War on board, ran onto rocks near Stornoway. There are three and a half years until the anniversary, but those involved wish to start preparing commemorative events. Murray MacLeod has this report.
[Murray Macleod – Reporter] Few events in the history of the islands are so poignant as New Year’s Day 1919. 200 men, most from the island, lost their lives only yards from the comfort and safety of their homes and that after enduring the horrors of the First World War. There wasn’t a family or community on the island who weren’t affected.
[Donald Martin] I believe no disaster had as much impact on families, communities and islanders in Lewis and Harris as the Iolaire and it is appropriate and timely that we are discussing how to mark the 100 year anniversary in four years’ time. And not only the things which we are going to do at a local level, the national committee – The World War One Commemoration Panel – have agreed that this will be the final event in a four year programme and due to this I believe it is fitting that the event and disaster gets national and international recognition.
[Murray MacLeod – Reporter] In three and a half years’ time, 100 years will have passed and preparations to mark the night have already begun.
[Donald Martin] We can see what needs to be done, research to see what costs will be involved in the work to be carried out and then fundraising, perhaps raising money in communities and getting funding from public organisations and private groups and all of that is going to take time.
[Murray MacLeod – Reporter] The names of those who lost their lives will forever be engraved in the island’s history. But it’s a story not known to many outside of the island. However, perhaps the commemorative events will rectify that.
[Donnie MacIver] I’ve been getting lots of emails from people, other Legions, asking what the Iolaire was and what happened. Not much is known about it nationwide, although plenty books have been written and programmes made. Around the country not many know about it and that shouldn’t be. We should remember what happened here and how difficult it was at the time, it’s difficult now even thinking about it.
[Murray MacLeod – Reporter] It’s little wonder that people want to keep the memory of the Iolaire alive.
[Donnie MacIver] There isn’t a village on the island which didn’t lose somebody, who didn’t lose more than one person in this disaster and people speak of it still. They can’t get over it although time has passed. There isn’t anyone living who was alive then, but we remember it still.
[Murray MacLeod – Reporter] The story of the Iolaire remains very much in the minds of islanders and it’s certainly fitting to bring marking 100 years since the tragedy to public attention. Murray MacLeod, BBC An Là.
[Angela NicIlleathain – Preseantair] Thòisich còmhraidhean airson oidhirp shònraichte a dhèanamh 100 bliadhna bho na thachair uabhas an Iolaire a chomharrachadh. Chaill còrr is 200 duine am beatha nuair a chaidh an t-soitheach, air an robh fir a bha tilleadh bhon Chiad Chogadh, air na creagan faisg air Steòrnabhagh. Tha trì bliadhna gu leth ann mus bi an ceann-là ann, ach thathas airson tòiseachadh ag ullachadh tachartasan cuimhneachaidh. Tha an aithris-sa aig Murray MacLeòid.
[Murray MacLeòid – Neach-aithris] Chan eil mòran nithean ann an eachdraidh an eilein cho tiamhaidh ri oidhche na bliadhn’ ùire 1919. Chaill 200 duine am beatha, a’ chuid mhòr bhon eilean, dìreach slatan bho chofhurtachd is sàbhailteachd an dachaighean agus sin as dèidh tighinn troimhe uabhasan a’ Chiad Chogaidh. Cha robh teaghlach no coimhearsnachdan air an eilean air nach do bhuail e.
[Dòmhnall Màrtainn] Tha mi creidsinn nach robh tubaist aig an robh uiread de bhuaidh air teaghlaichean, air coimhearsnachdan ‘s air eileanaich ann an Leòdhas agus Na Hearadh ri call an Iolaire agus tha e freagarrach agus iomchaidh gu bheil sinn a’ beachdachadh air rudan a dhèanamh ann an 4 bliadhna eile airson 100 bliadhna a chomharrachadh. Agus chan e a-mhàin na rudan a tha sinn dol a dhèanamh aig ìre ionadail ach tha comataidh nàiseanta - panail comharrachaidh a’ Chiad Chogaidh – tha iad sin air aontachadh gur e seo an tachartas mu dheireadh a bhios ann ann an sreath phrògraman nan ceithir bliadhna agus air sgàth sin tha mi creidsinn gu bheil e iomchaidh gum bi an tachartas agus an tubaist a’ faighinn inbhe aig ìre nàiseanta agus eadar-nàiseanta.
[Murray MacLeòid – Neach-aithris] Ann an trì gu leth bliadhna eile, bidh 100 bliadhna air a dhol seachad agus tha ullachaidhean air tòiseachadh mar-thà airson an oidhche a chomharrachadh.
