Tong (; gd, Tunga) is a village on the
Isle of Lewis, Scotland, northeast of the main town of
Stornoway on the
B895 road to
Back
The human back, also called the dorsum, is the large posterior area of the human body, rising from the top of the buttocks to the back of the neck. It is the surface of the body opposite from the chest and the abdomen. The vertebral column runs ...
and
Tolsta.
The population of the village is 527 (
2001 census). Fishing forms part of the local economy.
History
Between 1919 and 1921, Tong, along with nearby
Coll
Coll (; gd, Cola; sco, Coll)Mac an Tàilleir (2003) p. 31 is an island located west of the Isle of Mull in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Coll is known for its sandy beaches, which rise to form large sand dunes, for its corncrakes, and ...
and
Gress
Gress ( gd, Griais), a hamlet on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland, is adjacent to the larger village of Back. Gress is within the parish of Stornoway. Between 1919 and 1921, Gress – along with nearby Coll and Tong – was the scene of several la ...
, was the scene of several
land raids. (See the
Coll, Lewis article for more).
Facilities
The village has a community centre with a football pitch and a primary school. Its religious establishments include a
Free Church of Scotland mission house and a
Scottish Episcopal Church
The Scottish Episcopal Church ( gd, Eaglais Easbaigeach na h-Alba; sco, Scots Episcopal(ian) Kirk) is the ecclesiastical province of the Anglican Communion in Scotland.
A continuation of the Church of Scotland as intended by King James VI, and ...
meeting house. On 6 August 2014 The Tong Shop (Bùth Thunga) opened in the former Episcopal Church building. The shop is open from Monday to Saturday and it sells a range of essentials such as milk and bread, as well as local produce such as vegetables and
Stornoway black pudding.
Culture and sport
Every July the
Lewis Highland Games and
Western Isles Strongest man are held at the community centre with heavy events such as
tossing the caber,
Highland dancing
Highland dance or Highland dancing ( gd, dannsa Gàidhealach) is a style of competitive dancing developed in the Scottish Highlands in the 19th and 20th centuries, in the context of competitions at public events such as the Highland games. It ...
,
bagpipe
Bagpipes are a woodwind instrument using enclosed reeds fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag. The Great Highland bagpipes are well known, but people have played bagpipes for centuries throughout large parts of Europe, ...
competitions and other attractions taking place on the football pitch. The Lewis Highland Games have been held at Tong since 1977 and is the second oldest Games on the isle of Lewis. The local football club is
Tong FC.
Notable people
* Sìne NicFhionnlaigh, who composed the song "
Fear a' bhàta", lived in Tong in the 1800s
*
Mary Anne MacLeod (1912–2000), mother of former
U.S. President
The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States ...
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of P ...
, was born in Tong
*
Alasdair White, fiddler with the
Battlefield Band
Battlefield Band were a Scottish traditional music group. Founded in Glasgow in 1969, they have released over 30 albums and undergone many changes of lineup. As of 2010, none of the original founders remain in the band.
The band is noted for t ...
, was born in Tong
Gallery
Image:Failte gu Tunga.JPG, Fàilte gu Tunga (entering Tong from direction of Coll)
Image:View towards Broadbay and Stornoway Airport.JPG, View towards Point (An Rubha), Broadbay (Loch a Tuath) and Stornoway Airport (Port-adhair Steòrnabhagh)
Image:Tong football pitch and community centre.JPG, Tong football pitch and community centre
Image:Tong Community Centre.jpg, Tong Community Centre
File:Main Road Tong, Isle of Lewis.jpg, Main Road looking towards Coll
Image:Towards Coll.jpg, Towards Coll
Image:Towards the crossroads.JPG, Towards the crossroads
Image:Into the village.JPG, Into the village (Point across the bay in the background)
References
External links
Tong Primary SchoolVisitor's guide for the Isle of LewisWestern Isles Council">Website of the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Western Isles Council
with links to other resourcesbr>Disabled access to Lewis for residents and visitors
Villages in the Isle of Lewis
{{WesternIsles-geo-stub