Wednesday, 6 June 2018

Iona

Geologist John Faithfull from the Hunterian, Glasgow takes us via the Machair to the south end of Iona to Columba's Bay and the Marble Quarry  on a geological Field Trip.



















Treshnish Isles












The artists head to Lunga and the Treshnish Isles, via Staffa on the beautiful Birthe Marie under full sail initially amidst the porpoises, dolphins, orca and minke whales (all sighted!!).
These remote uninhabited isles have Norse derived names and evidence of ancient settlements (probably Viking).

Sunday, 3 June 2018

Jane's Norse Talk


Jane Brunton from Fionnphort gave the artistss a great talk on the etymology of local place names and their Norse connections, followed by a walk up Tormore and the surrounding landscape, illustrated by some fantastic local tales.

vík harbour/bay 
Ardfenaig = G.Àird fionn + N.vík = Promontory of the fair harbour 
Carsaig = N.Kjara vik = brushwood bay (or possibly Kari vik = Kari's bay) 
Croig = G. crò (fold)/crodh(cattle) + N.vik = cattle/fold bay (harbour where cattle were landed) 
Dervaig = N.dyr vik = deer bay; 
Ormsaig = N.Orm's harbour 
naes promontory 
Ardchrishnish = G.Àird Crois + N.naes = Cross/crossing promontory (àird + naes mean the same in G&N) 
Ardalanish = Àird Gheal (Gaelic) Naes (Norse) = White promontory (àird + naes mean the same in G&N) 
Ardvergnish = G.Àird + N.borg + Naes = Fortress promontory (àird + naes mean the same in G&N) 
Fishnish = N.fish naes = fish point/promontory; 
Mishnish =(possibly) N. måse+naes = seagull promontory 
Mornish = N.myrr+naes = moor promontory 
Quinish = N.kvi+naes = cattlefold point 
Treshnish = N.tres+naes = promontory/cape of the trees 
skeri skerry 
Erisgeir = N.eyrr-ar+skeri = shoal skerry 
øy island 
Fladda = N.flatr+øy = flat island 
Gometra = N. gottr + madr + ey = "The good-man's island" or "God-man's island". 
or N. Go.rma.ray may also mean "warrior priest's island" 
Little Colonsay = N. koll-vangsøy = little island of koll-vangr/hill field (or Kolbein's island) 
Soa = N.sauŏr+ey = sheep island 
Staffa = N.Staf-ey = Staff/stave (pillar) island 
Ulva = Uluv/ulf øy = Olaf's/wolf island 
muli ridge 
Langamull – N.langr+muli = long ridge 
hlidh side of hill 
Lee = N. hlidh = side of hill 
Fors waterfall 
Eas Fors Waterfall = G.eas+ N. fors+waterfall – waterfall inGaelic, Norse & English 
Glen Forsa = G.gleann +N. fors = waterfall glen 
bolstadr / bólstaŏr farm, dwelling place 
Assapoll = N. àss + bólstaŏr/bol-stadhr = rocky ridge dwelling place/farm, or N. vassr+ bólstaŏr/bol-stadhr = fresh water farm 
Eorabus = N. eyrr + bólstaŏr = beach dwelling place 
Scobull = N.Sco+bolstadr = Woody rising dwelling 
Tavool = N.Hár+bolstadr = high/slope dwelling 
borgr fort 
Burg = N.borgr = fort (iron age dun over 2000 years ago, small defensive enclosure with disproportionally thick walls: internal area 8.5x7m, wall up to 4.1m thick) 
Gardr 
Calgary = Kali Gardr = Kali's garden (or possibly Kald Gardr = cold garden) 
Norse Personal Names 
Ormsaig = Orm's harbour 

Uluvalt = uluv/ulf (Norse) allt (Gaelic) = Olaf's/wolf burn 

Norwegians arrive

David Sarah Marit arrive followed by a fish lunch at the local takeaway then Calum and Rhona arrive  in the mists.



Saturday, 2 June 2018

Imi & Randi Arrive

First artists (David, Imi and Randi) arrive at Mull for the BAD/SSA (w)ORD Residency 2018 with piper from local mod greeting the travellers on the Cal Mac Ferry.

















Mull Reflections from Rhona

Sometimes, the big is just too big and the small necessarily becomes a more focused line of enquiry.   The landscape of the west highlands ...