New Book launching late August '25
A superficial glance at Balephuil’s natural beauty and tranquil appearance today may suggest that nothing much has happened here for centuries. But nothing could be further from the truth. The people of Balephuil have experienced dramatic economic changes as the landlord created very small crofts and encouraged kelp-gathering and fishing in the early 19th century; followed by further land reorganisation, famine, and large-scale emigration in the mid-19th century; leading to significant political unrest over land distribution prior to a Government resettlement scheme in the 20th century.
This book is based on a conference held in 2024 which brought together residents of Tiree, members of the Tiree ‘diaspora’, and scholars from a range of different backgrounds, to consider the history and cultural achievements of one small crofting township: Balephuil in the south-west of the island.
The book presents the results of recordings made by the School of Scottish Studies, more recent research, and evidence from written records and the township’s rich oral legacy. It demonstrate that detailed local studies can shed considerable light on the wider history of the Highlands and Islands.
Author: Chapters by Alan Boyd, Professor Sir Ian Boyd, Dr Bob Chambers, Alison Diamond, Dr John Holliday, Dr Cathlin Macaulay, Dr Margaret A. Mackay, Ian McLeod, Dr Donald E. Meek, John Randall, Ian Smith, Professor Paul Warde.