Leis gu bheil sinn a’ comharrachadh 50 bliadhna bho chaidh Fearann Eilean Iarmain a stèidheachadh am bliadhna, mar phàirt de na sgeulachdan againn bidh sinn a’ cluinntinn bho dhiofar dhaoine a bha aig aon àm ag obair aig FEI – mu na cuimhneachain a th’ aca agus na daoine a bha ag obair leotha.
Thòisich Peigi NicNeacail, a tha à Liosmòr bho thùs, ag obair dha Sir Iain ann an 1978 nuair a thàinig i a dh’obair san Taigh-òsta. Mar iomadh duine eile, cha robh e na h-inntinn fuireach ach mu 6 mìosan, ach chòrd an gnothach rithe agus chaidh iarraidh oirre fuireach. As dèidh beagan bhliadhnaichean, thòisich i ag obair san oifis ann an 1981, far an robh i làn-ùine an sàs ann an obair cunntais còmhla ri Emily NicDhòmhnaill (Ceap Breatainn). Cuideachd san oifis bha Iseabail NicDhòmhnaill (Àird a’ Bhàsair), Charlie Simpson (Àird a’ Bhàsair), Iain Mac a’ Phearsain (an Àird) agus Ailean Caimbeul (Calabost). Bha plòigh is gàire gu leòr a’ dol san oifis an-còmhnaidh agus chòrd e gu mòr ri Peigi a bhith mar phàirt de sgioba dhòigheil, Ghàidhealach. Chùm i a’ dol an sin gu 1985 nuair a rugadh a mac, Aonghas.
Ann an 1982, mar chomharra air deich bliadhna de FEI, fhuair a h-uile neach-obrach cupa beag grinn bho Sir Iain, mar thaing airson an obair a rinn iad. Sgrìobhte air a’ chupa tha Fearann Eilean Iarmain 1972 – 1982.
Tha e coltach gu robh Sir Iain gu math fialaidh dhan luchd-obrach aige agus a bharrachd air a bhith a’ toirt thiodhlacan dhaibh aig àm na Nollaig, bhiodh e cuideachd a’ tilleadh dhan oifis le rudeigin dhaibh an-dràsta ‘s a-rithist as dèidh dha a bhith air falbh àiteagan.
Tha cuimhne aig Peigi gu robh e air a bhith air falbh san Spàinn aon turas agus thill e le seàla dhith fhèin is dha Emily. Trup eile, b’ e botal de dh’ fàileadh cùbhraidh air choireigin a bh’ aige dhaibh.
Fhuair Peigi pìos mòr hama gu math spaideil bhuaithe aon Nollaig, a thug e air ais bho Valvona is Crolla ann an Dùn Eideann, agus ‘s e a chòrd ri a pàrantan nuair a thug i dhachaigh a Liosmòr e!
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As we mark the 50th anniversary of Fearann Eilean Iarmain this year, we will hear from various people who once worked at FEI – their memories, stories and about the people who worked with them.
Peggy Nicolson, originally from Lismore, started working for Sir Iain Noble in 1978 when she came to work at the Hotel. She was only planning on staying for about 6 months, but she enjoyed it so much she ended up staying. A few years passed and she began working in the office in 1981, where she worked full-time in accounts alongside Emily MacDonald (Cape Breton). Also in the office were Ishbel MacDonald (Ardvasar), Charlie Simpson (Ardvasar), John MacPherson (Aird) and Allan Campbell (Calbost). There was always lots of fun in the office and Peggy enjoyed working in such a Gàidhealach environment. She continued until 1985 when her son, Angus, was born.
In 1982, to mark ten years of FEI, all the staff received a decorative bone china cup from Sir Iain in recognition of their hard work. Written on the cup is Fearann Eilean Iarmain 1972 – 1982.
By all accounts Sir Iain was very kind to his staff and as well as giving them presents at Christmas time, he would sometimes return from a trip away with something for each of them. Peggy remembers him being away in Spain once and returning with a lovely shawl for herself and Emily. Another time it was a bottle of perfume they received.
One Christmas the present was a very nice piece of ham which he had brought back from Valvona and Crolla in Edinburgh, and which was then enjoyed by Peggy and her parents back home in Lismore!
