Tha an cala beag, an t-seann chidhe agus an acarsaid sheasgair a-riamh air a bhith cudromach mar chala iasgaich, àite malairteach agus port do bhàtaichean smùid. ‘B ann às a seo a chaidh Flòraidh NicDhòmhnaill a thoirt am bruid air an t-soitheach an Unicorn ann an 1746, as dèidh dhi a’ Phrionnsa Teàrlach Stiùbhart a shàbhaladh. Chaidh a toirt an uair sin gu Tùr Lunnainn mar phrìosanach airson a pàirt san teicheadh.
Ann a meadhan an 19mh linn deug, bha cruadal mòr agus gainnead bìdh air feadh na Gàidhealtachd ‘s nan Eilean agus cha do rinn an riaghaltas mòran airson cuideachadh. Chaidh iarrtas airson cuideachadh bho Charaid nan Gaidheal, an t-Oll Tormod MacLeòid, a chluinntinn leis an t-Urr Dunmore Lang, ministear san eaglais chlèirich ann an Astràilia, agus thòisich e prògram gus a faigheadh daoine bhon sgìre turas sàbhailte a-null a dh’ Astràilia. B’ e an William Nicol a’ chiad bhàta a dh’fhalbh, a sheòl à Eilean Iarmain san Iuchar 1837. De na 322 luchd-siubhail a bh’ air bòrd, thàinig 107 à Slèite. Dh’aithris a’ phàipear-naidheachd an Edinburgh Courant air 10 Iuchar 1837 gun tug e trì latha gus crìoch a chur air na h-eilthirich fhaighinn air bòrd. Dh’innis iad cuideachd gun robh na h-uidhir de dhaoine airson falbh ach nach b’ urrainn dhan bhàta gabhail na bh’ ann de shluagh.
Ann an 1972 b’ e an cidhe cloiche, a bha air tuiteam às a’ chèile an uair sin, aon de na ciad leasachaidhean air an do thòisich Sir Iain Noble, agus chomharraich seo toiseach prògram ath-leasachaidh air toglaichean Eilean Iarmain agus na sgìre.
Ann a meadhan an 19mh linn deug, bha cruadal mòr agus gainnead bìdh air feadh na Gàidhealtachd ‘s nan Eilean agus cha do rinn an riaghaltas mòran airson cuideachadh. Chaidh iarrtas airson cuideachadh bho Charaid nan Gaidheal, an t-Oll Tormod MacLeòid, a chluinntinn leis an t-Urr Dunmore Lang, ministear san eaglais chlèirich ann an Astràilia, agus thòisich e prògram gus a faigheadh daoine bhon sgìre turas sàbhailte a-null a dh’ Astràilia. B’ e an William Nicol a’ chiad bhàta a dh’fhalbh, a sheòl à Eilean Iarmain san Iuchar 1837. De na 322 luchd-siubhail a bh’ air bòrd, thàinig 107 à Slèite. Dh’aithris a’ phàipear-naidheachd an Edinburgh Courant air 10 Iuchar 1837 gun tug e trì latha gus crìoch a chur air na h-eilthirich fhaighinn air bòrd. Dh’innis iad cuideachd gun robh na h-uidhir de dhaoine airson falbh ach nach b’ urrainn dhan bhàta gabhail na bh’ ann de shluagh.
Ann an 1972 b’ e an cidhe cloiche, a bha air tuiteam às a’ chèile an uair sin, aon de na ciad leasachaidhean air an do thòisich Sir Iain Noble, agus chomharraich seo toiseach prògram ath-leasachaidh air toglaichean Eilean Iarmain agus na sgìre.
The little harbour with the old pier and the sheltered anchorage have always been important as a fishing harbour, a commercial centre and a steamer stop. It was from here that Flora Macdonald was taken captive on the frigate Unicorn in 1746 after rescuing Prince Charles Stuart, and was then transported to the Tower of London as a prisoner for her part in his escape.
The mid 1830s were a time of great hardship and food shortage in the Highlands and Islands and the government did little to help. An impassioned plea for help by Caraid nan Gaidheal (Friend of the Gaels), Dr Norman MacLeod, was heard and acted on by Rev Dunmore Lang, a Presbyterian minister based in Australia. He instigated a programme of assisted passages to Australia from the area. The first boat to leave was the William Nicol, which sailed from Eilean Iarmain in July 1837. Of the 322 passengers, 107 came from Sleat. The Edinburgh Courant of July 10 1837 reported that it took three days to complete the embarkation of the emigrants. It also reported that so many people wanted to emigrate that the ship could not accommodate all those who turned up.
In 1972 the stone pier, then derelict, was one of the first restorations carried out by Sir Iain Noble and marked the beginning of a programme of restoration of the architectural heritage of Eilean Iarmain and the area.
The mid 1830s were a time of great hardship and food shortage in the Highlands and Islands and the government did little to help. An impassioned plea for help by Caraid nan Gaidheal (Friend of the Gaels), Dr Norman MacLeod, was heard and acted on by Rev Dunmore Lang, a Presbyterian minister based in Australia. He instigated a programme of assisted passages to Australia from the area. The first boat to leave was the William Nicol, which sailed from Eilean Iarmain in July 1837. Of the 322 passengers, 107 came from Sleat. The Edinburgh Courant of July 10 1837 reported that it took three days to complete the embarkation of the emigrants. It also reported that so many people wanted to emigrate that the ship could not accommodate all those who turned up.
In 1972 the stone pier, then derelict, was one of the first restorations carried out by Sir Iain Noble and marked the beginning of a programme of restoration of the architectural heritage of Eilean Iarmain and the area.
