The final programme of events to mark the centenary of the Metagama and Marloch migrations is taking shape, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has confirmed.

Among the events lined up are ecumenical services in Lewis and Uist, the erection of plaques at appropriate locations, and exhibitions. Stornoway Historical Society is also running a series of special events to mark the seismic shift in the demographics of the Western isles that occurred in 1923 when hundreds of mainly young islanders set sail for new lives in Canada.

The centrepiece of the commemoration will be the Leaving Home Exhibition in Stornoway Town Hall which opens on Friday, April 21, the date of the historic departure. In addition, the leaving of the Isles that day a hundred years ago will be marked with a pipe band recital on No.1 Pier.

The exhibition, to be opened by Comhairle Convener Kenny Macleod, tells the story of Hebridean Emigration from 1770 to the 1923/24 emigrant departures on the Marloch, Metagama and Canada.

The exhibition will move in June to Ionad Stoodie in Point for a week, then to the Clan Macquarrie Centre in Borve for three weeks in July. It will then return to Stornoway for Tattoo Week, which commences Monday, August 7, to Saturday, August 12.

The exhibition will tour the Southern Isles on dates to be confirmed.

Stornoway Historical Society will hold a separate Emigration exhibition in their Stornoway Town Hall premises during the summer. This will tell individual stories of the ships and the emigrating men and women.