In the summer of 2011, The Friends of St Ninian's, supported by Scotland's Islands funding ran an ambitious, six week long, community project entitled Deerness in 100 Objects, aimed at encouraging visitors and locals alike to visit the parish of Deerness. The project centered around an exhibition of 100 main Objects (though many more items were displayed and added throughout the six weeks!) which explored the history, interests and sense of community in the parish. 

The objects included items relating to; fishing, farming, the shore, wrecks, Covenanters, music, folk, folklore, kirk, school, trades and shops, archeaology, wartime, coastguard, drama, groups and clubs, nature, arts, music and crafts and the environment. It is hoped that, over time, we will show a full photographic and descriptive catalogue of the items which were on display on this website - please keep checking back!  

As well as the 100 main objects, there was also a wealth of additional items (reference books, photographs, recordings, etc) which gave visitors a peedie bit more information about the items and the context in which they were used and how they related to Deerness.

The Exhibition took place in the Deerness Hall, which was also the location for another vitally important part of the project - The Mermaid Cafe. When planning the project, members of the Friends of St Ninian's were keen to incorporate opportunities for temporary, local, youth employment and, as Deerness had no existing eatery, it was decided to open a cafe for the duration of the project. A number of local youngsters were employed to serve 'front of house' in the cafe, ably assisted in the kitchen by a band of hugely talented Deerness ladies who gave a significant amount of voluntary time and effort to produce the superb soups, sandwiches and baking.  

The final part of the project was the programme of additional events, aimed at encouraging the visitors (and locals alike) to get "oot and aboot" in the parish. Various locations and venues were used to stage a series of twenty-four events which included; Gaethering Gablos at the Gloup, a fun family session where participants got the chance to find out about the variety of creepy crawlies which live in the area around the Mull Head Interpretation Centre; Deerness Connections, an evening concert held at the St Ninian's Kirk, which showcased a number of talented Deerness musicians and performers, and; Open Days at the Brough of Deerness, where visitors were given the opportunity to view finds and ask questions of those involved in a working archaeological dig.

During the six weeks which the project ran, over a thousand people visited the Exhibition and - from the number of positive comments in the Visitors Book - thoroughly enjoyed the experience. 

A huge thanks must therefore go to everyone who came along and supported the project - but also, without the enthusiasm, help and involvement of everyone in Deerness, this project would never have been possible. So to you all - thank you for all of your hard work - and well done!