Islay Weblog - News Events Information

Islay Sand Dune Floristic Display

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:22:54 +0000

It's Friday night and Teresa Morris from Islay Wildscapes sent me another one of her highly interesting blogs, accompanied with great pictures, this time from the largest dune system on Islay at Killinallan:

Teresa Morris: There is nothing more enjoyable than taking a stroll along Killinallan Beach on these long hot midsummer days. Within the adjoining dunes there is a profusion of flowers bursting into bloom with the hot sunshine. The dramatic dune landscape provides a variety of habitats for numerous plants many of which flower in June and July.

Killinallan Dunes at Loch Gruinart

Adjoining the vast Killinallan beach a large range of sand dunes have developed from millions of grains of sand which have been blown landward off the beach at low tide. The sand dune vegetation varies depending upon the time elapsed since the sand was deposited, sand stability and localised hydrological conditions. Standing at Killinallan point there is a superb view of the dunes sweeping inland from the point. Continue reading....

On the lower parts of the shoreline where the daily wave action washes the beach only seaweeds survive. Above and along the drift line where disturbance is less frequent a sparse vegetation can brave the waves. Annuals such as Sea Rocket (Cakile maritima - image right) with its pretty pink flowers and succulent leaves can endure salt spray and root successfully in organic debris such as rotting seaweed. A characteristic feature of this species is that it can grow rapidly and seed quickly in the brief spells between high tides and storms which continually pound the Islay coast. These plants have adapted to this precarious habitat with their waxy leaves enabling them to survive.

The shoreline is backed by the embryonic and mobile dunes on the seaward side where sand deposition is occurring. Here marram grass is the main vegetation. Fixed dunes form where sand has stabilized and where a rudimentary soil has had a chance to develop. These areas usually have lime-rich soils and are particularly rich in plant species. It is in these areas plants such as the Pyramidal Orchid, (Anacamptis pyramidalis) flowers from June to August and is pollinated by butterflies and moths.

On older dunes calcium may be leached from the soils leading to the development of acid dune grassland or dune heath. In wet depressions between dune ridges, dune slacks may develop. These are often characterised by the presence of Creeping Willow (Salix repens) and a number of moss species. The Burnet Rose (Rosa pimpinellifolia) flowers from May to July. It forms a dense bristly and prickly low spreading shrub. Its creamy white flowers are borne singly and the hips are purplish black.

Sand dune systems support a wide range of plants, animals, and invertebates including some species which have very specialised requirements. They are a constantly mobile environment on the shoreline edge and change from season to season.

Pyramidal Orchid

Burnet Rose

Sea Rocket

With thanks to a good friend of mine on Islay for providing the photographs of the Pyramidal Orchid, Burnet Rose and Sea Rocket.

Tag: wildscapes killinallan flowers nature gruinart seasonwatch

Islay's Cantilena Festival 2009

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:07:47 +0000

So many different levels of Homecoming Scotland are represented in this summer’s festival which begins on Sunday July 5th with a piano recital given by Havilland Willshire in Ionad Chaluim Chille Ile and ends on Friday July 10th with the Mendelssohn Octet at Bruichladdich.

Monday’s concert is at the ICCI, featuring piano trios by Haydn and Mendelssohn and a welcome ‘homecoming’ to Islay by one of the original founders of the festival, the wonderful pianist and all round good guy, Scott Mitchell.

Tuesday finds the musicians, all ten of them, in the Malt Hall, Lagavulin, where Haydn’s contribution is one of his early string quartets (Opus 4), and Mendelssohn’s is his other concerto, the little one with just string accompaniment will be performed by Angus Ramsay. By now you are probably wondering why there is a continuing theme of music by these two great composers. A happy coincidence for any programme planner is the death of Haydn and the birth of Mendelssohn in the same year, 1809. Add to that Haydn’s strong interest in the work of Robert Burns - he wrote the music for over 200 of his songs - and Mendelssohn’s visits to Scotland from which the Overture ‘Fingal’s Cave’ as well as his Symphony No.3, the Scottish, emerged; here we have homecomings of a European dimension. Continue reading.....

Wednesday in Islay House brings another slant on homecoming. Specially commissioned works by two prominent Scottish composers, Rory Boyle and Stephen Adam, relate their contributions directly to Islay. These two pieces plus early Scottish music by the Earl of Kelly - a very distant ancestor of the owner of Islay House and our host at that venue for the concert - form the bulk of the evening’s programme.

Thursday - more advanced works from Haydn and Mendelssohn. A late string quartet in the great acoustics of the Old Kiln cafe, Ardbeg. Also in this programme are works for the ful1 string ensemble as is the case in all the concerts from Monday onwards. On this occasion Elgar’s Serenade for strings and the Simple Symphony by Benjamin Britten complete the programme.

