Date Landmarks of Eriskay​​
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In 1745 Bonnie Prince Charlie first landed on Scottish soil on Eriskay to commence the Jacobite rising, leading eventually to the Highland Clearances;
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In the 800-1000 AD- The Vikings arrived on Eriskay. The name of the island is an old Norse Norse name, Eiriksøy meaning “Eric’s Isle”
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1840’s- Clearances/Forced Emigration -
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WW1
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Herring Boom
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the Eriskay Jersey which was also unique to Eriskay, identifying the fishermen if lost as sea;
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Emigration 1924
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Renovation to the old Church
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Fr Allan MacDonald becomes Parish Priest on Eriskay (Resident in??)
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FR ALLAN – HELPING PEOPLE IN HARDSHIP AND BUILDING OF ST MICHAEL’S CHURCH.
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Introduction of the telegram
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the introduction of the Drift Net and
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The Eriskay Love Lilt – The famous Hebridean folk song written by???
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The building of St Michael’s Church House
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The building of Eriskay Church
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WW2
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the SS Politician ran aground off Rosinish point on Eriskay, inspiring the story of Whisky Galore!
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The first piped water supply on the island.
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Electricity arrived on the island
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Horsa built at the school
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Ring Net fishing industry which created a lot of employment on the island;
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1972 the formation of “Comann Each nan Eilean – The Eriskay Pony Society” to help with the preservation of the Eriskay Pony breed which is unique to Eriskay and classed as “critical” on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust Watch List; ERISKAY PONY - “Comann Each nan Eilean – The Eriskay Pony Society” was formed in 1972 to help with the preservation of the Eriskay Pony breed which is unique to Eriskay and classed as “critical” on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust Watch List.
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Building of the Acarsaid peir
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Stations of the Cross in Acarsaid
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1959/60 – Eriskay Football Club formed
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First council houses on the island were built – St Michael’s Drive
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the opening of our first public house on Eriskay aptly named “Am Politician”
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Old hall was built
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The introduction of the Eriskay car ferry which allowed us to drive our vehicles across to Uist. (previously, if you bought a vehicle to the island it was transported on the deck of one of the fishing boats)
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Our community-owned shop, Co-Chomunn Eirisgeidh was built
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the opening of Eriskay Community Hall in June, 1984 by Prince Charles and Princess Diana
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WEAVERS CASTLE – THE LAST PIRATE OF THE UK??
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Last Ring Net fishing boat on the island – Skippinish song
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the opening of the causeway by the Earl and Countess of Wessex in 2002 which led more recently to the introduction of the car ferry to Barra - the final link in opening the Hebridean island chain for vehicular access.