WINTER 2024 – 25 LECTURE SERIES
All welcome : Non members are invited to donate £3 per talk – free to members – join as a member or just the mailing list here
* – John Campbell, Ledaig Bard, co founder of Oban Mod – October 12th 2024 – Victory Hall, Benderloch – his life by his great grandson, William Angus
* – Bob McCulloch – Oban slideshow and (quick) AGM – PLEASE volunteer to join us to help the society : November 8th 2024 – 2.30pm – Rockfield centre, Oban
* –Whispering Winds of the West : December 14th 2024 2.30pm, Rockfield Centre, Oban
LAHS is so delighted to be welcoming the renowned travellers storyteller Jess Smith back to Oban to share her fascinating tales of the traveller culture, her own family with such strong ties to our area : Luing : Benderloch : Appin : Lismore throughout the 1800s.
She has a new book coming out that will be yet another fantastic success.
Author Jess Smith BEM, is a Traveller lass who spent her childhood on the road with seven sisters, parents and an occasional dog. She promised her father that one day she would write her story of living on a bus and visiting Scotland’s less known haunts. She has successfully headed a campaign to have the Tinker’s Heart of Argyll (Traveller wedding place)listed as a Scottish monument. Her other achievements include six books published, with others in the pipeline and Jess loves to share the old tales and sing the songs of people.
* – Local Crannogs by the Crannog Centre : January 11th 2025, 2.30pm Rockfield Centre, Oban
* – Clan Campbell and Branches – how genealogy and DNA research can provide new insight. Graham Holton, Dtrathclyde Institute for Genealogical Studies February 8th 2025, 2.30pm Rockfield Centre, Oban
Clan Campbell was a dominant force in Argyll from the 14th century, with many branches such as the Campbells of Argyll, Glenorchy, Breadalbane and Cawdor. Genetic genealogy, using DNA testing, is beginning to help many present day Campbells rediscover their ancestral identity by identifying from which branch they descend. This research has also uncovered some surprising results. The talk will introduce some of the methods used and what has been found so far.
* – March 8th 2025 – ‘A roof o’er their heads’: the archaeology of the Glencoe townships – Derek Alexander, Head of Archaeological Services, National Trust for Scotland
Events in Glencoe on 13th February 1692 cast a long shadow, now being illuminated by a well-publicised series of archaeological excavations by the National Trust for Scotland.
You can get involved in the coming summer – Glencoe Archaeology Project Summer 2025
* – April 12th 2025 Domhnall Uilleam Stiubhart, Senior Lecturer of Sabhal Mor Ostaig will be leading our second John MacFarlane Memorial lecture of Gaelic in the Landscape.