Monday 27 April 2009

Day Trip to Orkney - Archie Mactaggart

A Day Trip to Orkney on 8th April 2009.

From the starboard lounge window on board the Pentalina – the new cataraman providing the RoRo ferry service from Gills Bay on the Mainland to Orkney  - her passengers were all looking at seals and seabirds among the waves as they crashed against the west coast of Stroma past which the ferry was heading for Orkney. Out of the corner of my eye as we passed the lighthouse I caught sight of a really impressive stretch of overfalls.
I was at that moment putting a telephone call through to a friend on Islay.
I was connected just as we entered the overfalls. I anticipated some serious motion and  braced myself as I squeaked “ Wish you were here!”

John asked “ Where are you?”

As the Pentalina had by this time skipped through the overfalls without my coffee spilling a drop, I had left the paper cup on the shelf to grab the self same shelf to steady myself for the expected bounce which never came, my composure  returned immediately and I said, trying to suppress my excitement “ On board the Pentalina. Weve just cut through overfalls off Stroma and are heading for Orkney ”
John exploded, “You lucky devil !” He promptly followed this with a series of questions which I tried to answer as best I could, and I am now trying to put these answers down on paper to reflect my experiences of the my daytrip to Orkney. 

We both had been following the fortunes of the Pentalina on the internet almost from its conception and had grown more excited by the potential of this innovative ground breaking vessel
for the people of Orkney and also by implication for Islay and other west coast island communities 

I am coming up to my seventieth summer and one thing I do know about is ferries. I’ve being doing the Islay run for at least 68 years. I’ve been on the biggest ferry across the Atlantic – the Q.E.2 and the smallest ferry across the Clyde – the Govan Ferry, each carrying out its service in its own particular way and each eventually reaching obsolesence.

I have also travelled on the high speed Cats from Folkstone to Boulogne in all weathers.  In rough weather they have a peculiar and sometimes disconcerting  motion. I was really interested therefore to experience the trip on the Pentalina. Because her design speed is much slower, she has a maximum (published speed ) of  19.7 knots and is designed to carry 350 passengers and up to 58 cars or 9 articulated lorries.   

The day was misty with continuous light rain. A 2 to 3 metre swell was coming in from the west with a north west wind of about 14 knots yet there was no appreciable motion as we crossed the Pentland Firth. The only shelter outside was on the top deck in the lee of the bridge so there were not many passengers on this outward trip braving the elements, preferring the comfort of the lounges.
 
About half way to St Margaret’s Hope I fell into conversation with a local. He’d been off for a short holiday and he was thrilled by the new ferry experience. He told me that the whole enterprise was run by a Mr Andrew Banks and that although the Pentalina  got no support such as North Link enjoys from the Scottish government, the Pentland Ferries fares were much cheaper and the route was much more convenient. He hoped that Mr Banks would get help and he quoted Mr Banks as saying that if he got his proportional share of the support the other company was getting he could let Orcadians travel for nothing. I replied that when Western Ferries were running to Islay , Sir William Lithgow had said something similar only he proposed in addition to the free trip, a dinner and theatre tickets as well. This made the Orcadian laugh.

Rain or no rain, I was really enjoying myself and popped down to pay my single passenger ticket, which cost £13, to Catherine Banks a pretty 21 year old and the owner’s daughter at her ticket office, then proceeded to buy a another cup of coffee – no strong drink –  and a bacon roll at the refreshment bar where everything seemed to cost £1. The soup of the day was Leek and Potato and the bar is manned by a cook and a steward. The food was certainly up to Macbraynes standard fare but without the range and, as I have indicated at nothing like the cost.

By the time I swallowed my purchases we were running in with North Ronaldsay on the starboard side. I was really impressed by the neat, well laid out, beautifully kept small farms and as we turned into St.Margaret’s Hope Bay there was the “Claymore”  uncommonly like the old “Pioneer”, lying on the other side of slip where we quickly berthed. The journey had taken less than an hour because we left Gill’s Bay on the dot at 1345 hours and there I was, walking along the road to the village by 1445 hours.

I had something to eat in the village and before I knew it I was back at the pier. By now the skies had cleared, the sun was out and the Pentilina was there loading up to complete the round trip to the mainland leaving again at 1700 hours precisely. 

