Fuadaichean Ghabhsainn agus stri an fhearainn a lean sin
The story of the Galson clearances and the struggle for land
About
Dorsan ar n' eachdraidh, ar n' inntinn, ar cultar, ar tìr, ar dìon, ar fàgail, ar tilleadh
Doors of our histories, our minds, our culture, our place, our protection, our leavings
An extract from Dòmhnall U. MacGilleMhoire's reflections
2024 marked 100 years since the resettlement of Galson village. na Dorsan, a monument commissioned by Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn, in collaboration with Airidhantuim Community Council, Comunn Eachdraidh Nis, and Galson Grazing Committee, designed by artists Will Maclean and Marian Leven and stonework by Chris Barrowman, in South Galson, was erected to commemorate the following significant events in the history of Galson:
1863
The community of Galson is cleared to make room for a sheep farm.
1888
Galson is raided by a large group and four men, Malcolm Smith, Malcolm Saunders, Malcolm Maciver and John Nicolson, are later arrested.
1924
Galson township is resettled. 52 families found new homes in Melbost, South Galson, and North Galson. People, who had scattered across the land, hailing from Dell, Borve, Shader, Carloway, Fivepenny Ness and further afield, were able to make their home in Galson, after clamouring for the land of their forebears, dispossessed eighty years prior, for several decades, punctuated by the significant confrontations.
2007
The estate passed into community ownership on 12 January 2007, to be managed on their behalf by Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn.
It is hoped that the new monument will serve as a poignant space for reflection on the community's shared history, as well as allow visitors to immerse themselves in the local landscape.
The 1924 establishment of the Galson community was seen as a homecoming, with many families having hailed from Dell, Borve, Shader, Carloway, and Fivepenny Ness, as well as further afield. In the hundred years since, community ownership has become a firm part of the area's identity, with UOG established in 2007 to manage the Galson Estate on the community's behalf.
The official opening ceremony of the monument, and accompanying exhibition at Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn, was held on 1st November 2024.
Juliette Desportes, a PhD student at University of Glasgow, undertook a three-month internship with Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn, researching the history of Galson Estate and the lead-up to the re-settlement of the townships. In her time with us, Juliette wrote a series of blog posts, named 'Archival Stories', detailing the history of Galson, which you can read by clicking the button below.
The name na Dorsan, Scottish Gaelic for doors, was devised by Dòmhnall U. MacGilleMhoire. He said:
"Plana inntinneach agus iomchaidh.
Beàrnan anns na ballachan-
fàilteachadh, gluasad sluaigh,
ionnsachadh, cuimhne, sùil a-mach, sùil
a-steach, fosgladh don inntinn, fosgladh
gu fasgadh, ac'chlach, an talamh, an tìr,
na daoine.
na Dorsan"
"A spirited and appropriate plan.
Openings in walls, welcoming, social
shifts, learnings, memories, eyes out,
eyes in, openings for mind, openings to
shelter, stone, the earth, the place, the people.
na Dorsan."
Dòmhnall U. MacGilleMhoire's speech from the official opening of na Dorsan, 1st November 2024
The building of na Dorsan
To accompany the monument in South Galson, there is an exhibition at the Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn Business Centre, which delves into the history of Galson, offering an insight into the events which unfolded.
The exhibition is open from Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm, and anyone is welcome to come and visit the exhibition. You can walk up to the monument at any time!
Location:
Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn Business Centre, Tom na Bà, South Galson,
Isle of Lewis, HS2 0SH
Archive
We have been very fortunate to access a variety of fascinating documents, letters, and photographs to support the exhibition. Click on the images below to find out more
Poetry
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Iain Greumach mac Mhicheil Thormoid (John Graham, son of Michael Norman), formerly of 1 New Galson, wrote this poem about the hardships of the clearances, after he and his wife, Mary, with 3 children under the age of 5, were evicted in April 1863, along with the remaining tenants of Galson. But even in Canada he had little respite: he was summoned to appear at court in Montreal because of what he had said in the poem. He agreed that he would plead guilty if anyone could point out the lies in his poem; nobody could, and he was let off with only a warning. He died of homesickness in Canada, leaving behind his wife and 7 children.*
*The Changing Outer Hebrides - Galson and the meaning of place, Frank Rennie.
na Dorsan official launch - 1st November 2024
Partners & funders
We are very grateful to all the organisations and individuals who helped to make this project possible, either through their expertise and knowledge:
Will Maclean and Marian Leven, Chris Barrowman, Galson Grazings Committee, Airidhantuim Community Council, North Construction, Dolina Macleod, Juliette Desportes, Dòmhnall U MacGilleMhoire, Norse Stone, Stornoway Trust, Bhaltos Estate Trust, Comunn Eachdraidh Nis, Pearse O'Halloran and the volunteer drystone wallers.
Thank you to The Gordon & Ena Baxter Foundation for providing additional funding to support the building of the monument.
