Brú na Bóinne to Skye

By Yvonne Gerrard

My roots are in the West Coast of Mayo, Éire . My mother is one of a large family was born into abject poverty, she experienced much the same life the crofters did here in the Highlands in the 1920s. In 1933, Éamon de Valera the Prime Minster of the time decided to move families from the West to the East Coast. His aims were two fold; to relieve the poverty, and to increase the number of Gaelic speakers in an anglicised East Coast. My Grandfather was fortunate to be relocated, he was given a farm house a horse and 44 acres of arable land, their address was just Newgrange, Slane, Co. Meath.

Although born and brought up in Manchester, I spent huge parts of my childhood and life both in Newgrange and Mayo experiencing “farming” life. For me moving to North West Skye felt like coming home. Newgrange is now a World Heritage Site but back in my youth it was simply known as “the Caves” and for an old penny a local would show you around inside with a candle. An uncle worked on the excavation and in the photo taken about 1948 another uncle is sitting on the entrance stone pre- the excavations. The entrance stone is 3200 BC, older than the Pyramids and Stonehenge. It is Celtic in origin some think the markings are a type of language others the topography of the land to include other nearby burial sites and the flow of the River Boyne. Some even think it might represent musical notes which were used at the burials. My journey stone is my attempt at the entrance stone. My grandparents are buried in its shadow. To me this represents my Gaelic roots and who I am.

From left to right: Yvonne's uncle sitting on the Newgrange entrance stone; the Newgrange Entrance Stone; Aerial view of the Newgrange Neolithic Passage Tomb; Yvonne's journey stone, a tribute to the entrance stone and her roots
Image provided by Yvonne Gerrard

Many thanks to Yvonne Gerrard for sharing with us the story behind her journey stone, created as part of the Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands.

WHAT IS A JOURNEY STONE?

Prior to the beginning of the stitching of each tapestry panel, each stitcher of the Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands was tasked with telling their interpretation of the 'Spirit of the Highlands and Islands' within a blank outline of a stone. The possibilities were truly endless - is it represented in the land? The people? A historical site? A favourite memory?

In any case, each journey stone represents the connection between each individual stitcher, their story, and their own sense, or 'spirit', of place. Discover more of the stories behind the journey stones of the Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands here.