from kelping and fishing in order to pay the rent. The economy of Tarskavaig was dependent on five key activities: the breeding of black cattle for sale, growing potatoes, fishing, kelping, and the rearing of sheep for wool. Tragically, during the course of the 19th century, these vital sources of employment and subsistence successively failed, or declined, leaving the economy of the village in ruins. It was only by finding ever more 'work in the south' that crofting families were able to survive. The 'Year of Destitution' in 1837 was the turning point in the history of Tarskavaig, as the land could no longer support the rising population. After reaching a peak of 250 in 1837, the number of inhabitants declined steadily. The Potato Blight of 1846 (a year after Ireland) was another massive blow to the community, as over 80% of the diet was being provided by the potato, and crofting there entered a period of decline. Gaelic was very much the natural tongue of the home, work, and church in Sleat during the 19th century, and it remained overwhelmingly Gaelic speaking until the end of the Second World War. Gaelic speakers in the parish of Sleat: 1891, 89.3%; 1901, 89.7%. However, Gaelic was even more widely spoken in Tarskavaig: 1891, 97.6%; 1901, 95.2%. In 1901, around 19% of the population of Tarskavaig could only speak Gaelic. By the time of the 2001 census, 54% of the population of Tarskavaig spoke Gaelic, compared to an average of 31% for Skye. Regardless of all the improvements in land ownership brought about by the Crofters Holdings (Scotland) Act 1886, traditional crofting continued its decline into the 20th century. Increasingly, the crofters had to derive substantial income from employment outside the village in order to keep the crofts functioning. However, following formation of the Clan Donald Lands Trust in 1971 and creation of the successful Sabhal Mòr Ostaig (Gaelic college) at Kilmore in 1974, there has been a major recovery in the population of the area in recent years. In 2022, a woman was injured by a stabbing at a property in Tarskavaig during the Skye and Lochalsh attacks. Nearby settlements Achnacloich, Tokavaig and Ord are all situated on or near the minor road that serves Tarskavaig. Places of interest Original School - the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge (SSPCK) set up the first school at Tarskavaig in 1815 because