Human settlement in Scotland
Ness
(
Scottish Gaelic
:
Nis
) is the northernmost part of the
Isle of Lewis
, a community consisting of about 16 villages, including
Lionel
,
Habost
,
Swainbost
,
Cross
,
North
and
South Dell
, Cross Skigersta,
Skigersta
,
Eorodale
,
Adabroc
,
Port of Ness
,
Knockaird
,
Fivepenny
and
Eoropie
. It was the most north-westerly community in the
European Union
, when the
United Kingdom
was a member. Its most northerly point is the
Butt of Lewis
. The name
Ness
derives from the
old Norse
for
headland
and many of the other place names in the area also have a Norse origin.
[1]
Ness is part of the Galson Estate, which is owned by
Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn
(Galson Estate Trust) which is managed by 10 local trustees elected by the community. The hand-over took place on 12 January 2007.
[2]
Ness is accessible via the
A857 road
[3]
and is about 25 mi (40 km) by road from
Stornoway
. Ness can also be reached by walking across the moor from
North Tolsta
in
Back
to Skigersta. It is about 10 mi (16 km) and takes 6 hours at a leisurely pace.
Scottish Gaelic
is the language of the community with 75% being able to speak it.
[
citation needed
]
Peat
cut from the moor, is used as a fuel for cooking and heating in many homes, but its use is on the decline. The
2001 Census
results show a resident population of just under 1,000. In 1831 Ness had a population of just over 3,000.
Landmarks include the 13th-century
Teampull Mholuaidh
in Eoropie and the small island of
Dun Eistean
which is the ancestral home of the Lewis Morrisons of the
Clan Morrison
. There is a road sign to the bridge across to
Dun Eistean
, and archaeological excavations have been taking place there. Morrisons of Harris and Lewis can traditionally be found around Nis, and in the north-west Highlands in the county of Sutherland around the town of
Durness
(Scottish Gaelic: Diuranais).
Each year 10 men from Ness go out to the island of
Sula Sgeir
in late August for a
fortnight
to harvest around 2,000 young
gannets
known locally as Guga.
[4]
The Guga hunt is a Ness tradition and the bird considered a delicacy.
A Ness boat builder called John F. Macleod from Port saved 40 lives following the sinking of
H.M.Y.
Iolaire
by managing to take a line to shore.
[5]
Ness is known for its
Sgoth
, a type of
clinker built
skiff with a dipping
lug sail
. The boats were used for line fishing until the early half of the twentieth century.
[6]
There are several still in active use owned by community trusts which maintain them.
[7]
[8]
School
[
edit
]
Lionel School is the school providing for Ness. Lionel School prides itself on its sporting prowess and pupils have won trophies for football, running, badminton and swimming. The school roll is 116.
The small school at Cross closed in 2011 due to declining rolls, latterly having only 19 pupils. The buildings have now been taken over by Comunn Eachdraidh Nis, the Ness Historical Society.
Sport
[
edit
]
Football is the main sport with
Ness FC
playing their home matches on Fivepenny Machair. 'Spors Nis' is a new (2007) Community Sports Centre with all the modern facilities you would expect including a two lane
10 pin bowling
alley. Lionel School also has a swimming pool which is open to the public when not in use by the school.
References
[
edit
]
Further reading
[
edit
]
- Nis Aosmhor: The photographs of Dan Morrison
, edited by Finlay Macleod, October 1997, Acair Ltd,
ISBN
0-86152-113-7
External links
[
edit
]
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Inhabited islands
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Other islands
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Settlements
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Districts
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Geographical features
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Historical sites
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