Lochaber Times writer Nic takes on editor’s role at Dé tha dol?
When I moved back to the mainland from the Isle of Rum in early 2019 and arrived in Ardnamurchan, along with the usual formal changes of address, registering at the local GP and finding the best place to buy a pint of milk or a pint of beer, I joined the library, writes Nic Goddard.
It’s always a hub of any small community, along with the pub and shop, and the place to get all of the ‘gen’ on the ins and outs of fitting into a new place.
The librarian recommended some Facebook groups to join and held up a copy of Dé tha dol?, telling me ‘you’ll want to grab a copy of this every month too.
‘It’s got all the local information about what’s going on.
Sure enough, Dé tha dol? – Gaelic for ‘what’s doing?’ or ‘what’s going on?’ - was, just as the West Word had been the printed place to find out about community life in the Small Isles and surrounding area, the place to find out everything - along with the Lochaber Times for the wider area, of course. However, two years on, having been another victim of lockdown life, Dé tha dol? was struggling and in February printing of the publication, which covers Ardgour, Ardnamurchan, Moidart, Morvern and Sunart was suspended.
But, following a wave of support for Dé tha dol, which started back in 1981, a new committee was formed, a constitution approved and a vacancy for an editor was advertised.
An application form and interview later and that editor is now me.
I have spent many hours poring over back issues and I am delighted to now be part of the story of Dé tha dol, bringing news, views, information and contributions from across the peninsulas to our readers.
I have some new ideas to ensure the future of the community paper while continuing the legacy of everyone who has created, contributed, supported and read Dé tha dol? for the past 40 years.