June 2003 Celebrations

We have taken the liberty of reproducing here an editorial and an article which appeared in the West Highland Free Press about the anniversary commemorations in Skye & Raasay during June 2003:-

The best of celebrations
The Selkirk emigrants were neither the first to settle in Prince Edward Island nor the last to leave Skye and Raasay. But the scale of their departure back in 1803 ensured that they have always held a unique place in the song, literature and memories of all three islands.
The bicentennial commemoration of the Selkirk settlements, which has been underway for much of the year and this week reached a zenith, has been a model of its kind. It is not easy for organisers of such historic reunions to tread the fine line between cheerless regret and appropriate celebration, to avoid the maudlin and embrace the positive.
But that balance has been achieved. From their experience of Raasay hospitality as well their poignant afternoon at Leitirfura, the visitors from Prince Edward Island will be returning with photographs and memories not only of empty townships, but also of the busy communities and rich culture that their ancestors left behind.

Concert in Raasay House

They have also witnessed an outstanding showcase of local talent. Over the past few years Skye has reached remarkable heights in the performing arts. Rarely has this fact been so generously displayed as in the last week. From Angus Peter Campbell's star-studded street theatre in Portree to Rae MacEacharn's step-dancing troupe wowing them in the Community Wing of Raasay House, a full and various strain of outstanding ability has been gathered around the PEI bicentennial. Ceilidhs which include Anne Martin, Donnie Munro, Blair Douglas, Angus MacKenzie, Neil Campbell and others on the same stage are by definition of international calibre. We are lucky to have them.
That is the abiding message of this reunion. For good reasons and for bad, many thousands of Hebrideans left for the New World over the past two centuries. It speaks best for the spirit and the will of those who stayed behind that when the descendants from Canada return they are met not by a sparse and cowed community, but by packed halls delighting in the best of Gaelic music, and by a modern Scottish song composed and made famous by a band from Skye, which happens to be titled "A Dance Called America".

(This article appeared in The WHFP on June 26th 2003) Around 400 people thronged the streets of Portree last Saturday to watch the premiere of the street drama, "Siùcar nan Craobh" (Sugar from Trees) written by Sleat-based writer Angus Peter Campbell.
The drama was commissioned by "The Crossing" project which is currently celebrating the 200th anniversary of the famous Selkirk emigrations of 1803 to Prince Edward Island on the Eastern seaboard of Canada.
The street drama centred round the departure of the 'Polly' which sailed out of Portree harbour on 21st June 1903 with 400 emigrants on board from Skye and Raasay, who were joined by another 400 emigrants on the 'Dykes' and the 'Oughton' for the 2,000-mile journey across the Atlantic.
A group of emigrant descendants from Prince Edward Island were in Portree on Saturday to watch the drama, which reduced some of them to tears with its authenticity as they watched the lead couple Calum Bàn MacMhannain (played by Calum "Caxy" MacAulay of North Uist) and his fiancée Flora (movingly played by Màiri MacLeod from Carbost) emotionally struggle with the anguish of departure.
Lord Selkirk was imperiously played by Iain MacDonald of Kilmuir, the new councillor for North Skye, while Rory MacKenzie of Portree literally suffered for his art by courageously acting in the drama despite breaking his arm several days before the event. Playing Selkirk's middleman and agent Dr Angus MacAulay, Mackenzie excelled with a marvellous mixture of warmth to the locals and obsequience to the Lord.

Calum Ban & Flora

Aonghas Phadraig as Napoleonic War veteran

With cameo appearances from James Boswell (Iain Chard), and a live rendition of "Dance Called America" from Donnie Munro and Blair Douglas, songs from members of Portree Gaelic Choir, wonderful dancing from Rob Corcoran and his group, and a disguised bearded appearance by Arthur Cormack, locals had fun spotting the real from the imagined.
Other excellent contributions came from young Angus MacLeod of Borve as the minister, Konstantine Kosmidis as the ship's captain, and his wife Suzanne and son, Aeneas, along with Morag Henriksen of Portree in support roles. Allan MacDonald, former headmaster of Staffin and now resident of Cromarty, excelled as the true peasant voice, warning the people that emigration - and later, clearance - would cost them their lives. "Cosgaidh e am bas dhuibh" was his cry. Allan also precented Psalm 23 in Gaelic and English as the drama was brought to a moving close on Portree quay as the emigrants set sail for the Promised Land.
"It was a marvellous day," said Angus Peter Campbell, who also managed to sneak into costume as a wounded Napoleonic War veteran begging money with a tin can! "The whole point was to bring history alive and to live out the varying emotional and financial and political and economic and cultural pressures that were on the people either to go or to stay.

"I'm very proud of all the actors and supporting cast of hundreds, including the terrific costume designs from Rose Mason and her team, and the back-up support from Rosie Somerville, which made the drama such a great success."
The project was produced by Cailean Maclean of Bernisdale who said: "It was a real joy to see this live drama. Even if no one had turned up to watch it - and I'm so glad hundreds did - it would have been immensely worth while doing."
And the director of the street drama, Kati Kozikowska, added: "It was a tremendous privilege to be part of a great community effort which brought so many people together, from the disabled groups at An Drochaid and TAG in Auchtertyre, through to the singers and dancers and musicians and costume-makers and other supporters and the actors themselves. Everyone did their best, and their best was a great success."
Already there are demands that the drama be performed in the open-air again, and - depending on a midge-free day and some financial sugar from funding trees - that might very well happen. Or, as Lord Selkirk might have put it: "I don't want you just to imagine the Promised Land - I want you to see it!"

Some of the dancers in Siucar nan Craobh

Tug o' War during Sugar From Trees

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