na Dorsan

Dorsan ar n' eachdraidh, ar n' inntinn, ar cultar, ar tìr, ar dìon, ar fàgail, ar tilleadh ​

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Doors of our histories, our minds, our culture, our place, our protection, our leavings 

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An extract from Dòmhnall U. MacGilleMhoire's reflections

2024 marked 100 years since the resettlement of Galson village. na Dorsan, a monument commissioned by Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn, in collaboration with Airidhantuim Community Council, Comunn Eachdraidh Nis, and Galson Grazing Committee, designed by artists Will Maclean and Marian Leven and stonework by Chris Barrowman, in South Galson, was erected to commemorate the following significant events in the history of Galson:

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1863

The community of Galson is cleared to make room for a sheep farm.

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1888

Galson is raided by a large group and four men, Malcolm Smith, Malcolm Saunders, Malcolm Maciver and John Nicolson, are later arrested.

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1924

Galson township is resettled. 52 families found new homes in Melbost, South Galson, and North Galson. People, who had scattered across the land, hailing from Dell, Borve, Shader, Carloway, Fivepenny Ness and further afield, were able to make their home in Galson, after clamouring for the land of their forebears, dispossessed eighty years prior, for several decades, punctuated by the significant confrontations. 

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2007

The estate passed into community ownership on 12 January 2007, to be managed on their behalf by Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn.

​It is hoped that the new monument will serve as a poignant space for reflection on the community's shared history, as well as allow visitors to immerse themselves in the local landscape. 

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The 1924 establishment of the Galson community was seen as a homecoming, with many families having hailed from Dell, Borve, Shader, Carloway, and Fivepenny Ness, as well as further afield. In the hundred years since, community ownership has become a firm part of the area's identity, with UOG established in 2007 to manage the Galson Estate on the community's behalf. ​

The official opening ceremony of the monument, and accompanying exhibition at Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn, was held on 1st November 2024.

To accompany the monument in South Galson, there is an exhibition at the Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn Business Centre, which delves into the history of Galson, offering an insight into the events which unfolded.

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The exhibition is open from Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm, and anyone is welcome to come and visit the exhibition. You can walk up to the monument at any time!

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Location: Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn Business Centre, Tom na Bà, South Galson,

Isle of Lewis, HS2 0SH

To find out more, please explore our online na Dorsan archive, featuring photographs, films, poetry and more. And don't forget to visit the monument and exhibition!