We were soon at sea spanking along. I was in great form because the Cat seemed so well designed for the elements she was operating in. To the inexperienced eye she sliced through the sea making little disturbance though her propulsion units made up for this at the stern. My day, already packed with stimuli, was about to take on another interesting turn in that I got into conversation with a young couple who had joined the Pentilina for the trip to the mainland. They had been camping but because of the recent incessant rain were heading home early to Edinburgh. They both were excited and pleased with the Cat. In our conversation I mentioned that I had seen her sister ship the “Iona” last Saturday at Kennacraig where she was helping out on the Islay run. The young man immediately told me that his granny had once lived on Islay. It turned out that he was the late Tom Jarret’s grandson. Most islanders will remember Mr. Jarret well as the resident vet on whose skills the Islay farming community relied for many years.

One thing that brought me down to earth as we quickly passed between the Pentland skerries and the east coast of Stroma was the onslaught of some heavy squalls coming in on a rising wind as we neared the terminal at Gills bay. The strength of the wind would make for a difficult landfall given the Pentalina’s high profile. I anticipated therefore that she would give the  breakwater two or three good thumps before she slotted into her berth. I could not have been more wrong. The officer conned her as if she was an “artic” and in no time we were disembarking again on time.

What a day! As a ferry crossing it was in a class of its own partly due to the exciting route but the major part was due to the “Orkney” cat and its support systems. Two things really impressed me on the trip. Firstly the way the tea stayed put as the Pentalina handled the overfalls and secondly the ease with which the ship was docked in a difficult wind on her return to Gills Bay. It may be coincidence it seemed to point to the Pentalina having the capacity to demonstrate SWATH technology i.e. the ability to remain stable in rough weather – thereby avoiding seasickness - the other outstanding feature of this technology was the ability to turn in her own length and by use of bow thrusters to park literally on a sixpence. If the design of the boat therefore helps prevent seasickness, that coupled with the short crossing given the Pentland Firth’s savage reputation will mean a significant operational advantage on the route as the public grasps this fact. Hopefully this will be the outcome.


I felt the whole enterprise mirrored the Western Ferries startup in the late sixties with the “Sound of Islay” only with a new concept of vessel. Unfortunately then Western Ferries had to face the combined might of the establishment who did not take to the concept of low cost ferries with their no frills  approach. In view of the unfair and unjust treatment meted out to the company they eventually withdrew. They have had the last laugh in a way because of the years of success they have enjoyed on the Clyde.

That was then, but this is now and we as a country are in a very different situation. The source of taxation is drying up and the only way out of our mess is, we are told again and again, to reward entrepreneurship and to cut public expenditure.

I came north to see the new technology and have been mightily impressed, but what  really impressed me most was to find a blaze of free enterprise and industry driven by a young Orcadian. This should be a beacon to the country as a whole. In the state this country is in where the Government can hand billions of our taxes to support the failed Banks of Scotland, they better make sure that the Banks of Orkney at least get a share of the taxes which support North Link. The local people and their representatives must see to it that this is done, principally for their island’s future.

Finally as I reluctantly headed south again, I was encouraged by the feeling that I had glimpsed the future and I hope that the islands of the West which I love will follow  where Orkney leads.

By the way I had the pleasure of meeting Mr Andrew Banks himself – in his oil stained company boilersuit, just as he stepped off the “Claymore” which he had been preparing for sea.
Fair winds to Orkney, Pentland Ferries and the Pentalina. 

Archie Mactaggart

House Prices in Bridgend

House Prices Crash by £99,552 in Bridgend!!


The Scotsman says the average Bridgend home now costs only £948,364


House prices in Bridgend have crashed by an amazing £99,552 reducing the "Average Home Value" in the village to a mere £948,364 according to the Scotsman of 22nd April.  The newspaper published a list of "Scotland's 20 most expensive streets", and Islay's poshest punters only just managed to squeeze in at number 20.  Feelings may be hurt.  The Top Twenty was dominated by pukka postcodes in a place called Edinburgh which amassed 12 entries.  The only other town that had two entries was Aberdeen - but you will need £1,118,175 to buy a pad in Harbour Road, Inverness.


