Iochdar (), also spelled ''Eochar'', is a

hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (the ...

and

community A community is a social unit (a group of people) with a shared socially-significant characteristic, such as place, set of norms, culture, religion, values, customs, or identity. Communities may share a sense of place situated in a given g ...

on the west coast of the island of

South Uist South Uist (, ; ) is the second-largest island of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. At the 2011 census, it had a usually resident population of 1,754: a decrease of 64 since 2001. The island, in common with the rest of the Hebrides, is one of the ...

, in the

Outer Hebrides The Outer Hebrides ( ) or Western Isles ( , or ), sometimes known as the Long Isle or Long Island (), is an Archipelago, island chain off the west coast of mainland Scotland. It is the longest archipelago in the British Isles. The islan ...

, Scotland. Iochdar is also in the parish of South Uist. It is the largest of several

crofting Crofting (Scottish Gaelic: ') is a form of land tenure and small-scale food production peculiar to the Scottish Highlands, the islands of Scotland, and formerly on the Isle of Man. Within the 19th-century townships, individual crofts were est ...

settlements in the north-west of South Uist, and is located west of the A865 road. Iochdar is part of the South Uist Estate, which was the subject of Scotland's largest community land buyout in 2006, and is now run by Stòras Uibhist. Iochdar was where Angus McPhee or MacPhee (1916–1997), the Scottish

Outsider Artist Outsider art is art made by self-taught individuals who are untrained and untutored in the traditional arts with typically little or no contact with the conventions of the art worlds. The term ''outsider art'' was coined in 1972 as the title ...

, was raised. He is buried in the local cemetery.

Iochdar School

Iochdar School, built in 1963, is a

primary school A primary school (in Ireland, India, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, South Africa, and Singapore), elementary school, or grade school (in North America and the Philippines) is a school for primary ...

(years 1–7) that caters to students from the hamlet as well as surrounding communities. The school has 75 pupils and five teachers. The school has won a number of awards, including the

Homecoming Scotland Homecoming Scotland 2009 was a series of events designed to attract people of Scottish ancestry to visit Scotland. The campaign, organised by EventScotland and VisitScotland on behalf of the Scottish Government, and part-financed by the Euro ...

Award at the Scottish Education Awards 2009.

Sgoil an Ìochdair agus a' Choimhearsnachd

Sgoil an Ìochdair agus a' Choimhearsnachd (Eochar School and Community) was formed in December 1998 in response to a lack of outdoor facilities at Iochdar School. It is a community group whose aim is to support recreation and sport in the catchment area of the school, which extends along the island chain, from Peninerine in South Uist, to Island Flodda in Benbecula. The group's core aims are to upgrade outdoor facilities in Iochdar. After a community survey and a feasibility study, the group has completed a number of small projects, including a makeover of the playground and playing fields at the school. Sgoil an Iochdair agus a' Choimhearsnachd includes both individuals and community groups, and is run by a board of up to seven trustees, of which three represent community groups, three are elected from the local community, and one of which can be co-opted.

Iochdar Hall

Iochdar Hall () is a community hall, used for dances and sales. There is an annual cattle show at the hall.

Iochdar Saints

Iochdar Saints are an amateur football club, who play in the Uist and Barra League. The club is managed by Stephen MacAulay. The club are currently champions of the Uist & Barra league for a fourth time in a row. Iochdar Saints have also won the Westford Challenge, the MacPherson Memorial Shield, Summer Cup, Billy McNeil Cup and the Indoor Tournament Cup.

Attractions

The main attraction in Iochdar is Hebridean Jewellery. They sell a wide range of jewellery, mainly being of Celtic designs. The jeweler is John Hart. The jewelers also includes a cafe. Other attractions are Lovats Shop & Carnan Stores which sell a wide range of homeware and outdoor facilities.

References

External links

{{Commons category, Iochdar
Scotland - IochdarIochdar Saints FC
Villages on South Uist