Dál Riata Cross
The Girls in Stitches came together from across Islay to stitch the unique story of Banrìgh nan Eilean, 'the Queen of the Hebrides', its community and its natural and cultural heritage.
This is their story.
Islay, and its neighbour Jura, are believed to have been inhabited since 10,000BC. Since its earliest inhabitants the island has borne witness to the lives, histories, and the incredible stories of its communities for over 12,000 years.
By the 6th Century AD Islay, along with much of the nearby mainland and its surrounding islands lay within the Gaelic kingdom of Dál Riata, which at its height encompassed the western seaboard on Scotland and north-east Northern Ireland. Its expansion into Scotland would, in time, be associated with the foundations of the Kingdom of Alba and shape the Scotland that we all recognise today.
On Islay, Jura, and possible the isle of Colonsay, the Dál Riatan kin group Cenél nÓengusa ruled over the islands.
The historic arrival of St Columba (Chaluim Chille) and Christianity in the 6th Century would transform the social and political landscape both on Islay and the wider kingdom of Dál Riata. It is almost two centuries later, in around 720AD, the earliest known reference to the island is made, described in St Adomnán's Vita Columbae as "Ilea" and "Ilea insula habitabat" and also a phrase still used to describe the island 'green, grassy Islay' - 'Ile ghorm an fheoir'.
A tribute to the beautiful Islay and its history and culture.Image provided by Girls in Stitches
ISLAY'S EARLY DAYS
From only a brief walk around the island, visitors can immediately get a sense of the impact of the events of this period on Islay. Magnificently and skilfully carved Celtic crosses can be found at many sites across the island, a testament to the creativity and craftmanship of the communities living through this period of historic change. The stunning Kildalton Cross standing in the ruins of a late Medieval Cill Daltain church, one of the Islay crosses this panel takes its inspiration from, is considered one of the world’s best-preserved Celtic crosses and bears close resemblances to those found on Iona.
The 9th Century marked the arrival of the Vikings and the destructive end of Dál Riata. Under the rule of Norsemen, Islay would form part of the Kingdom of the Isles until the 12th Century when the Norse-Gaelic lord Somerled foundation of the 'Lord of the Isles' dynasty which would catalyse a chain of events which would lead to Islay and its adjacent isles being incorporated fully into the Kingdom of Scotland by 1493.
Laying down the Islay tweedImage provided by The Girls in Stitches
The cross-face completedImage provided by The Girls in Stitches
Making progress on the panelImage provided by The Girls in Stitches
Adding the finishing touchesImage provided by The Girls in Stitches
BEHIND THE PANEL WITH THE GIRLS IN STITCHES
There are many crosses on Islay, the one we applied is representative of them all, using Islay tweed and Islay yarn for the cords. The Round Church in Bowmore was built in 1767, with local tales saying it was built round so that the devil couldn’t hide in the corners. It is the only completely circular church in Scotland.
Carraig Fhada Lighthouse is another unique building, being the only square lighthouse in Scotland.
In the remaining two corners, we have the Rhinns of Islay lighthouse, engineered by Robert Stevenson in 1825; and the Paps of Jura, a three-mountain range visible from Islay (with the still representing the ten working and three developing whisky distilleries on Islay and Jura).
The geese flying round the cross represent the thousands of barnacle and white front geese that winter on Islay. One of the geese has the stitchers' initials - K, R, C and P, cleverly incorporated by Kate.
We have all found the experience challenging, frustrating, educational ....and most of all, fun! We have forged new friendships, developed new skills and had lots of laughs together. So much so we are looking for other projects we could get involved in, perhaps something to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Rhinns lighthouse, but so far nothing decided.
So many thanks to the support staff, all of you, for the motivation and encouragement to get and stay involved. We look forward to seeing the complete tapestry in the future.
- Peggy Macnab, Kate Skinner, Rae Woodrow and Carolyn Ferguson - Girls in Stitches
WITH THANKS TO THE GIRLS IN STITCHES
This panel was stitched by Rae, Carolyn, Kate and Peggy who gave their time, skill and energy to completing a fantastic artwork for their area.
If you would like to see the panel up close and admire the detail of their work, please look out for the panel at an exhibition near you soon. To find out more, follow Inverness Castle Experience on Facebook for all the latest updates on the Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands and the new visitor experience in Inverness, open 2025.
