Pictish Harp from the Nigg Standing Stone

By Christine Martin

Journey Stone tribute to the Pictish Harp carved into the Nigg Standing Stone
Image provided by Christine Martin

The harp image on my journey stone is taken from the Pictish Nigg stone from Easter Ross. I moved to Tain in the 70’s and learned to play the harp at that time. My husband Alasdair made my first harp. We moved to Skye 34 years ago and I have been learning Gaelic over that time and this is a good proverb which involves the music and the arts in which I have been involved all my life. This Gaelic proverb “Thig crìoch air an t- saoghail, ach mairidh gaol is ceòl” translates as “The world will end but love and music will last forever”

Many thanks to Christine Martin, of the South Skye LASsies, 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.