Comann Eachdraidh Sgìre a’ Bhac
Recording and preserving the history of the Back area in Lewis.
Comann Eachdraidh Sgìre a’ Bhac
A’ clàradh agus a’ gleidheil eachdraidh sgìre a’ Bhac ann an Leòdhas.
Comann Eachdraidh Sgìre a’ Bhac
Recording and preserving the history of the Back area in Lewis.
Comann Eachdraidh Sgìre a’ Bhac
A’ clàradh agus a’ gleidheil eachdraidh sgìre a’ Bhac ann an Leòdhas.
Naidheachdan News
AGM 2026
Comann Eachdraidh Sgìre a’ Bhac's seventh AGM was held on the evening of Tuesday 6th October. The committee would like to thank all the members who attended for their support.
Two of our long-serving trustees stood down, Anne Macarthur and Stewart Macleod. We are so grateful for their work over the past years.
We were however delighted that Jane Davidson has joined the board, and look forward to working with her.
The full text of the chair's report delivered at the meeting is now online.
Samradh Trang aig CEBac // A Busy Summer at CEBac
Tha Samhradh trang air a bhith againn – a bharrachd air na tachartasan àbhaisteach againn, chuir sinn air dòigh am Micro Museum, a bha a’ toirt air daoine a chuimhneachadh dòighean-bheatha na làithean a dh’fhalbh. Bha cuspair eadar-dhealaichte againn gach seachdain, a' coimhead ri "An Dachaigh", "Cogadh", agus "Muir is Tìr". Tha sinn an dòchas an seòrsa pop-up seo a' dhèanamh a-rithist beagan nas fhaide air a' bhliadhna. Read more…
Samradh Trang aig CEBac // A Busy Summer at CEBac
Tha Samhradh trang air a bhith againn – a bharrachd air na tachartasan àbhaisteach againn, chuir sinn air dòigh am Micro Museum, a bha a’ toirt air daoine a chuimhneachadh dòighean-bheatha na làithean a dh’fhalbh. Bha cuspair eadar-dhealaichte againn gach seachdain, a' coimhead ri "An Dachaigh", "Cogadh", agus "Muir is Tìr". Tha sinn an dòchas an seòrsa pop-up seo a' dhèanamh a-rithist beagan nas fhaide air a' bhliadhna.
Chuir sinn cuideachd tachartasan air dòigh airson na h-òigridh is teaghlaichean airson na laithean saora; bha an fharpais fotografachd againn soirbheachail agus thug i rudeigin dhan choimhearsneachd fhaicinn nuair a thig iad a-steach dhan a’ chaban às dèidh am museum a bhith seachad. Thug sinn cuideachd explorer packs don a’ chlann, airson am brosnachadh ann a' toirt toighe dhan àrainneachd agus ùine a chuir seachad a-muigh.
We have had a busy summer – on top of our usual events, we held the Micro Museum, which let people get together and remember the lifestyles and people of the past. This ran for four weeks, with different themes: "The Home", "War", and "Land and Sea". The Micro Museum was very popular, and we hope to repeat the pop-up later in the year.
We also organised events for young folk and families for the summer holidays; our photo competition was successful and it has given the community something new to see when they come into our Heritage Cabin.
Seachdain na Gàidhlig
Mar phàirt de thachartasan Seachdain na Gàidhlig 2026, chaidh Sgioba na Gàidhlig air sgrìob gu Comann Eachdraidh Sgìre a' Bhac madainn an-diugh. Bha an t-àite glè thrang 's e làn a-mach air a bhus le muinntir na sgìre. Read more…
Seachdain na Gàidhlig
Mar phàirt de thachartasan Seachdain na Gàidhlig 2026, chaidh Sgioba na Gàidhlig air sgrìob gu Comann Eachdraidh Sgìre a' Bhac madainn an-diugh. Bha an t-àite glè thrang 's e làn a-mach air a bhus le muinntir na sgìre.
A thuilleadh air a bhith a' deasbad mu sheann dhealbhan mar as àbhaist, bhruidhinn an Sgioba ris na bha an làthair mu luach na Gàidhlig san eaconamaidh le bhith feuchainn ceisteachan no quiz beag leotha.
