Machair Soundwalk

In this opening section, local crofters Anne MacLennan and Matthew Topsfield give an introduction to the machair, whilst Angus MacDonald sings a traditional homeland song in praise of Uist (My beloved island of Uist), recorded in 1982. Photo: Liniclate Machair, Simon Hart, 2022.

In this section we learn about the historical and contemporary uses of seaweed as a natural fertiliser on the machair. We hear from islanders Roderick MacKillop, John MacIver, Angus MacKenzie, and John Morrison interviewed by Emily Lyle in 1977, who describe harvesting seaweed to fertilise soil on the machair. Local crofter Alasdair MacEachen and Matthew Topsfield provide insight into how these practices continue today. Accompanying these narratives, we hear a selection of puirt à beul (mouth-music) dance tunessung by Kenneth MacIver (recorded in 1959), and the waulking song Mhòrag 's na Hòro-gheallaidh (Morag and the Promised) recorded in 1973 that recounts a story of a love-lorn woman collecting seaweed performed by Christine Shaw and residents from Bunavoneader, North Harris. Photo: Gathering seaweed, Margaret Fay Shaw, c. 1932.

The conversation moves on to cultivating and planting crops on the machair. Crofter Alasdair MacAchen discusses cultivating soil on the machair, whilst Roderick, Angus, John MacIver and John Morrison recount stories of planting crops without machinery. Meanwhile, Peggy MacIver sing the humourous song Sgadan Saillt' 's Buntàt' (Potatoes and Herring) recorded in 1969 about the benefits of eating salt herring and potatoes. Photo: Ploughing the machair, Sorcha Monk, 2022.