As an Talamh/Traditional Building Skills

Tha ùidh mhòr air a bhith aig Eoghan Dòmhnallach anns na seann taighean tughaidh, a bha aig aon àm cumanta air feadh na Gàidhealtachd. Tha na taighean seo air beatha ginealach an dèidh ginealaich de theaghlaichean an sàs ann an croitearachd fhaicinn, togalaichean a bha air leth freagarrach airson na h-aimsire agus a bha math dhan àrainneachd leis gu robh na stuthan togail nàdarrach agus rim faighinn gu h-ionadail.

Bha àm ann an uair a bhiodh na taighean seo air an cleachdadh mar phrìomh dhachaighean, agus bhiodh na sgilean a bhith gan togail aig a’ mhòr chuid. Tha na taighean seo a-nis gu math gann, agus ’s ann aig glè bheag a tha na sgilean togail traidiseanta, leithid obair chlachaireachd agus obair tughaidh. Anns a’ phrògram seo, tha Eoghan a’ tadhal air an fheadhainn sin a tha fhathast a’ cleachdadh nan seann dhòighean traidiseanta seo, airson faighinn a-mach a bheil iarrtas ann air an son fhathast agus is dòcha airson cuid dhiubh fheuchainn a-mach.

Eoghan MacDonald has always been interested in thatched houses, which were at one time popular throughout the Highlands and Islands. These properties, which would have housed generations of crofting families, were suitably built to withstand the weather and the environment in which they were located, using natural and locally-sourced building materials.

There was a time when these houses would have been used as main homes, and the people would have had the skills to build them. Now, there aren’t many of them left, and in turn, few who possess the building expertise needed for thatching and stone work. Eoghan has decided to visit those who still practise these crafts, to find out whether there is still demand for them and also to try some out for himself.

In Gaelic with English subtitles