The theme of the SCF Annual Gathering will be “1886 and all that”. It is appropriate that the gathering should return to Skye, after a break of  almost 10 years, as 2011 is the 125th Anniversary of the Crofters Act. 

 Skye was the place where crofters’ discontent at their ill-treatment rose into a mass protest and became a national scandal, and names like the    battle of the Braes and the Glendale martyrs entered Scottish consciousness. Police and troops were dispatched to keep the peace amid fierce   rioting; the rest as they say is history.  In 1886 the Crofters Act was passed through Parliament and the crofting community for the first time had the rights which we still value today.

After 125 years, crofting is still valued and a valuable form of landholding and the gathering will be celebrating this. Children from throughout the Crofting areas will be performing the poetry and song of their island ancestors and young crofters will be meeting to describe what they feel are the needs and aspirations of their generation.

The gathering will be held at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, on the 3rd and 4th of   October.  A celebration ceilidh organised by our Young Crofters group will take place on Monday evening, tickets for this event will also be available separately.