Thursday 11 February 2021
Tune of the Day: The Dark Island
Scottish air
This melody was originally composed by Scottish accordionist Iain McLachlan in 1958 as a pipe lament for a local doctor, under the title “Dr Mackay's Farewell to Creagorry”. Creagorry is a town on the Outer Hebridean island of Benbecula, where Iain and his family lived.
In 1963, the tune was used as the theme for the BBC miniseries The Dark Island, and it became so popular that the name stuck. Like the song, the show was set in Benbecula, though it was mostly filmed on South Uist.
Thanks to Marion for suggesting this tune!