Sheep

Local fank day in Clachan Biorach in 1962

The Tong moorland is between the village and the Barvas Road, but before my time the sheep went as far as Gleann Bhàrbhais. When the potatoes and oats were planted in the spring, the village was cleared of sheep. After the 10th of May, no sheep were allowed to be within the village boundaries after that date. The sheep remained on the moor until October until the potatoes were lifted and the oats were in the stacks, in a stone enclosure. I remember two and a half thousand sheep being dipped at the Tong fank in November, there were two dipping tanks then. A week ago (2022) at the village fank there was less than 700 sheep, as only half a dozen crofters have sheep now and I am one of them.

Roddy Maciver, Tong