Excerpts from issue 52/14 19 April 2025
Finlaggan Trust goes from strength to strength
Mairead MacKechnie writes:
The Finlaggan Visitor Centre opened its doors to the public for the 2025 season on 5 April and an exciting season it should be.
Improvements have been made to the displays, and a book, publishing the results of the National Museums excavations, will be launched at Finlaggan later in the year. It confirms the importance of Finlaggan as the centre of the Gaelic Lordship of the Isles and shows how it was a significant place from prehistoric times onwards. Look out for more information in the Ileach.
We hope there will be plenty of opportunities to attract locals and visitors and explain the centre's renewed outlook. The historic site of Finlaggan can be visited at any time. It is reached by a signposted road that turns off the main road between Ballygrant and Port Askaig. There is adequate parking available.
A wooden bridge provides pedestrian access to the island of Eilean Mòr, where information boards will help to guide you. Of course, any visit would be greatly enhanced by also taking in the Visitor Centre, which is open Monday-Saturday, 11:00-16:30. There is a donations box by the door for those making out-of-hours visits.
The Finlaggan Trust is run by a dedicated group of local volunteers who love welcoming visitors and having the opportunity to show off this important site. If you also have a passion for Islay, Scottish history or Gaelic, why not join us? Come and talk to us and see how you could contribute to promoting our heritage, or email us on finlaggan@outlook.com
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In this week's issue:
Two Islay churches near community ownership, Lifeboat call out, Islay and Jura kids denied free inter-island transport, SEPA's new flood maps, 10% tariff on whisky, Sheep worrying, Electric meter switch-off, Campbeltown-Glasgow coach crash, Islay primaries' maths success, Islay energy network upgrade, Big Garden Birdwatch, Finlaggan Trust, Changes at United Auctions, Communities Funding, Easter Week church services, Craig Walker's Walk on the Wild Side, Bowmore pre-fives' Art Exhibition, Floating Art, Siskin Green festival concert, BT's Digital Voice events miss out Islay and Jura, Mairi Clark art exhibition, Foraging for garnish, Charléne Busalli's book column, A decorous means of eggspression, Kilmeny Wednesday Afternoon Club, Music review: Simon Thoumire's Sgath Fhras, Book review, Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney.
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What about us?
On 1 April, the Scottish Government announced that it was introducing free inter-island ferry travel for all Orkney, Shetland and Outer Hebrides residents under the age of 22.
This will enable young island residents to travel for free as foot passengers on inter-island ferry services within their own local authority area by showing their Young Scot or National Entitlement Cards.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said, "This new scheme will enable children and young people access to education, employment, training, health and social activities and much more. I am pleased that this scheme will give them the same opportunities as free bus travel provides for many children and young people in mainland communities and was a key commitment in the transport budget for 2025-26. I also remain committed to extending free ferry travel to more young people on our islands in 2025-26."
The Ileach contacted Transport Scotland to enquire if the future plans mentioned by the Transport Secretary would include free travel for children and young people between Islay and Jura.
Yet despite Ms. Hyslop's reputed committment, a spokesman told us, "We have no current plans to expand the inter-island scheme any further."
The Ileach subsequently wrote to Argyll & Bute MSP, Jenni Minto, pointing out the apparent inequity of the situation and asking why those under 22 living on Islay and Jura were not deemed worthy of the same benefits as those on Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles?
She replied, "I would like to see this scheme extended to inter island routes across Argyll and Bute as I know this would be a significant boost to our young people here. I have written to the Scottish Government to ask that this is considered."
Hopefully Transport Scotland might see sense.
However, from 23 June 2025, young people aged 19-21 who live on Scottish islands, including Islay and Jura, will be eligible for concessionary ferry vouchers for travel between their island home and the Scottish mainland.
Also forming a key commitment in the transport budget for 2025-26, the voucher scheme provides four single (or two return) free ferry trips each year to eligible island residents in Orkney, Shetland, the Outer Hebrides, islands in North Ayrshire, Argyll and Bute and Highland Council areas. The scheme currently supports young people aged 16-18 and full-time volunteers up to 25.
Proposed in the Islands Connectivity Plan last year, the extension to concessionary ferry vouchers forms part of the Government's strategy to ensure ferry services are sustainable and affordable for years to come. The scheme’s expansion follows the introduction of free inter-island ferry travel for all island residents under the age of 22 within Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides.
transport.gov.scot/ferryvouchers
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Electricity upgrade
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has revealed that the north of Scotland's electricity network in will be improved with a £450m investment by the end of the decade.
SSEN also said it would make existing supplies "more resilient", supporting decarbonisation of communities and industry by connecting solar panels and heat pumps to the network.
The areas covered is stated to include all of Scotland's islands, however a spokesperson for Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution told the Ileach, "On Islay, it's anticipated that the contractor delivering upgrades for Argyll will carry out works on the island itself, associated with the Carradale to Port Ellen project (two new 33kV circuits by 2028), which is being progressed through a different regulatory mechanism.
"This project will deliver increased network resilience and capacity for homes and industry on Islay. The laying of subsea cables is subject to a different tender process."
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