[Dòmhnall Màrtainn] Chithear dè dh’ fheumar a dhèanamh, sgrùdadh a dhèanamh ach am faic sinn dè na cosgaisean a tha gu bhith ann airson an obair calpa a dh’ fheumas a dhèanamh agus feumar an uair sin a dhol a-mach agus airgead a shireadh ‘s dòcha, airgead a thogail am measg choimhearsnachdan agus airgead fhaighinn bho na buidhnean poblach agus buidhnean prìobhaideach ‘s tha a h-uile càil a tha sin dol a thoirt ùine.
[Murray MacLeòid – Neach-aithris] Bidh ainmean an fheadhainn a chaill am beatha sgrìobhte gu bràth ann an eachdraidh an eilein. Ach chan e sgeulachd a th’ann aig a bheil fios aig cus dhaoine taobh a-muigh nan eilean fhèin? ‘S dòcha ge-tà gun cuir na tachartasan comharrachaidh sin ceart.
[Donaidh MacÌomhair] Tha mise an dèidh a bhith faighinn tòrr emails bho dhaoine a-mach à seo, legions eile, faighneachd dè a bh’ anns an Iolaire ‘s dè thachair. Chan eil tòrr fios feadh na dùthcha, ged a chaidh leabhraichean gu leòr a sgrìobhadh mu dheidhinn agus prògraman a dhèanamh mu dheidhinn. Timcheall na dùthcha chan eil fhios aig tòrr mu dheidhinn ‘s cha bu chòir dhan sin a bhith. Bu chòir cuimhne bhith againn air an rud a thachair an seo ‘s cho duilich ‘s a bha e aig an àm agus tha e duilich fhathast fiù’s a’ smaoineachadh air.
[Murray MacLeòid – Neach-aithris] Chan eil e na iongnadh sam bith gu bheil daoine airson cuimhne an iolaire a chumail beò.
[Donaidh MacÌomhair] Chan eil baile san eilean nach do chaill cuideigin, nach do chaill barrachd air aon duine anns an tubaist a bha seo agus tha daoine bruidhinn air fhathast. Chan fhaigh iad seachad air, ged a tha tìde dol seachad. Daoine a bha beò an uair sin, uill chan eil duine aca beò a bh’ann an uair sin ach an dèidh sin tha sinn a’ cumail cuimhne air.
[Murray MacLeòid – Neach-aithris] Tha sgeulachd an Iolaire fhathast gu mòr ann an inntinn nan eileanach agus tha fhios gu bheil e iomchaidh gu leòr 100 bliadhna bho thachair an t-uabhas a chur fa chomhair a’ mhòr-shluaigh mar chuimhneachain. Murray MacLeòid, BBC An Là.
[Angela Maclean – Presenter] Discussions regarding a special effort to mark 100 years since the Iolaire disaster have begun. More than 200 lives were lost when the vessel, with men returning from the First World War on board, ran onto rocks near Stornoway. There are three and a half years until the anniversary, but those involved wish to start preparing commemorative events. Murray MacLeod has this report.
[Murray Macleod – Reporter] Few events in the history of the islands are so poignant as New Year’s Day 1919. 200 men, most from the island, lost their lives only yards from the comfort and safety of their homes and that after enduring the horrors of the First World War. There wasn’t a family or community on the island who weren’t affected.
[Donald Martin] I believe no disaster had as much impact on families, communities and islanders in Lewis and Harris as the Iolaire and it is appropriate and timely that we are discussing how to mark the 100 year anniversary in four years’ time. And not only the things which we are going to do at a local level, the national committee – The World War One Commemoration Panel – have agreed that this will be the final event in a four year programme and due to this I believe it is fitting that the event and disaster gets national and international recognition.
[Murray MacLeod – Reporter] In three and a half years’ time, 100 years will have passed and preparations to mark the night have already begun.
[Donald Martin] We can see what needs to be done, research to see what costs will be involved in the work to be carried out and then fundraising, perhaps raising money in communities and getting funding from public organisations and private groups and all of that is going to take time.
[Murray MacLeod – Reporter] The names of those who lost their lives will forever be engraved in the island’s history. But it’s a story not known to many outside of the island. However, perhaps the commemorative events will rectify that.
[Donnie MacIver] I’ve been getting lots of emails from people, other Legions, asking what the Iolaire was and what happened. Not much is known about it nationwide, although plenty books have been written and programmes made. Around the country not many know about it and that shouldn’t be. We should remember what happened here and how difficult it was at the time, it’s difficult now even thinking about it.
[Murray MacLeod – Reporter] It’s little wonder that people want to keep the memory of the Iolaire alive.
[Donnie MacIver] There isn’t a village on the island which didn’t lose somebody, who didn’t lose more than one person in this disaster and people speak of it still. They can’t get over it although time has passed. There isn’t anyone living who was alive then, but we remember it still.
[Murray MacLeod – Reporter] The story of the Iolaire remains very much in the minds of islanders and it’s certainly fitting to bring marking 100 years since the tragedy to public attention. Murray MacLeod, BBC An Là.