Friday, the final concert sees Cantilena performing in Bruichladdich for the first time with the now traditional last night fare of the Mendelssohn Octet, written at the age of 15, as well as Viennese, Scottish and fun music Homecoming of a more personal nature occur at this summer’s festival. Already mentioned is pianist and former Artistic Director, Scott Mitchell: Bass player extraordinaire, Paul Marrion, and his wife Marian, the ‘boss of the ticket office’, who has now recovered from a serious illness. Stephen Shakeshaft, who never really went away but is in the process of relocating to Scotland for good in order to see more of his grandchildren; and myself, Adrian Shepherd who missed the festival in 2008 as I was in mourning for my wife and previous festival administrator, Jennifer. Thanks to a lot of help from various people, in particular the Mactaggart family and Catherine Wilson and the friends of Cantilena on Islay, this promises to be a really exciting and innovative six days of joyous music. Adrian Shepherd

Tag: festival cantilena music concert islay house

Gordon Explains the Islay Woollen Mill Machinery

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:36:52 +0000

Early June I wrote about the Woollen Mill and its tweeds being available on Savile Row in London. Tonight we revisit the Mill. If you wonder how the tweeds are made on Gordon's old machines in Bridgend I can recommend you to watch the video below. The woollen Mill is quite famous, they made tartans for the movie Braveheart, Rob Roy and many others. The machines are one of the oldest in the UK, if not THE oldest and they make a tremendous noise and great tartans too! In the video Gordon also shows many tweeds and their matching clans. You really should try to vist the Woollen Mill when you're on Islay. Gordon is quite keen to explain to you in person what happens at the Mill and how it works and afterwards you can visit the shop or have a walk in the beautiful neigbouring woods!

Tag: woollen mill video bridgend craft

life at Finlaggan Letter by George Rhind

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:12:06 +0000

When I published Mary Bavin's article a couple of days ago I was aware that it was an answer to a letter sent by George Rhind which I seem to have missed earlier. I received very positive comments about Mary Bavin's article on the Lords of the Isles being published on this blog and I also share the opinion that life wasn't a fairytale in medieval days, far from that. That's why I appreciate the fact that George Rhind contacted me and sent me the letter which is referred to in Mary's article. George gave me permission to publish it on the blog, thanks for that. The letter is titled 'Distance Lending Enchantment' and was originally sent to the Ileach editor. George Rhind:

While the Finlaggan Trust Committee are due the heartiest congratulations on the opening of their extended Information Centre and the new bridge to Eilean Mor, some of your recent correspondents seem to be trying to create the impression that life at Finlaggan during the time of the Lordship was akin to a medieval Camelot with bagpipes.

The lifestyle allegedly enjoyed by the Lord of the Isles and his "Retainers" (about 1% of the population) was of course entirely supported by the indigenous local population who, as little more than serfs, cut the peats, caught the fish, planted the crops, dug the cess pits and emptied their Lordship's chamber pots. Continue reading.....

When are our historians going to give us an honest account of the life and times of the ordinary people of Islay at the time of the Lordship rather than more tedious repetitious accounts of the feasting and harping which supposedly went on when the Councils of the Isles met? Medieval life is frequently referred to as "nasty, brutal and short" and "...the finds (at Finlaggan) include items brought from all over Europe which could have only been available to the top people of the time..." further points up the yawning chasm between the very privileged few and the rank and file.

The late Donald Dewar in his Sabhal Mor lecture in September 2000 summed it up neatly: "Like almost all Scots, I am aware of the proud Highland tradition and the Highland Culture. I do try to be realistic. I do also try to avoid the romantic. I am distinctly allergic to lonely sentinels, grass-grown shielings, the peat fire that grows cold. I remain resolutely cautious when romantics tell me of democracy practised by the Lords of the Isles. Many interesting things may have happened at Finlaggan, but I doubt if they could be described very easily as an early attempt at a Parliament."

The answer to this letter was published in the Ileach and is available here.

Tag: finlaggan history

Islay Sunsets Video

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:04:47 +0000

Since the weather is warm, hot for some and too hot for others, I thought I'd make a matching video. In the years we have visited Islay we witnessed many stunning sunsets which resulted in hundreds of images. Often I show these images to friends and family and just as often they don't believe I took them in Scotland. Isn't it raining there all the time they ask? Yes it does I always say, making sure I don't bump into them when I'm on holiday :-)

Anyway, we all know that the weather is often much better than people think and the weather man says, and at the moment that is certainly true. Temperatures today reached a comfortable 23 Degr and tomorrow it will be even warmer although the weather forecast mentions light rain, sure..... In case it does rain I can recommend the video below. It's accompanied by music from my favourite Italian singer Paolo Conte and you can dream away with the summer tunes and lovely Islay sunsets. Enjoy!

