History | Eachdraidh
The Glasgow Uist and Barra Association was founded in 1888. It was established to provide support and assistance to the people who had left the islands of North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist, Eriskay and Barra.
The Association promoted social and friendly relationship among the people from the islands who had left their homes to seek employment in Glasgow and beyond.
There is little written information available about the Association’s first 2 years, but the minutes of the meeting held on the 1st May 1890 shows that by this time the committee was well established. Monthly meetings were being organised and held in the Waterloo Rooms in Glasgow. Constitution and Rules were drawn up, and memberships were introduced. Annual Gatherings in the form of concerts and ceilidh dances were commenced. It is noted that at one of the Gatherings there were 700 to 800 people present. The support was admirable. It became apparent that apart from providing financial support to those in great need other aims and objectives were considered. The Gaelic language and culture had to be up held and kept alive and functional in the city of Glasgow.
The old minutes, which are at hand, provides a detailed and fantastic account of the history of the Association. It had its successes and failures through the world wars beginning with the Boer war then the 1st and 2nd World Wars, it is remarkable how they overcame hardship all through these years and persevered in maintaining a social life.
In 1944 Glasgow Uist and Barra Piping Competition was formed. It is now one of the most prestigious competition in the piping calendar, and is held annually in March.
In 1952 the Association Crest was compiled and accepted. It was to be used on all paper work pertaining to the Association and this practice continues to the present day.
The Association aspires and aims to continue the work our forebears started over a hundredyears ago.
We have 5 ceilidh dances from October to April. An annual Reunion Dinner/Dance in November and a New Year Dance in January. This dance is well supported by the younger generation.
Our monthly meetings are held from September to April, and our Annual General Meeting is in May.
We continue to support the Barra Lifeboat and the Glasgow Mod.
We are also proud to have our own song composed by Roderick MacKay, Illeray, North Uist. ' Comunn Uibhist agus Bharraigh'
The Glasgow Uist and Barra Association celebrated their 125 years anniversary by holding a Grand Concert on Friday 22 November 2013 in the Partick Burgh Hall Glasgow.
Over 200 attended the concert coming from as far as London, Thurso, Fort William, the Uists, Barra and many other places throughout the country.
This is part of the “thank you” speech made Secretary Mary Bell MacDonald :-
“We must never forget the reasons why we are here. We are here because in1888 a few brave people got together and founded the Glasgow Uist and Barra Association, so we should at this time give thanks to all those who are no longer with us, they were hard working and strong people. 125 years ago because of the poverty on our islands ,they left their homes and their families, so you can imagine the loneliness they endured. Thank them for their inspiration and great intuition, to keep our Gaelic language, our music , our dance, and our culture, ongoing in the City of Glasgow we should be so proud of it all. We have to nurture it, care for it, and keep it alive for their sakes and in their memory, and for ourselves and future generations “
Chuireadh Comann Uibhist agus Bharraigh Ghlaschu air bhonn ann an 1888. Chaidh a stèidheachadh airson taic is cuideachadh a thoirt do na daoine sin a bha air a thighinn don bhaile mhòr à eileanan Uibhist a Tuath, Beinn na Fadhla, Uibhist a Deas, Èirisgeigh agus Barraigh.
Bha an taic seo ann an dòigh a bhith ag adhartachadh dàimh càirdeil is sòisealta am measg nan daoine às na h-eileanan sin. Bha iad air an dachaighean fhàgail a shireadh cosnaidh ann am baile mòr Ghlaschu agus ann an àiteachan eile.
Chan eil mòran de dh’fhiosrachadh sgrìobhte ri fhaotainn mun a’ chiad dà bhliadhna. Ach, tha geàrr-chunntas na coinneimh a chumadh air 1ad latha den Chèitein 1890 ri fhaotainn, aig àm a bha a’ chomataidh stèidhichte gu deagh ìre. Bha coinneamhan mìosail gan cur air dòigh agus gan cumail ann an Seòmraichean Bhatarlù ann an Glaschu. Chaidh Bonn-stèidh agus Riaghailtean a chur ri chèile agus thugadh a-steach ballrachd. Thòisicheadh air Cruinneachaidhean Bliadhnail ann an cruth chuirmean-ciùil agus dhannsaichean. Thathar a’ faicinn gun robh 700 gu 800 neach an làthair aig aon de na Cruinneachaidhean. Bha taic ionmholta ga fhaighinn aig an àm. Dh’fhàs e follaiseach gun fheumaist amasan is cinn-uidhe eile a bheachdachadh a thuilleadh air a bhith a’ solarachadh taic ionmhasail dhaibhsan a bha ann am mòr-èis. Bha e cudromach gun robh cànan is cultar na Gàidhlig air an cumail beò agus air an cur an gnìomh ann am baile Ghlaschu.
