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An àm togail dhuinn fhìn
Mach a chala Phortrìgh
’S iomadh aon a bh’air tìr ’s iad brònach;
Iad ag amharc gu dlùth
Null ’s an sùil air an luing.
’S ise gabhail a null gu Rònaidh.
When we set out
From the harbour at Portree
There were many sorrowful people on shore;
They gazed across intently
With their eye on the vessel
As she headed out towards Rona |
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The first verse of Imrich nan
Eileanach, or The Islanders' Emigration, written by Calum Bàn MacMhannain, from
Sartle in Staffin, Isle of Skye who sailed on the "Polly" to Prince Edward Island in 1803. To hear the first and last verse of the poem read in Gaelic by Angus Peter Campbell click on "Imrich Audio" at foot of page.
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An Tarsainn/The Crossing 2003
Around midsummer 1803, 600 emigrants left Portree bound for Prince Edward Island (PEI) in Canada. The emigrants were known in Canada as the "Selkirk Settlers" since their emigration was organised by Thomas Douglas, the 5th Earl of Selkirk. They sailed on two ships from Portree, the Polly and the Dykes. The Oughton sailed with around 200 emigrants from South Uist. The Polly arrived on August 7th, the Dykes, on which Lord Selkirk travelled, disembarked on August 9th, and the Oughton arrived on the 27th.
Selkirk's scheme signalled the start of many decades of emigration from Skye and Raasay to PEI. It also happened to be the last great emigration scheme from Scotland under the auspices of a proprietor.
An Tarsainn or The Crossing is a project to commemorate the 200th anniversary of this emigration and a range of initiatives is being planned for Skye & Raasay during 2003 and they are listed on this website. The Belfast Historical Society, which is based in the area of Prince Edward Island where many of the emigrants settled, also has organised a range of events and projects to commemorate their arrival. This can be seen at www.islandregister.com/skye/skye2003.html
Should you require further information on An Tarsainn/The Crossing please contact Cailean Maclean on 01478 612158 or cailean@skye-media.com |
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Imrich audio (MP3 238.5 KB) 
