Excerpts from issue 46/03 21 November 2018
In this issue: Drowned and the Saved wins literary prize, First digitally printed Ileach, Mackenzie's pipes, Tourist Office re-opens after re-fit, Funds for Doddie,.
Little orphan Annie
A superb Islay High School production of the musical Annie premiered on Wednesday evening, 12 December. superb singing, sophisticated production and a large dollop of enthusiasm made for a highly entertaining evening.
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Back for business
After a two-week re-fit programme, the Bowmore iCentre has reopened.
It has been fully refurbished, internally and externally, working closely with Islay & Jura Marketing Group, RSPB & SNH to create content that highlights both the whisky and wildlife offering on the island, with the use of large graphic panels and an illustrated map.
A wide selection of quality Scottish gifts and accessories are also available for visitors to buy and include local suppliers such as Islay Glass Crafts and local artist Mary Ann Featherstone.
"We are delighted to reopen the Bowmore iCentre, following extensive refurbishment to the building, to improve our visitor information provision on Islay and create a regional hub to provide information for visitors wishing to travel to further destinations in Argyll & the Isles," said David Adams McGilp, VisitScotland Regional Director.
"Working with our local industry partners we have created inspiring content to encourage visitors to explore Islay's rich mix of wildlife and whisky, while highlighting some of its fine local artists."
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Islay Sessions 2018
This year's Islay Sessions boasted a very varied and exciting line up. The weekend kicked off with an intimate concert in the Port Charlotte Hotel Conservatory with Gr‡inne Brady, joined by Andrew Waite and Innes White, to launch her debut album 'The Road Across the Hills'.
Playing at the Saturday Night concert in Bruichladdich Hall were high-powered Dallahan, singer Josie Duncan, with her band The Dusk, and Skye piper Brighde Chaimbeul.
The festival closed on Sunday evening with another Conservatory Concert from Josie Duncan and Innes White, standing in last minute for singer Claire Hastings, who sadly couldn't make it due to having lost her voice.
Saturday Night's Concert also saw a special guest appearance of students from The Wayfarers Project. This project, in partnership with the Traditional Music Forum, engages young people in Kirriemuir and Islay by running workshops before and during the festival, learning local material and creating and sharing new arrangements.
Free workshops took place in Bowmore High School, led by festival musicians Josie Duncan, Sally Simpson and Calum Morrison.
Alongside these events were the legendary informal trad music sessions in Port Charlotte Hotel bar and a whisky tour to sample some of Islay's finest exports. A toast to our own much loved and missed Fraser Shaw, founder of the Islay Sessions, was held at Fraser's Seat in Bruichladdich on Sunday morning.
Grateful thanks to our sponsors: Port Charlotte Hotel, Bruichladdich, Laphroaig and Ardbeg distilleries and CalMac Ferries.
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MacKenzie's pipes
A pipe tune composed a number of years ago by Kenneth MacKenzie for former Bruichladdich resident and President of the Glasgow Islay Association, Robert MacKenzie, was given a unique performance a few weeks ago on a very special set of pipes.
Robert, a great music enthusiast - especially piping - appreciated the tune very much and it has become very popular among pipers and pipe bands worldwide.
The pipes belonged to him and his brother John MacKenzie (of D & N MacKenzie) and were their father's pipes - who was the 'D', of D & N MacKenzie.
The pipes were sourced for Donald around 1926 by Pipe Major Willie Ross (instructor of the Army School of Piping at Edinburgh Castle from 1919) who was teaching piping in Islay and the Argyllshire area at the time.
"The pipes were restored for the wedding of Robert's daughter, Karen, to Chris and played by me at the end of November. This is the first time the pipes have been played in many years," explained Kenneth.
"There were many friends and family from Islay and beyond in attendance at the wedding."
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NEXT ISSUE ON SALE 8 December 2018
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Islay Diary 2018/19
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- Saturday 8 December
- Islay Kick-Boxing Club, Columba Hall
- Christmas Coffee Morning, Bowmore Hall
- Sunday 9 December
- Scottish Country Dancing, ICCI
- RNLI Carols, Port Askaig
- Tuesday 11 December
- Islay Kick-Boxing Club, St. Columba Hall, PE
- Chit Chat Strollers, Distilleries Path
- Wednesday 12 December
- Baptist Christmas Walk
- Annie, IHS
- ICC Meeting, Service Point, Bowmore
- Thursday 13 December
- Badminton IHS
- Annie, IHS
- Bowmore Primary Panto, Bowmore Hall
- Friday 14 December
- Annie, IHS
- Saturday 15 December
- Chatterbox Christmas, Bruichladdich Hall
- Sunday 16 December
- Scottish Country Dancing, ICCI
- Chatterbox Christmas, Bruichladdich Hall
- Tuesday 18 December
- Chit Chat Strollers Christmas lunch
- Thursday 20 December
- Islay Getting Together AGM
- Islay Schools Bands Concert, IHS
- Badminton IHS
- Saturday 22 December
- Mince Pies, Wine, Lochindaal
- Sunday 23 December
- Mince Pie Bike Ride, DebbieŐs, Bruichladdich
- Saturday 5 January
- Beginners' walk/jog, Bridgend Wood
- Sunday 6 January 2019
- Scottish Country Dancing, ICCI
- Thursday 10 January
- Badminton IHS
- Thursday 17 January
- Badminton IHS
- Thursday 24 January
- Badminton IHS
- Thursday 31 January
- Badminton IHS