The Scotsman did have some good news for Bridgend residents.  You will be relieved to know that the value of your house has only fallen by a relatively modest 9.5% over the past year.  Spare a thought for those poor folk living at Succoth Place in Edinburgh - the value of whose homes have dropped a mighty 13.6% to a mere £1,183,691.  


Bless!!


http://www2.jpscotland.co.uk/postcodes.jpg


http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/Revealed-Priciest-postcodes-in-Scotland.5191770.jp

Homecoming Concert Bowmore Hall 18th April

Homecoming concert


All enjoyed a feast of choral music at the Homecoming 2009 concert organised by Iomairt Chille Chomain in the Bowmore village hall on Saturday. Making a 'homecoming' appearance was the celebrated Glasgow Islay Gaelic Choir, conducted by Kirsteen Grant who also provided the piano accompaniments throughout the evening. They were joined by Coisir Ghaidlig Ile, led by Iseabail Mactaggart, and all got off to a rousing start with the combined choirs' spirited rendering of 'Suas Leis a' Ghaidhlig'. 


The Black Bottle Islay Pipe Band under Pipe-Major Nigel Morris, who won the title "Champion of Champions" in both band and drumming sections of Grade 4A  in 2008, upped the tempo as did the input from the island choir which included a reprise of the ladies National Mod-winning performance of 'Maraiche nan Cuantan'. The visiting choir's ability and range was evident in choral works which stretched from a haunting lullaby to sprightly puirt-a-beul. Lord Robertson of Port Ellen was the guest chairman and the former politician and General Secretary of NATO proved an amiable fear an taighe whose introductions were laced with often self deprecating humour which greatly amused the large audience and set the performers at ease. Solo performers from the home front were Iseabail Mactaggart, Robert Forrest, Andrew McCowan and the duet singing sisters Helen Gillies and Janey Torrance.  Visiting entertainers  from the Glasgow choral ranks were Elizabeth Campbell, Doreen Smith, Ian MacLean and the veteran duettists Fiona Rae and Irene MacGilp.

The choral finale featured both choirs in Islay bard Duncan Johnston's Sine Bhan' and Runrig's 'Cearcall a' Chuain'. This was followed by an impressive performance of Psalm 65 to  Joseph Mainzer's arrangement of

the tune'French', with Robert Forrest as the precentor, and the curtain came down on the Gael's song of farewell 'Soraidh leibh'. Area councillor and Iomairt Chille Chomain development officer Robin Currie saw to the introductions and extolled the chairman's contribution to the success of

the evening.

Rounding off a memorable event was the ensuing ceilidh where the Islay Accordion and Fiddle band keep all on their toes until the early birds began their worm search!


Hugh Smith

IDEAs Thankyou

T H A N K Y O U

IDEA Reserve Fund would like to thank everyone for making the Lifeline appeal such a successful event. Individually we would like to thank Pauline Rae and her Brownies and Rainbows, Ailsa Hayes, Neil (ex Cottage), Donald Mckenzie(DoDo), Carl Reavey and all at the Ileach for their continued support, Re-Jig for the Hi-Vis Jackets, the Staff at the Tourist Information office and Charles from the Co-op for the sandwich boards and David Ferrier, the Police and the street cleaning staff of Argyll and Bute Council for advice and support. We managed to raise £1500 on the day and another £500 has been recently counted from the ‘Drop Us Your Coppers’ initiative.

We are edging towards the target of £30,000 but need to achieve this before the end of May 2009. Anyone with any other suggestions please contact Nigel on 810203 or by e-mail at  HYPERLINK "mailto:lwithoutp@hotmail.com" lwithoutp@hotmail.com. Our next fund raising push will be in late May under the working title of ‘Sending the Boys Round!!’ so watch this space. Thank you once again one and all.

NC

'S Ann an Ile

'S Ann an Ile

Sreath de cheithir phrògraman a’ toirt sùil air coimhearsnachd Eilean Ìle tromh sgàthan na Gàidhlig.

Bidh ‘S ann an Ìle ri fhaicinn air BBC Alba gach feasgair Diardaoin bhon 23mh dhen Ghiblean aig 8:30pm. Bidh ath-chraoladh dha gach prògram ri fhaicinn air Didòmhnaich aig 10:00pm.