Tag: sunsets video photography saligo bay machir bay loch indaal

Who Knows the Highest Recorded Maximum Temperature on Islay

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 18:08:06 +0000

I had planned to do the news roundup today because Jeremy was elsewhere, not being able to submit his nature report. He was cycling from London to Paris with on a bike with one gear and succeeded, which is quite an achievement. Because of the heat over here however, it's too hot to spend much time with a laptop on my knees, I changed plans and will instead write about...... the weather! Yesterday evening a friend from Islay sent me a beautiful sunset picture and he mentioned that it's quite warm on Islay and it will become much warmer later in the week. When I checked the weather forecast for Islay I saw that the expected temperature for Tuesday indeed will be around 24°C, which is quite high. It also got me thinking about maximum temperature records and I was wondering what the highest recorded max temp on Islay is? I assume it won't be much higher than 24°C given the fact that Islay is surrounded by cool(er) water.

Sunset at Loch Gruinart

To get an idea I did some research on the internet and found an interesting page from the Met Office with weather statistics for western Scotland. For obvious comparison reasons I was most interested in the nearest official weather station to Islay which is Tiree but first some general information about the annual highs and lows of the region. The mainland of western Scotland has quite high and low extreme temperatures, e.g. a large temperature range, varying between -24.8 °C and 32.9 °C while the annual mean temperatures are between 2 °C and 19 °C. The situation for the Hebridean Isles is quite different. Due to the influence of the gulf stream the temperature range is much smaller. According to the Tiree temperature range the lowest minimum temperature recorded is -7 °C and the highest maximum temperature recorded is 27 °C while the annual mean temperatures are in the range of 3 °C and 17 °C. A quote from the Met Office website: Continue reading......

The strong maritime control of temperature is best seen in the annual temperature range, the difference between the mean temperature of the warmest and coldest months. The smaller the temperature range, the greater the maritime influence. In parts of Galloway, Kintyre and the Hebrides the annual temperature range is about 9 °C, which is similar to that found in western Ireland; for comparison the annual temperature range increases to about 14 °C in the English Midlands as the maritime influence decreases.

July and August are the warmest months in the region with mean daily maxima ranging from less than 14.6 °C on the highest ground to more than 18.5 °C in southern Dumfries and Galloway and the Clyde valley. These may be compared with 22.5 °C in the London area. Instances of extreme high temperatures are rare and are associated with hot air brought from mainland Europe on south easterly winds, accompanied by strong sunshine. The highest temperature ever recorded in the whole of Scotland was 32.9 °C at Greycrook (Borders) on 9 August 2003. The previous record of 32.8 °C was set almost a century before in Dumfries on 2 July 1908. Other examples of extreme high temperatures that have occurred in the region are 32.2 °C at Prestwick and Kilmarnock on 29 July 1948, and 31.7 °C at Buchlyvie (west of Stirling) on 12 July 1911.

Now what do we learn from all this? Apart from the fact that the annual mean temperatures on the Scottish mainland have a larger range than those on the Hebrides due to the absence of the maritime influence, it's also interesting to learn that the highest recorded temperature on Tiree was 27 °C, which will probably not be much different from the highest recorded maximum temperature on Islay (graph below). This also means that the projected max temp on Tuesday will not break any records. What remains is the following: Is there anybody on Islay who can recall what the highest recorded maximum temperature was on the island? If so please be so kind and send me an email. Thanks!

Tag: weather temperatures

Medieval Life at Finlaggan

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 15:45:46 +0000

Mary Bavin on the Lords of the Isles and their minions

George Rhind is, of course, quite correct to point out that the lifestyle of the Lords of the Isles is not typical of the experience of the majority in the Islands, or in the world, in the Medieval period. The reality was a life expectancy of perhaps thirty, 20% infant mortality in the first year of life and a further 20% in the next four years. Childbirth was the most common cause of death for women, fertility rates were low due to malnutrition and starvation was not uncommon. Disease and infection which we see as minor today killed and maimed. Medieval life was not easy or romantic. Continue reading.....

Finlaggan was however a major centre of wealth and power in the Middle Ages. Far from being a remote insignificant island, Islay was at the heart of a seagoing empire with trade routes down the west coast to Europe. The Lords were kings in their own right, challenging the Kings of Scots and forming alliances with major European monarchs. By emphasizing power, wealth and trade links the Finlaggan trust challenges the widespread misconception that our forebears were all ragged ***ed, tartan clad savages who painted saltires on their faces.

