Cearcall - Season 1

Presenter Donald Morrison takes a nostalgic look through the archive of the popular Gaelic current affairs series Cearcall. In the original series transmitted in the late 1970s and the 1980s, presenters Angela MacEachan, Murdo F Macleod and Martin MacDonald covered a variety of stories. Some of the reports highlighted include the origins of fish farming on the West coast, the beginning of the RET debate for travelling on ferries, murmurs in the 1980s questioning whether the Comunn Gàidhealach was old-fashioned and a report on the future for Scalpay, as the fishing industry decline started to affect the island.

Presenter Donald Morrison takes a nostalgic look through the archive of the popular Gaelic current affairs series Cearcall. In the original series transmitted in the late 1970s and the 1980s, presenters Angela MacEachan, Murdo F Macleod and Martin MacDonald covered a variety of stories. Some of the reports highlighted include the origins of fish farming on the West coast, the beginning of the RET debate for travelling on ferries, murmurs in the 1980s questioning whether the Comunn Gàidhealach was old-fashioned and a report on the future for Scalpay, as the fishing industry decline started to affect the island.

Presenter Donald Morrison takes a nostalgic look through the archive of the popular Gaelic current affairs series Cearcall. In the original series transmitted in the late 70's and the 80's, topics covered included fishing, crofting, language and politics. In this programme, features explored include a report from the newly founded annual festival in Barra and how it was supporting cultural developments on the island. Also, Angela MacEachan visited Lewis to discover how new recording facilities were helping the island musicians in the early 80s.

Presenter Donald Morrison takes a nostalgic look through the archive of the popular Gaelic current affairs series Cearcall. In the original series transmitted in the late 70's and the 80's, topics covered included fishing, crofting, language and politics. In this programme, features explored include a report on how RET was successfully operating in Norway. For years, the Norwegian experience was viewed with envy and in 1982, when Angela MacEachan reported on this subject, you will see that roll-on roll-off ferries were just starting in the islands.

In the second report, Cearcall visited Scalpay to discover how the decline in fishing affected the isle of Scalpay. With the closing of herring fishing and the price for lobster decreasing, it was very difficult to make a living in the fishing industry. This inevitably raised questions about the future employment hopes for young people.

Presenter Donald Morrison takes a nostalgic look through the archive of the popular Gaelic current affairs series Cearcall. In the original series transmitted in the late 70's and the 80's, topics covered included fishing, crofting, language and politics. In this programme, three distinct pieces are covered. In the first report, Angela MacEachan visits Donald Stewart, the MP who represented the Western Isles for 17 years. He was the SNP's first MP to win his seat at a general election and was unusual in that he was popular and respected even by opponents of his party.

The second report looks at the state of the Harris tweed industry at the time of new training courses and new looms being introduced.

The final item examines the campaign to keep the Cold War away from Lewis: it was called 'Keep Nato Out'.

Presenter Donald Morrison takes a nostalgic look through the archive of the popular Gaelic current affairs series Cearcall. In the original series transmitted in the late 70's and the 80's, topics covered included fishing, crofting, language and politics.

In the first report, Angela MacEachan visits Uist to study the Van Leer project that was started there. The Van Leer Foundation was funded by the legacy of Dutch businessman Bernard Van Leer, who died in the 50s. One aim was to look for improvements in the education of young children.

Also on the programme, a report on the unusual way news of plans to build a rocket range on South Uist was discovered. The third report is a portrait of Berneray, Harris which was very remote at the time. It wasn't even served by a public ferry, although there was talk of introducing a Loganair plane service. Angela MacEachan presented her observations from the island.

Presenter Donald Morrison takes a nostalgic look through the archive of the popular Gaelic current affairs series Cearcall. In the original series transmitted in the late 70's and the 80's, topics covered included fishing, crofting, language and politics.

In this episode, three distinct pieces are covered. Angela MacEachan visited Ardelve in the early 80s and spoke to an older resident who still lived in a thatched cottage which proved to be a living attraction for tourists.

Also on the programme, a report on the Highland Fund and some of the districts helped by it. The final feature is a comprehensive report on Gairloch, where Scottish heroine Kay Matheson taught at the time.

In the original series transmitted in the late 1970s and the 1980s, presenters Angela MacEachan, Murdo F Macleod and Martin MacDonald covered a variety of stories. Some of the reports highlighted include Angela MacEachan's 1983 visit to Islay, where she found out about the problem geese were causing for farmers. There is also a report on ferry service timetable changes that were causing problems for the Islay community. Next door on the island of Jura, things were more worrying for the local inhabitants. In the middle of the 19th century, the population of Jura was 1,300, but when Murdo MacLeod visited in the 80s that number had decreased to less than 200.

This episode features several reports, notable among them the conflict between creel fishermen and trawlers off Skye. Creel fishermen from the west were losing creels and grounds to destructive trawls. Angela MacEachan reported on how creel fishermen were trying to get the authorities to keep trawlers out of sea lochs. Other reports include a feature on the YOP schemes and the aim of creating jobs for young people. The first business courses at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig were starting, as was the realisation that computers and electronics would form an integral part of the future.

Presenter Donald Morrison takes a nostalgic look through the archive of the popular Gaelic current affairs series Cearcall. In the original series transmitted in the late 1970s and the 1980s, presenters Angela MacEachan, Murdo F Macleod and Martin MacDonald covered a variety of stories. This episode features several reports, notable among them a report on the IDP development scheme. The scheme was worth £20 million, a huge amount in the 80s. Crofting and fish farming were the main focus for development and every township applied for a share of IDP support. The second report is about Rhenigidale, which had no road to the village until 1990. Villagers could only come and go by boat or by walking for miles across moorland. The final feature is about education in the islands and how the council was planning to close small rural schools while also trying to encourage bilingual education.

Presenter Donald Morrison takes a nostalgic look through the archive of the popular Gaelic current affairs series Cearcall. In the original series transmitted in the late 1970s and the 1980s, presenters Angela MacEachan, Murdo F Macleod and Martin MacDonald covered a variety of stories. This episode features several reports, notable among them how the community in Knoydart were unhappy with the news that the Ministry of Defence were planning to buy the local estate and use it to train soldiers. The second report features the port of Mallaig, with Angela MacEachen looking at the implications to local businesses of west coast ferries no longer stopping there. The final feature investigated the impact the closure of the pulp mill at Corpach had on forestry in the region.

Presenter Donald Morrison takes a nostalgic look through the archive of the popular Gaelic current affairs series Cearcall. In the original series transmitted in the late 1970s and the 1980s, presenters Angela MacEachan, Murdo F Macleod and Martin MacDonald covered a variety of stories. The final episode features several reports, notable among them a portrayal of the activities of the Barra lifeboat, how work on the Tràigh Mhòr disrupted planes landing on Barra and how the Eriskay co-operative was reviving the island.