23mh dhen Ghiblean – Prògram 1
Pòsadh an-àbhaisteach, agus an t-eilean a' lìonadh le daoine a' cruinneachadh airson Fèis Ìle - le ceòl is mac-na-braiche. Bidh sinn cuideachd a’ coinneachadh ris an fheadhainn òga anns an Ionad Ghàidhlig aig Bun Sgoil a’ Bhògha Mhòir.

30mh dhen Ghiblean – Prògram 2
Am Mòd ionadal is trainge agus as fheàrr a bh'aca ann am fichead bliadhna. Innsidh Grahame Allison, nach buin dhan eilean, mar a chaidh a ‘thoirt timcheall’ gu Gàidhlig. Comhluadar eadar Gàidheil Ìle agus Gàidheil na h-Èireann mun dualchas a bhuinneas dhaibh le chèile.

7mh dhen Chèitean – Prògram 3
Bliadhna-sgoile ùr - agus sgoileirean ùra - aig Aonad Gàidhlig Bun Sgoil a' Bhogha Mhòir.  Agus Ìle a' gabhail sìnteag air thoiseach anns an t-saoghal cumhachd leantainneach, le toradh cumhachd ga thoirt bho stuaghan na mara.

14mh dhen Chèitean – Prògram 4
Deòir ann an sùilean a' chòisir aig a' Mhòd Nàiseanta. Daoine a roghnaich fuireach an Ìle a' dèanamh an dìcheall Gàidhlig ionnsachadh; Donnchadh MacGilleBhràth a' faighinn rùn òg a' chridhe: a' càradh pufair 'Para Handy'.

Tha BBC ALBA ri fhaicinn air SKY 168 agus Freesat 110.

Gaelic Learning from BBC ALBA

NEW GAELIC LEARNING INITIATIVES FROM BBC ALBA

 

The online educational resource provided by BBC ALBA, Beag air Bheag, has been re-launched today (Thursday) providing an extensively updated and enhanced service offering.  

 

Beag air Bheag is the Gaelic for ‘Little by Little’ and is how the website aims to help people learn Gaelic, a little bit at a time. The online course at www.bbc.co.uk/beagairbheag offers Gaelic learners the opportunity to learn new words, phrases, proverbs and Gaelic songs, taking a traditional approach in both text and sound formats.

 

The original Beag air Bheag website was produced in 2001 and is one of the most popular sites within the Learning Section of the BBC ALBA website, which receives an average of 28,000 hits per week.

Whisky Duty Rises

Whisky Duty Rises by 2%


The Scotch Whisky Association expressed its disappointment  following the Chancellor’s decision to increase the duty on spirit drinks by 2%. The organisation claims that "distillers face challenging market conditions at home and abroad." and further that the rise is ‘a blow to the industry that comes at the worst possible time’. The Budget will add 14p to the price of a bottle of Scotch Whisky. 

Gavin Hewitt, the SWA Chief Executive, said: “A duty increase during a recession is a real blow....  At a time when the Chancellor is looking for additional revenue, we believe that an increase in excise duty will be counterproductive. 


WHISKY DUTY RISE "DISAPPOINTING" - MATHER

Jim Mather, Argyll & Bute MSP  has deplored the 2% rise in duty on whisky announced by Chancellor Alastair Darling in his crisis budget on Wednesday. Argyll & Bute is a significant producer of high quality malt

whisky for sale under various categories and such an increase will do little to stimulate sales.


Mather said, "I am saddened to see that the Chancellor yet again reverts to type and treats our whisky industry as a cash cow. Argyll & Bute is the location of several distilleries...  Most of this whisky is sold as single malts although there is steady demand for blending as well. .... Whisky production is one of our key and prestige industries and it is disappointing to see that once again the squeeze is imposed from Westminster."


However Mark Reynier, the MD of of independently minded Bruichladdich Distillery, who are not members of the Scotch Whisky Association told the Ileach: "No duty increase is a good one (it never seems to go down) but this one was clearly forecasted - as is next year's. It applies to all spirits and not just whisky, and will in any case will be offset by the reduction in VAT in the short term. Excise Duty revenues from the whisky industry are relatively static - around £615 million - because despite the healthy growth in single malt whisky sales in the UK, they are offset by the steady fall in the larger blended volumes since 1995  - so the industry, bearing in mind that around 90% is exported, is less cash cow for the Government that some claim it to be, but more simple touch. Of course a cut in duty rates, as elsewhere has shown, would reduce organised cross-border smuggling and increase UK revenues.


