Na Gaidheil
Unearth Scotland's Gaelic culture and explore the vitality of
Western Highland art.
Those who crossed from Ireland to the west coast of Scotland
established a strong Gaelic culture which has since dominated the
Western Highlands and Islands. Gaelic became for a time the
language of most of Scotland as well as Ireland and has left its
imprint on place names as far south as the Lothians and
Galloway.
Art of the West
West Highland art which was encouraged by the Lords of the
Isles, who were descended from Somerled, 12th-century King of the
Hebrides. The Lordship became particularly powerful in the 14th and
15th centuries.
Although the Lordship of the Isles was suppressed by James IV in
1493, West Highland art continued to flourish. You can see the
evidence in later jewellery and weapons.
Excavation of Finlaggan
The Lordship of the Isles had its administrative centre at
Finlaggan on the island of Islay. The display on Finlaggan
(Case 2) shows what can be discovered from the excavation of an
ancient site.
The excavation was carried out between 1990 and 1997 and has
revealed that the Lordship operated from an extensive and
well-appointed centre. Evidence of buildings and the way the people
spent their time has been uncovered. Some of it is displayed here
along with diagrams and reconstructions which explain the site.
Things to see
The claymore (Case 3) and images on the sculptured stones are
reminders that raiding and warfare were significant features of
medieval Highland life. But this was balanced by a vivid culture of
poetry, song and decorative art. The rare Books of Clanranald are
striking examples of West Highland art. The Red Book of Clanranald
is one of the earliest accounts of events in Scotland from a Gaelic
viewpoint.