Tha na seann gheàrr-chunntasan a’ nochdadh cunntas mionaideach agus mìorbhaileach air eachdraidh a’ Chomainn. Bha soirbheachas ann ach bha droch amannan ann cuideachd gu h-àraid aig àm nan cogaidhean, a’ tòiseachadh le cogadh nam Boer agus an uair sin a’ Chiad Chogadh Mòr ’s an Dàrna Cogadh Mòr. Tha e iongantach gun d’ fhuair iad buaidh air na cruadalan fad nam bliadhnaichean sin agus gun do ghlèidh iad am beatha shòisealta.
Ann an 1944 chaidh Farpais Pìobaireachd Uibhist is Bharraigh Ghlaschu a chur air bhonn. Tha e a-nis mar aon de na farpaisean as cliùitiche ann an saoghal na pìobaireachd agus thathar ga chumail sa Mhàrt gach bliadhna.
Ann an 1952 chaidh Suaicheantas a’ Chomainn a dhealbhadh agus chaidh gabhail ris. Bha e ri chleachdadh air gach obair pàipeir co-cheangailte ris a’ Chomann agus tha an cleas sin a’ leantainn air adhart chun an latha an-diugh.
Anns na beagan bhliadhnaichean a dh’fhalbh, tha an Comann air a bhith a’ rùnachadh agus ag amas air an obair a chumail a’ dol, a thòisich ar sinnsearan o chionn còrr agus ceud bliadhna.
Tha sinn a’ cumail 5 dannsaichean-cèilidh eadar an Dàmhair agus a’ Ghiblean, a thuilleadh air Dinnear/Dannsa Cruinneachaidh san t-Samhain agus Dannsa na Bliadhn’ Ùire san Fhaoilleach. Tha an dannsa seo a’ faighinn taic mhòr bhon ghinealach a tha nas òige.
Tha ar coinneamhan mìosail a’ gabhail àite bhon t-Sultain chun a’ Ghiblein agus tha ar Coinneamh Bhliadhnail ga cumail sa Chèitean.
Tha sinn a’ leantainn air adhart a’ cur taic ri Bàta-teasairginn Eilean Bharraigh agus Mòd Ionadail Ghlaschu.
Cuideachd, tha sinn a’ dèanamh uaill às an òran againn fhìn ‘Comunn Uibhist is Bharraigh’ a chaidh a sgrìobhadh le Ruairidh MacAoidh, Bàrd Iolaraigh ann an Uibhist a Tuath.
Chomharraich Comann Uibhist agus Bharraigh Ghlaschu an 125mh ceann-bliadhna le Sàr Chuirm-chiùil air Dihaoine 22 Samahin 2013 ann an Talla Mhòr Phartaig ann an Glaschu.
Bha còrr air 200 neach an làthair aig a’ chuirm-chiùil ’s iad air tighinn bho cho fada air falbh ri Lunnainn, Inbhir Theòrsa, na h-Uibhistean is Barraigh, agus mòran àiteachan eile air feadh na dùthcha.
Is e seo pàirt den òraid buidheachais aig an Rùnaire, Màiri Bell NicDhòmhnaill:-
“Chan fhaod sinn dìochuimhneachadh gu bràth na h-adhbharan a tha sinn an seo. Tha sinn an seo oir ann an 1888 thàinig àireamh bheag de dhaoine treun còmhla agus chuir iad air bhonn Comann Uibhist agus Bharraigh Ghlaschu, agus mar sin bu chòir dhuinn aig an àm seo buidheachas a nochdadh dhaibhsan uile nach eil còmhla rinn tuilleadh. B’e daoine làidir dìcheallach a bh’ annta.
O chionn 125 bliadhna air sgàth bochdainn anns na h-eileanan, dh’fhàg iad an dachaighean agus an teaghlaichean mar sin, tuigidh sibh an aonranachd a dh’fhuiling iad. Taing dhaibh airson an sàr-smaoin agus an tuigse, gus ar cànan, ar ceòl, ar dannsa agus ar cultar a chumail beò, a chumail a’ dol air adhart ann am Baile-mòr Ghlaschu, bu chòir dhuinn a bhith uasal às uile. Feumaidh sinn a bheathachadh, cùram a ghabhail às, agus a chumail beò air an sgàth-san agus mar chuimhneachan orrasan agus air ar sgàth fhìn agus air sgàth nan ginealaichean ri teachd."