Finlaggan Opening


 History, Culture and Community Celebration at Finlaggan 

Easter weekend proved a busy time for the Finlaggan Trust with nearly 200 visitors coming to see the newly extended Lords of the Isles Information Centre. They recorded their enjoyment of the new displays, greater range of artefacts and the stunning view of Eilean Mor from the all glass gable-end, leaving comments such as ‘Magic’, ‘Very atmospheric’, ‘Love the new building’, ‘Fab’, in the Visitors Book. 

As with many projects final touches to the displays are still continuing, the last stitches going into a magnificent wall hanging designed and made by the Quilters, but all will be in place for the Official Opening on 16 May. This special day will celebrate the work which has taken five years from initial plans to opening, and the tremendous support – local and global – which made it possible. 

The Lords of the Isles were responsible for a flowering of Gaelic culture – there will be music, song and dancing. Islay was the centre of their power over Scotland’s west coast and islands – local and guest experts will be there to tell the story and answer questions. The Lords brought people from all over the west and further afield to Islay – we’ll be doing that. They feasted – but they never tasted venison as it will be presented at the evening ceilidh.

Medieval historian Dr Fiona Watson and Dr David Caldwell, both contributors to the BBC Scotland production ‘Scotland’s History’ will join Trust committee members, Rona Mackenzie and Donald Macfadyen, in telling Islay’s story. It’s an ongoing story - a look at the surnames recorded on one of the new displays shows the living link between Righ Innse Gall, the Lords’ Gaelic title, and people living on Islay to-day.

For the evening ceilidh our local singers will be joined by Kirsteen Macdonald and James Graham. Best known as the weather girl on BBC Alba, Kirsteen is also a National Mod double Gold Medal winner and made her Islay debut at the An Comunn Ileach gathering in Glasgow in March. James was the first Gaelic singer to win BBC Scotland’sYoung Traditional Musician of the Year, he’s a Mod Gold Medallist and has sung with groups such as Na Seonaid and Urachaidh.

Did the Lords have pipers? It doesn’t matter, 21st century Islay has very good ones as James Carmichael will prove on the day. They did have clarsach players, pieces of harp were found on Eilean Mor, and harps will be played again on the 16th, but - apart from thanking Lyn MacLean for highly efficient networking - we’ll keep that for the next issue! 

The programme of work on the Information Centre, the new bridge and website www.finlaggan.com, was funded by local businesses and private trusts, HIE, the Nadair Trust and Heritage Lottery Fund, the Community Environment Renewal Scheme and the Finlaggan Trust’s own fund raising. Army Engineers designed and built the bridge as an exercise, using materials provided by the Trust. 

Catriona Bell

Scottish Ultra Route

The Route

 

Day 1 - Sunday 3rd May
Ardbeg to Bunnahabhain via Claggain bay, Beinn Vicar, Kynagarry and Balulive above Finlaggan.

Day 2
Bunnahabhain to Feolin via Scarbh Breac and Margadale hill, Killinallan, Craigens and West Carrabus. Then Knockdonn, Loch Skerrols, Scarrabus, Balole, Loch Finlaggan and down to Port Askaig to camp across at Feolin on Jura.

Day 3
Feolin to Glenbattrick via Inver through the Paps, Knockrome,Evans Walk to Loch Tarbert at Glenbattrick..

 

Day 4 (the shortest but toughest!!)
Glenbattrick to Rhuantailain along the shores of Loch Tarbert

 

Day 5
Rhuantailain to Tarbert Standing Stone via raised and shiant beaches to Corpach and then following the corpach river up to the watershed and then decending down to the road over five miles of tussock grass and bog north of Tarbert.

 

Day 6 
The runners run down from Tarbert on the road to finish in the filling store at Jura Distillery for a well earned dram.

 

Niall is also appealing for volunteers to marshall some of the sections saying:  "We hope to grow this event in the future to add another date to the island calendar and bring people to Islay and Jura in particular who might not otherwise have come."