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Tha poidseadh air a bhith na phàirt dhen Ghàidhealtachd agus na h-Eileanan airson ùine mhòr, ach chan e cuspair a bh’ ann air an robh daoine a’ bruidhinn aig àrd an cinn, gun fhios nach deigheadh an glacadh leis an lagh. Bha poidseadh a’ gabhail àite anns na coimhearsnachdan eileanach tràth san naoidheamh linn deug, gu sònraichte air sgàth dith airgid agus cosnaidh.

Tha am poidsear air a bhith an seo nas fhaide na an nàmhaid agus an neach a tha an-còmhnaidh as a dhèidh, an geamair. Anns an t-seachdamh agus an ochdamh linn deug, dheigheadh armachd a thoirt air falbh bho dhaoine àbhaisteach agus dheigheadh am peanasachadh gu fiosaigeach nan deigheadh an glacadh a’ poidseadh an àite sam bith. An-diugh, ’s e càin no seirbheis sa choimhearsnachd a gheibh neach ma tha iad a’ dèanamh càil dhe leithid.

Prògram onarach le dealbhan brèagha air innse tro shùilean seanchaidhean ionadail, far a bheil sinn ag ionnsachadh mu phoidseadh air feadh na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean ann an Alba, agus mu sgeulachdan nam poidsearan tro na ginealaichean, cuide ri beachd fiosrachail, inntinneach bho thaobh a’ gheamair.

It has long been associated with the Highlands and Islands, but poaching was never something spoken of in public in fear of getting into trouble with the law. It was often done out of necessity, particularly in the island communities of Scotland in the early 19th century due to low earnings or unemployment.

Inevitably, the poacher has been present far longer than his great adversary and pursuer, the gamekeeper. In the 17th and 18th centuries, ordinary people could expect to be deprived of their weapons and physically punished if caught poaching anywhere. Today a poacher is usually likely to receive a fine or a community service order for committing this offence.

Told through charismatic local storytellers, we learn about poaching across the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, and of the tales and anecdotes of poachers throughout the generations, as well as getting the gamekeeper’s insightful perspective on the matter.

In Gaelic with English subtitles