Of course the poor were subjugated but their overlords were at least of the same race, culture and language. In England, and parts of mainland Scotland, Normans, speaking French, imposed a foreign feudal culture.

Unequal, hierarchical society was the norm at that time. Peasants owed labour and produce to their lords and to the Church. They had few rights, no vote and were effectively property. The Council, or parliament (talking place), of the Lordship was a meeting of the Lord with his military and political elite just as the English parliament was a meeting of the king and his nobles. It was a rule by fighting men. No-one would consider including peasants. That would be as ridiculous as asking the opinion of women!

That is how the medieval world worked. Poverty, disease, inequality and oppression were the norm. The Lordship was no different from the rest of Europe. Finlaggan Trust shows visitors and islanders that Islay was not always at the mercy of Westminster or Edinburgh but was once a centre of power and influence. Let’s celebrate that while remembering the terrible conditions of poverty our ancestors suffered until the last century.

Tag: finlaggan history lordship

This story was published with kind permission of the Ileach local newspaper.

Jog Leader Jim Lutomski of Port Ellen

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:43:05 +0000

A nice Islay related article appeared on the Jog Scotland website. As some of you know Jim Lutomski, participant in the annual Islay half marathon, started a succesful jogging group in Port Ellen and in the process he and his group got national press attention when an article was published on the www.jogscotland.org.uk website. Regular readers and visitors of Islay have probably heard of Jim Lutomski, I have written about Jim one year ago, and I have met him and his wife in person a couple of months ago. Jim Lutomski is a gifted artist, he repairs bikes in Port Ellen at Columba Hall and now he is involved in a jogging group. Below a quote from the article on the JogScotland website:

The jogscotland group on the Isle of Islay in Port Ellen are bursting with energy and enthusiasm for jogscotland. Each week sees the group attract another brand new person with numbers sitting roughly around ten at the moment. At least three of the joggers are taking part in the ‘Run For Life’ event and a couple of the women, Clare and Caroline are building their confidence with a view to possibly entering the Islay Half Marathon. In due course it is hoped that the shy men of the Island might even get involved. Lastly, a big shout out for the three winners of the outstanding courage awards: Mairi for picking herself up after slightly over doing things, Frances for having a go at jogging for the first time in yonks and Clare for the most dramatic change in lifestyle. We here at jogscotland would also like to give a big round of applause to Jog Leader Jim, who has achieved so much in such a short amount of time, well done Jim!

As soon as the 'shy men' in Port Ellen change their minds they can contact Jim by sending him an email at enquiries@lutomskiart.co.uk

Tag: jogging port ellen

Ileach Images and Old Islay Postcards

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:11:58 +0000

The Ileach newspaper is getting more active on the internet lately and they started a collection of Islay images a while back on Flickr, the popular photosharing website of Yahoo. When I had a look recently I found out that they currently have 1,478 items in their collection and I think this could well be the one of the largest collections of online Islay images. While most images are taken recently, you can find image sets of the Fly Fishing championships, the Islay Triathlon and Beach Rugby tournament, there is also a very interesting collection from the hand of Gilbert Carmichael. Click here for the Ileach collection.

Gilbert Carmichael, also known from the book Old Islay, is a gifted photographer and produced an almost endless series of postcards in the nineteen nineties, modern interpretations of the original images. The collection of Gilbert Carmichael at the Ileach Flickr page contains many images and postcards from Islay. Some coloured and some black and white but most of them showing scenes that have hardly changed through the years. One of the exceptions is the corner building at Bruichladdich Distillery which was destroyed by a fire many years ago. It's up to you to find the other differences! Continue reading.......

I myself happen to have one very old postcard from Islay. I bought it a couple of years ago and it is titled "Geisgeir Strand, Port Ellen, Islay". It shows, from what I believe, is Port Ellen Distillery. The beach will probably be the beach in front of the White Hart Hotel. I don't know it by the name Geisgeir Strand, I haven't heard of it before, which doesn't mean much, and I'm not sure if this name is still being used. It is a very picturesque scene by Alexander Cameron dated 1929! Below is a picture of the postcard:

The 1929 postcard titled "Geisgeir Strand, Port Ellen, Islay" by Alexander Cameron

Tag: postcards photography ileach pictures

Summer Days on Islay

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:14:00 +0000

Several people on Islay mentioned the beautiful weather of the last days in their emails, even the word heatwave has been used. It looks like summer has started after the cool and misty days of last weekend. Paul Graham, owner of an Taigh-Osda, took his dogs out for a swim at Saligo Bay last night and took some beautiful images which you can find below:

Beautiful sunset at Saligo Bay

Continue to the other images

The mountains of Mull in the evening light

Happy dogs at Saligo Bay

Tag: photography summer saligo bay mull