Islay Blog - Islay News Events Info Pict

Portrait of Bruno Schroder of Dunlossit Islay and his Family

ron — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:20:19 +0000

I've found a lengthy article today about billionaire merchant banker and landowner Bruno Schroder, owner of Dunlossit Castle near Port Askaig, and his family. The article, completely in German, paints an interesting portrait of the bankers family, their history, and their current (financial) position. I've translated a section of the page, the part that relates to Islay, into English with a little help from Google Translate. A translated quote:

"The Schroders company has its headquarters in London. In 25 countries they operate 32 offices with 2,900 employees. It manages assets for private and institutional investors and pension funds and is active in private banking. Bruno Baron von Schroder, as he is known in Germany, lives on the Dunlossit Estate on the Scottish island of Islay. There are not too many people, but 30 000 sheep - 2,000 of them are his own - a few thousand stags, a place called Black Rock and the Laphroaig distillery, which burns a fairly strict Scotch to match the climate of Scotland's west coast. Schroders favorite dram comes from Bruichladdich, also on Islay, and does not taste quite as peaty." Continue reading....

Laddie TV - A New Islay TV Channel

ron — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:43:59 +0000

I found out about Laddie TV last week when the first videos were uploaded. On Saturday I posted a video of Jim McEwan and Mark Reynier in which they discussed how one should enjoy an Islay Single Malt Whisky. What I forgot to mention is that the video was one of many videos in the new Laddie TV Youtube channel. Today Mark Reynier reminded me of that fact when he posted a new blog on the Bruichladdich Website.

Mark wrote: "For the first time in one place we have various tasting videos, distillery profiles, special events and general video clips taken over the last decade. Laddie TV has a wide variety of film, both in quality with some professionally produced, like the Crow's Nest Films distillery profile used for a bank advertisement, and others which are more spontaneous, off-the-cuff, amateur video. We have chosen the video for the content, not necessarily the production values."

I think it's a great selection already and I look forward to seeing more new videos arriving online!

Tag: bruichladdich youtube laddie

Paddling from Ireland to Islay

ron — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:28:19 +0000

I just read an interesting and surprising article about a well known surfer, Al Mennie, who will paddle, on a stand-up paddle board, from the Giant's Causeway in Ireland to the Isle of Islay. Quite a remarkable and brave attempt if you ask me. The North Channel between Ireland and Islay can be a very challenging crossing for a boat, let alone a surfer on a paddle board. Al Mennie is not doing this for the challenge alone, he will try and raise money for the Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke organisation. Below a quote from the article which I found on UK Press:

Al Mennie, who has ridden some of the largest waves on record, is to steer a 20ft board 25 miles along the fringes of the North Atlantic. "The two biggest challenges are the cold, nothing like this has been done this far north and at this time of year. The wind chill will be a big factor," he said. "Then there's also the tidal streams pulling you one way and then the next."

The endurance test, expected to take eight hours, is being lined up for late March or early April and is based on similar stamina-sapping paddle races between islands in Hawaii. "I chose this route because the distance matches one of the crossings the Hawaiians do in sun cream and board shorts. There was a shorter 12-mile route but I wanted more of a challenge," he said. "I will be wearing a 6mm wetsuit and crossing one of the most dangerous stretches of water around the Irish coast known for its extremely deadly currents as the Irish Sea tides drain around Rathlin Island."

Tag: paddling charity north channel

The image is courtesy of www.lifecrowd.com

How to Enjoy Islay Single Malt Whisky

ron — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:12:31 +0000

You know how to enjoy a good dram right? I know I do but if you still have doubts wether you're doing "it right" you might want to have a look at the video below. Mark Reynier and Jim McEwan have a pleasant conversation about the do's and don'ts when preparing and drinking a dram. You can also hear what Jim does when he comes home after facing Islay traffic, he drinks a 15yr old! And because it's almost five o'clock I can recommend a 15yr old Islay Single Malt Whisky too. Slainte.

Tag: bruichladdich whisky

Islay Energy Trust News

ron — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:47:31 +0000

There's a lot going on at the Islay Energy Trust (IET), which is excellent news for our environment. Earlier I published an article which appeared in the Ileach about the giant underwater turbines which are currently being built and tested in Orkney. Andy MacDonald, Tidal Energy Project Officer, wrote to me in an email "if the testing in Orkney goes well then we would manufacture the ten for Islay in 2012/2013 and install in the Sound of Islay late 2013." Andy also sent me another image, included in this post, which shows the sheer size of these turbines.

