Friends of Tiree Genealogy
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Who we are: a group of Tiree Descendants united
in our interest to support
Tiree Genealogy Research at An Iodhlann (the Archive on the Isle of Tiree,
Scotland)
How we do it: by collecting donations to purchase materials for the
Archive's Genealogy Department.
How you can become a Friend:
Simply make a donation.
Our first Friends Project
'Friends
of Tyree Genie-ology'
is currently underway and will run till the end of March, 2009.
It's focus is as a Memorial for Gene MacKinnon (late wife of Archie MacKinnon)
who were both sincere supporters
of the Tiree Archive as well as long time and well known visitors to the Isle of
Tiree for the past 50 years.
See further details below.
Gene MacKinnon (1929-2008) with husband Archie
Gene and Archie were married for over half a century and,
during that magnificent journey together, loved and
encouraged all things to do with the Isle of Tiree, or as their licence
plate spelled it:
TYREE
[Click TYREE above to see the actual licence plate.]
Long time residents of Guelph, Ontario, they were essential supporters of the
Tiree Descendants Gathering in Guelph in July, 2004
with Archie being one of the organizers of the event.
More recently, they attended A' Bhuain, the Tiree Homecoming,
on the Isle of Tiree in May, 2006 and Archie was invited to address the
gathering as
the spokesman for the Tiree Diaspora.
Even today Gene's presence remains on the Island --
a friend on Tiree tells how a new lamb has just been born on his croft,
and he will name it "Gene" in her honour.
To see Gene's obituary from
the Globe and Mail, click here.
(To see Archie's current work on Tiree language and culture in Canada,
click here.)
A Message from Dr. John Holliday,
Chairperson of An Iodhlann on the Isle of Tiree:
It is truly sad news
about Gene MacKinnon and I will pass it on to the An Iodhlann Committee when we
meet next.
I thoroughly support your proposals for donations made to the Archive in memory
of Gene
and look forward to working with "Friends of Tiree Genealogy" in this regard."
http://www.aniodhlann.org.uk
A Message from Archie, who shared with Gene and their four sons the great adventure of life:
"One must
habit oneself to the dazzle of light and to every
precious moment of our brief existence"
- Walt Whitman
Thanks to all for support and affection in my passage
through the Dark Valley.
Yours Aye,
Archie.
To remember Gene
with a donation to the Tiree Archive click here
Friends of Tyree Genie-ology