Bha còmhradh glè inntinneach aca às dèidh làimh 's iad a' cuimhneachadh air facail agus abairtean èibhinn a bha an cunnart a dhol à bith. Cumaibh sùil air meadhanan na Comhairle a-màireach (Là Abairt na Gàidhlig) ach an cluinn sibh beagan de na h-abairtean is seanfhaclan a th' air bilean luchd-obrach na Comhairle!
As part of the busy schedule for Seachdain na Gàidhlig (World Gaelic Week) 2026, Sgioba na Gàidhlig (CNES Gaelic Team) visited Back History Society this morning. The place was bursting at the seams with folk from the local community.
In addition to discussing old photographs as usual, the Sgioba talked to those present about the value of Gaelic in the economy by testing them with a short quiz.
This was followed by a very interesting conversation about words and expressions that are at risk of going out of use. Keep an eye on the Comhairle's media channels tomorrow (Say a Gaelic Phrase Day) as you might hear some of the expressions and idioms that CNES staff are fond of!
Meeting agendas
Read the most recent PDF agenda from our monthly meetings (or dip in to the archive).
News archive
Goireasan Resources
As we digitise resources — text, images, video and audio — we aim to make as much as possible of them available here.
- Back in Time Album 2023 — edited by Iain Murray this gathers together lots of interesting history (and some legends too) about Back.
- Old History and Crofting of Gress (PDF) — a booklet published by the old Comunn Eachdraidh Sgìre a’ Bhac with a lot of interesting information.
- Back: Birth of a Village — another booklet published by the old Comunn Eachdraidh, with information about the crofts in Back village.
- Tobar an Dualchais — some of the recordings from this audio archive that are from, or about the Back area.
- Small pamphlet produced to mark the opening of the commemorative cairn at Upper Coll.
- The old comunn produced occassional newsletters, full of historical snippets:
- one undated, but probably from the late 1980s.
- a second, this time from March 1986.
- a third, this one dated June 1988.
- PDF form to record aspects of the social history of the area - consider filling it in!
- PDF membership forms (becoming a member is free and helps support the work of the society): (You may find it easier to sign up as a member using our online form.)
- Feasibility study looking at the options to create a permanent home for the comann.
- Feasibility study looking at the options to create a permanent home for the comann.
Gailearaidh Dheilbh Photo gallery
Some pictures from Comann events are in the gallery below.
Luchd-tadhail air am Micro Museum // Visitors to the Micro Museum, July 2026
Cuairt CEBac gu Càrn a' Mharc, 28/02/26 // CEBac walk to Càrn a' Mharc chambered cairn, 28/02/26
At the inaugural lecture (18/01/19)
At the inaugural lecture (18/01/19)
At the inaugural lecture (18/01/19)
At the inaugural lecture (18/01/19)
Bill Lawson at the launch of his latest book, Vatisker Croft History (11/12/18)
At the Vatisker Croft History book launch (11/12/18)
At the Vatisker Croft History book launch (11/12/18)
Mu ar deidhinn About us
Comann Eachdraidh Sgìre a’ Bhac (Back Historical Society) SCIO is a voluntary, non-profit organisation set up to preserve and share all aspects of the history, culture and traditions of the Back area, in the Isle of Lewis.
The Comann meets monthly to discuss projects and also organises local lectures and events in Gaelic and English.
We are a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO), and our charity number is SC049033. Our constitution may be read here (PDF).
Consider becoming a member -- it is free, and helps support our work.
Current office-bearers (2025)
- Chair: Angus Maclennan*
- Vice chair: Kenneth A Maciver*
- Treasurer: Angela MacIver*
- Secretary: Donald I Macdonald*
Current committee members (2025/26)
- Kathryn Graham*
- Mary Ann Graham*
- James MacArthur*
- Eilidh Sìne Macdonald*
- Murdo Macleod*
- Kevin Murray
- Iain Murray*
- Ian Quigley
- Anne Ramsay*
- Coinneach Smith*
- Kenny Stewart
- Margaret Stewart*
* charity trustee