What's Happening at CEN

COMING SOON TO COMUNN EACHDRAIDH NIS

Everyone at Comunn Eachdraidh Nis would like to express our grateful thanks to AIM for supporting this project. With this grant we were able to restore a painting which was in a very poor structural and visual condition. The museum was gifted the oil painting in 2011. It was signed by the artist, Donald Macleod and dated 1908. Donald Macleod, was born in Port of Ness in 1874. He was a talented painter and wood carver, who also learnt the skill of boatbuilding from his father. He emigrated to New Zealand around 1910 and worked at Napier, Tokomaru Bay and Wanganui. A cable was received on the 20th of May with news of the recovery of Donald’s body which had washed up at Westshore beach, Napier. The painting - the only known surviving work by Donald Macleod, has now been professionally restored by Egan, Matthews & Rose, based in Dundee, who specialise in the conservation and restoration of easel paintings. ensuring it can be enjoyed by future generations.

Coffee and a Blether at CEN

Join us for Cofaidh is Cabadaich

A chance to chat and enjoy a slice of cake. What could be better!

Each Wednesday at 11am, all levels of fluency welcome. 

This event will be in Gaelic. 

New Gaelic Officer for North West Lewis

Alison Campbell Clark has been appointed as Oifigear Leasachaidh Iar Thuath Leodhais, which will entail creating and developing a Gaelic Language Plan for the area, working between Ness and Lochganvich.

Read more on Alison's role here

CEN needs volunteers!

We are looking for volunteers in the:

café / garden / museum / archive / meet & greet

If you’re looking to meet new people and try something new, we would love to hear from you.

Phone: 01851 810377

e-mail: office@cenonline.org or pop in: Comunn Eachdraidh Nis, Ness, Isle of Lewis, HS2 0SN

New EV charger for Ness

A new electric vehicle (EV) charging point has been installed in north Lewis as part of a community group’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Comunn Eachdraidh Nis (CEN) provides services for more than 20,000 people each year.

As the first historical society to be set up in the Outer Hebrides (in 1977), it now has an established reputation for delivering innovate projects for local people and for visitors. It also serves as a Gaelic ‘hub’ within the community and the language is spoken every day by staff and people visiting the facilities. Over the past three years, the team at CEN noticed an increasing number of electric vehicles being used by passing visitors, with up to 20 EVs stopping by each week during the summer months.

Read HIE press release here 

CEN awarded 4 Star ‘Excellent’ Visitor Attraction rating from Visit Scotland

Comunn Eachdraidh Nis is celebrating following news that the centre has received a 4 Star ‘Excellent’ Visitor Attraction rating from the national tourist organisation, Visit Scotland. Following a recent incognito visit by a Visit Scotland inspector, CEN has been upgraded from a 3 Star ‘Very good’ Visitor Attraction assessment, to 4 Star ‘Excellent’. The CEN cafe has also received the organisation’s Taste our Best food award.

Read more on the 4 star 'excellent' award here. 

Highlands and Islands Architectural Association awards 2022

It is with great delight and honour that we can announce that Comunn Eachdraidh Nis has won in the Highlands + Islands Architectural Association Awards 2022. Comunn Eachdraidh Nis won the award for ‘Place-making: Buildings or interventions in the public realm that enhance the quality of any location and/or create a sense of place’.

Read the full press release here.

Dealbh Diciadain

Gach Diciadain, bheir sinn sùil air ais air na daoine agus a' choimhearsnachd againn tro dhealbhan an tasglainn. An t-seachdain seo, sgoilearan à Sgoil Gabhsainn.

L-r a' seasamh: Dòmhnall Allan Murray, Seonag Bhrìsidh, Murdaidh agus Donnie Finlayson
A' suidhe: Mairead Bhàn Bhrìsidh, Dòmhnall Murdo Aonghais Mhurdigan (Tubby), Angus Sheonaidh Fhionnlaigh
Aig a' bhòrd: Peter, Margaret Joan (Calum na Sùist), Neil Iain Mhurdo, Kirsty Mairead Mhurchaidh Ruairidh, Roddy John a' Chuiligich

Wednesday photo

Every Wednesday, we will share a photograph from our archive looking back on familiar faces and our changing community.

This weeks photo is from a Sale of Work from the 1970s. Do you recognise any faces?