08 October 2007
Air Mhuinntearas, Thursday 11 October 2007, 6.30pm, BBC Scotland
This Thursday night at 6.30pm on BBC2 Scotland, ‘Air Mhuinntearas’ explores what life was like for the young women who left their island homes in the forties and fifties to work in the grand houses of the wealthy in Scotland’s large towns and cities. Chrissie MacInnes left Harris as a young girl, and entered domestic service in Glasgow in the late 1930’s, to be later joined by her sister.
Murdina Campbell was originally from Uig, in Lewis, and she too settled in the city, initially working in a students’ residence before finally taking up residence with a family.
Ethel MacCallum moved from Tiree in the 50’s to work for the Duke and Duchess of Argyll at Inveraray Castle.
We hear their stories, their memories, and their recollections of a way of life that has now died out and, through some reconstructed drama sequences, we gain an insight into what life was like at that time, both pre and post war.
Sixty years on, Chrissie re-visits the house in Glasgow where she once worked and, over afternoon tea, she reminisces with Ethel and Murdina about the many days she spent there, marvelling at all the changes that have taken place over the years.
This programme was produced for BBC Scotland by Bùrach Productions, and was funded by Seirbhis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig. It was produced by Cathy Macdonald and directed by Anna Hannigan.