Islay energy Trust is organising Renewables Day 2012, which will build on the success of previous years with a range of micro-renewables experts and suppliers giving presentations and available for consultations. Mark Bowmore Hall on the 28th of January (that's tomorrow!) in your diary. You can find more information on the IET Website

Finally, as some of the other renewable projects are developing well (wind at Castlehill and hydro at Dunlossit) the IET are looking at setting up a cooperative that people could invest in to help raise capital. They have recently launched a survey to see what interest there is.

For more info on all of the above visit http://www.islayenergytrust.org.uk.

Tag: islay energy turbines

Finlaggan on a Dark Islay Night

ron — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:03:40 +0000

Islay benefits from very little light pollution so when the clouds are gone the skies at night can be incredibly interesting, and the island can be extremely dark too. From a photographic point of view you might think that it's not possible to take images during this total darkness, but if you have a wee source of light and leave the camera's shutter open long enough you might be able to take some very special pictures although it does require training.

James Deane has undertaken quite a few of these nightly expeditions on Islay and he returned home with some remarkable results. A few nights ago, during one of these sparse clear spells of lately, James headed to Loch Finlaggan, the ancient seat of the Lords of the Isles, where he took a few amazing night pictures. As always James was quite happy to share them here on my Islay Blog for which I'm very grateful. Make sure to read his latest blog post about his recent night time escapades or visit his Facebook Page for more beautiful Islay pictures.

First Sound of Islay Tidal Turbine installed in Orkney

ron — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:58:30 +0000

The plans for the 10MW Tidal Energy Project in the Sound of Islay took a significant step forward in December with the successful deployment of the Hammerfest Strøm HS1000 tidal turbine at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney.

The 1 megawatt (MW) Hammerfest Strøm HS1000 device, which can power the annual electricity needs of approximately 500 homes, is the same design as will be used by ScottishPower Renewables (SPR) as part of the world’s first tidal turbine array in the Sound of Islay. The device measures over 20 metres from the seabed to the hub with the blades reaching a further 10 metres. With the substructure alone weighing several hundred tonnes, a specialist heavy lift vessel that is twice as long as the Finlaggan ferry was used to install the device.

The HS1000 tidal turbine has been developed by Hammerfest Strøm, a company partly-owned by Iberdrola (SPR’s parent company), Andritz Hydro and Statoil New Energy. Seen as one of the world’s most advanced tidal turbine designs, a prototype device has been generating electricity in Norway for over six years. The device substructure was constructed in Scotland by BiFab at Arnish on Lewis and it is hoped that this is the start of a much larger marine renewables industry in Scotland. Continue reading....

Fiona Middleton and the Islay Seals

ron — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:57:47 +0000

In 2008 I shared a video of Fiona Middleton for the first time, the one where she played the violin to seals on Islay. Earlier in 2006 I wrote about Fiona's website. Unfortunately the video and website are no longer active so I'm pleased that I've found a new video of Fiona with an interview and violin music. Enjoy!

Tag: fiona seals

Family Support on Islay

ron — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 17:07:59 +0000

Home-start is the UK’s leading child and family charity. We recruit and train volunteers to help families with young children under the age of five. We support many types of families who are in need of support and friendship. Our volunteers spend time with the family and the children and can often offer a respite for a few hours a week. We tailor the support offered to suit the needs of the family.

On Islay we have a group of dedicated volunteers who have completed our volunteer preparation course and are actively volunteering for us. Our volunteers visit families within their own home for a few hours every week and the support can last for a few months or a few years.

We are always looking for new volunteers, so if anyone is keen to join us please get in touch, all volunteers will undergo an enhanced disclosure check and all expenses will be covered. All we ask is that you have had some parenting experience.

The families that we support come from all walks of life and some need more support than others, we like to think that we offer friendship as well as support and many of our volunteers and families become firm friends. Families who think that they would like a volunteer should get in touch with me and I will talk them through how we can help.

We are always looking for trustees, if this interests you please get in touch - Eleanor Sloan, Home-Start MAJIK, 01586 551140, 07917285154 or send an email

Tag: charity family support

Wildlife on Islay Video

ron — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:25:33 +0000

Islay has wildlife in abundance, no matter where you look there is always something to discover, Buzzards in the sky, song birds in the trees, Oystercatchers on the shore, Hares and Geese on the fields, Red Deer on the hills, Choughs on the rocks, Otters and Seals in the seas etc. etc. I could go on and fill up a lengthy blog page with all the wildlife you can see on the island. An alternative is to show you a nice video featuring some of Islay's most famous wildlife: thousands of Barnacle Geese with some beautiful close-up shots. Besides Geese you can see other wildlife as well. This is one of the better Islay wildlife video's I've seen so enjoy!

Tag: wildlife geese