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Dervaig - Isle of Mull
By Penmore
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The name of Dervaig Village gets it name from the Gaelic and Old Norse languages: 'der' meaning 'good or true' and 'aig' from the Old Norse meaning 'creek or inlet'. The village was established a good time before the coming of the Norsemen as indicated by the various standing stones that surround the village; set in conspicuous positions. In fact one of these sits nestled in the forest woodland at the top of the hill as you travel from Dervaig to Tobermory. The choice of location was made by the early settlers and has proved to be most apt as the village and the surrounding area has changed dramatically over the years since the first settlement.
The nearby island of Coll has close connections with Dervaig as it was in 1799 a plan was laid to create homes for the agricultural workmen who were employed by the then Laird MacLean. It was to have 26 houses, complete with gardens and common grazing. In 1857, James Forsyth who was the owner of the Glen Gorm estate and who had jurisdiction over the village, decided to deprive the crofters of their rights to graze animals, resulting in the loss to the village of 13 villagers leaving on the same number as residents.
Despite this tragic loss the village still managed to prosper to such an extent that there were a Post Office, smithy, two inns and a bakery in 1898 it added a Reading Room to it communal facilities. As Dervaig developed even further, the old Reading Room became too small for this expanding population and in 2000 a new village hall was erected at the main road end of the village. The old village reading room has now been converted into well-stocked local store and Post Office which tends to be the centre of the community. The new village hall had been developed with expansion in mind and has bunk rooms, committee rooms and a fully equipped kitchen. The old village store is now a Coffee and Book shop which provides newspapers for the village on a Sunday.
Kilmore Church sits on the edge of the village on the road to Calgary and dominates the river Bellart at the junction with the road from Salen and the Dervaig Bridge. The church is somewhat unique with its stained glass windows and its ‘pencil’ tower which is of Celtic design. Consecrated in 1905, it was designed by P MacGregor Chalmers, a Glasgow architect and is well worth visiting when passing though Dervaig. Mornish quarry provided the stone and the school that existed at Mornish still stands although it is now a holiday residence.
The new village hall provides many facilities and functions for both locals and visitors alike. During the summer there are fortnightly Producers Markets selling local produce and wares. It is also is one of the stratigic centres during the Mull Food Festival and has been used as a music workshop during the Mull Music Festival. There are frequent Caleighs and dances, the most notable one being the New Year Dance.
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Isle of Mull
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