Excerpts from issue 49/21 30 July 2022
Rain (almost) stopped play
Port Ellen Sports Day, held on Saturday 23 July, for the first time since 2019, had barely started, when heavy rain disrupted proceedings. It had stayed off long enough to allow the parade to take place from the Cybercafé to the playing fields, but ultimately, Ella Edgar's Highland Dancers had to present their display in the Ramsay Hall, as did Islay Community Pipe Band. A following dry spell did allow for a few events to take place, rescuing at least part of the afternoon.
Maybe next year?
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In this week's issue:
Port Ellen Sports Day almost washed out, Bird Flu on Islay and Jura, Loganair discount not applicable to Islay passengers, Councillor McAlpine passes, It's almost showtime, Portnahaven's Strawberry tea, Platinum Jubilee Quilt, Ride of the Falling Rain, Cyclist Magazine visits Islay, Nigel MacTaggart retires from Laphroaig, New housing development opened at Otter Brae on Jura, Jim Mcfarlane - an appreciation, This is Islay podcast - an update, Charlene Busalli reviews books for July, Laphroaig Community Day, New short-term let licensing, 25 years of Islay RNLI fund-raising, Islay medical update, Cask Strength: is the whisky industry shooting itself in the foot?, Perry Green explores Traigh Bhan, Islay three complete the Three Peaks Challenge, The Islay Clearances, CMAL pier upgrade events, Laggan Bay Distillery project gains planning permission, Blast from the Past.
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Laphroaig Community Day
Barry MacAffer writes:
Laphroaig held its annual community day on Thursday 14 July, a day filled with sunshine, hard work and lots of laughter.
We worked on a number of projects this year including: Milestones painted from Port Ellen to Ardtalla. Painted some of the older benches on the distillery path. Built a viewing area for Port Ellen Primary School. Did some ground works for the Columba Hall, including chipping and painting the railings. Tidied the paths that lead on to the beaches in Port Ellen. Planted new flowers in the flower pots down the Ard at the memorial viewing platform. Undertook ground works in the community garden. Painting and ground works at Gortanvogie in Bowmore. And we installed a new hand rail at the Port Ellen Playing Fields.
However, we couldn't have done it without the help of others and so we would like to extend a special thankyou to -
Buildbase - Every year since we started this venture you have supported us. GTI - Thanks again to Donald and his team for the extra support with tools. Donny Holyoake - Thanks for all the help and support setting up and on the day. Gordon Currie - Thanks for the use of the machinery for some of the jobs on the beach. Islay Hotel - The coffee and bacon rolls were a very welcome start to the day.
Stewart and Carol Anderson - Thanks again for putting on a feast for lunch, it was perfect timing to give the time that boost to finish up the day.
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PHOTOS OF ISLAY
Photo guide to Islay
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What about us?
A report in the Press and Journal newspaper of Wednesday 20 July, informed flight passengers in Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles, that they would now be eligible to receive an additional discount on top of that provided to holders of the Air Discount Scheme card (ADS)
According to the report, this additional discount, though subject to availability, was being presented as a response to the 'cost of living crisis'.
Unsurprisingly, many Islay and Jura residents, also in possession of the ADS card and suffering from the same 'cost of living crisis' as experienced by their more northerly counterparts, were to be found asking "What about us?"
The Ileach contacted Loganair to ask that very question. A spokesperson for the airline told us, "We've introduced our new Islander Fares for those communities where we have multiple routes and several flights per day, offering sufficient seats on selected flights and routes to ensure that customers have every reasonable opportunity of accessing the new fares.
"We are unable to offer this where we have a smaller schedule, but will keep this in review as our schedule and route network continues to evolve."
Though none of the applicable routes originate from Glasgow airport (confined primarily to Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness and Edinburgh), Loganair made no reference as to how they view the impact of the cost of living crisis on those flying to and from more southerly Scottish destinations.
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This is Islay
A monthly podcast featuring individuals, personalities and features of Islay and Jura. Listen now at https://anchor.fm/thisisislay
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Laggan Bay Distillery
Mackay Smith and Donald MacKenzie both hail from the Rhinns of Islay and launched their independent Scotch Whisky bottling company, The Islay Boys Ltd, in 2016. Their range of whiskies includes the eccentrically named, Flatnose, Barelegs, and Picti brands.
In 2018, they purchased the island's only brewery, Islay Ales, and have since comprehensively revamped the beer styles and branding.
However, to house both brands under one roof, they have opted to build new premises at Glenegedale, opposite Islay Airport.
Donald told the Ileach, "We are delighted to announce that the planning application for our site at Glenegedale on Laggan Bay has been approved by Argyll and Bute Council.
"We are now able to advance with our plans to build a brewery building to house a brand new brewkit to brew our Islay Ales, and to build a distillery building to house a traditional, double-distillation Islay whisky distillery, the twelfth on Islay, baptised 'Laggan Bay Distillery'.
"We are also particularly delighted to announce a partnership with family owned, Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd, to help bring this new distillery to fruition."
Macleod Distillers are one of the most widely respected Scottish independent family firms in the spirits industry, and the tenth largest Scotch whisky company in the world.
They are currently owners of Glengoyne, Tamdhu and Edinburgh Gin distilleries, and well advanced with the revival of the much loved Rosebank distillery, which was closed in 1993.
Donald told us that he and Mackay have had a long held friendship with Leonard Russell, chairman of Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd. Mr Russell said, "I'm delighted to be able to bring our long experience in creating quality Scotch Single Malts to the Laggan Bay Distillery project".
The distillery and brewery site will cover approximately two hectares, opposite Islay Airport. It is situated less than a mile from Islay's longest beach, the Big Strand in Laggan Bay, from which the distillery takes its name.
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