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Finlaggan Trust Committee was delighted to find the Extended Information Centre and Opening Day had been nominated in the Best Community Initiative section of the 2009 forargyll Awards (www.forargyll.com)
In the final voting Finlaggan came ‘a close second’ to the Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop. The committee would like to thank everyone who nominated or voted for the project.
Congratulations to Islay Energy Trust, winners of the Best Environmental Initiative section, Jura Passenger Ferry, Best Tourism Initiative and the Ileach which came second to the Oban Times in the Best Community newspaper section.
Diary date: Saturday, 27 February 2010 – Venison Supper, Ballygrant Hall
Nollaig Chridheul agus Bliadhna Mhah Ur
gu na h-uile duine
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
to everyone visiting the Finlaggan site
Congratulations to Mrs M Macrae, Port Wemyss and Alison Bell, Inverness (and Islay) the lucky winners of the trip to the launch of the new Islay ferry in Gdansk in summer 2009.
IT'S MV FINLAGGAN!
The name for the new ferry under construction for the Islay route will be Finlaggan – Fionnlagan.
Welcoming the St Andrew’s Day announcement by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd the chairman of Finlaggan Trust Committee Gina McAuslan said,
“At Finlaggan we are excited and delighted that, due to all the people who voted for Finlaggan – Fionnlagan as the name for Islay’s new ferry, it came top of the poll. Thank you all, wherever you may be, for responding in such a positive way that your votes have enabled Finlaggan - Fionnlagan to be the chosen name for the new ship. It is such a fitting tribute to the Lords of the Isles.
What a wonderful year it has been for Finlaggan - the opening of the new Visitor Centre at the site, flocks of interested visitors, and now the thrill of knowing that the new ferry will carry this historic name. Many, many thanks for your support.”
Almost 900 votes were received in the four-week public vote with the winning name FINLAGGAN - Fionnlagan receiving more than 70 percent of the vote. The naming ceremony for the ferry will be held in June 2010 and it will come into service on the Islay route in 2011. For more information go to www.cmassets.co.uk and click on News.
FINLAGGAN COMMITTEE PREPARES FOR 2010
The Finlaggan Trust Committee held their Annual General Meeting in the Information Centre on Tuesday 17 November 2009.
Three committee members stood down by rotation, two new members, Alan Cameron and Andy McCowan, were elected, and there remains one vacancy which can be filled by co-option.
Following the AGM a committee meeting was held to elect office bearers. The committee for 2010 is Chairman – Gina McAuslan, Vice-chairman – Donald Bell, Secretary –Rona Mackenzie, members – Alan Cameron, Bronwen Currie, Andy McCowan, Donald MacFadyen, Donald Mackenzie, Donald James McPhee, David Roberts, Colin Roy, Nan and Alastair Shaw.
The Centre is now closed for the winter. Plans are in hand for the 2010 season with new IT equipment first on the list, followed by plans for the re-arrangement of the display. In the first week of the New Year the committee meets to finalise the organisation of the 2010 Venison Supper which takes place on 27 February.
The building committee met the architect, Iain Campbell, of CP architects, and builder Billy Muir, on Thursday, 19 November, after the architect had carried out the snagging inspection of the new extension
SUMMER HAPPENINGS
July
Farewell to Linda
It was sad to say farewell to Linda, our invaluable Secretary and Project Officer on leaving us after sixteen years, but the Cheese and Wine party at which she was presented with flowers and our parting gift, was a lively and happy occasion. Everyone enjoyed the food and drink, the reminiscences and lively conversation in the company of good friends. Linda has promised to be on call to help members of the Committee now taking over her many tasks. Very many thanks, Linda.
July – August
Weddings
Two more weddings took place recently, both very happy occasions. Susan and Garrie were married on Eilean Mor on a sunny but very windy day which led the wedding party to hurry back to the Centre for the photographs. It was too wet for Gilian's wedding to go ahead on Eilean Mor. It took place in the Centre, with views down to the loch and islands as a splendid background. Both couples came from Scotland, but our next booking is by a German couple, and we are also looking forward to a Swiss friend of Finlaggan coming to celebrate his birthday in October and bringing all his guests with him.
August
Water, water everywhere.
August proved the wettest month for many, many, years and the Finlaggan Burn overflowed its banks, and flooded the access path to the walkway for several days. Happily, this did not stop all visits to Eilean Mor, as some hardy souls removed shoes and socks, rolled up trouser legs, and waded across, while others borrowed Finlaggan's stock of wellington boots.
Visitor numbers
Happily, the poor weather did not deter visitors coming to the Information Centre - indeed it may have brought some who might otherwise have spent their time on the beaches. We have been very pleased with the numbers arriving, and their response to the new extension and exhibits.
September
Jazz Concert – 11 September
Finlaggan was chosen for the opening event in this year's Islay Jazz Festival - an event which attracts Jazz enthusiasts from many parts of the world. We offered a tour of Eilean Mor prior to the performance. With Donald MacFadyen as guide about 50 people were shown round the island.
On a beautiful evening over 90 people gathered on the island to hear Fiona MacDonald from Scotland and Trygve Seim and Frode Haiti from Norway making it a Homecoming Concert not only for Scots, but also for the descendants of the Vikings who held Islay over a thousand years ago.
Special music had been composed for the occasion, and, including the midgies, everyone had a wonderful, memorable, time.
Numbers
By end September we had over 4,000 visitors to the Centre, with many more visiting the island when the Centre was closed, so we can count the year as being really successful.
Gina McAuslan 30 September 2009
JUNE TO JULY
Busy time since official re-opening of extended Information Centre
Since our re-opening publicity we have had a gratifying number of visitors. Many mention that seeing the BBC Scotland news item about the event prompted them to come. We welcome 30 to 50 visitors daily, with more children during this school holiday time. They come from all over the world, leaving exciting place names in the visitors’ book and favourable comments about the new Information Centre, and well kept historic site on Eilean
Recent visitors were intrigued by the arrival of
Weddings on Eilean Mor
We’ve had two weddings at Finlaggan this summer, the most recent on 17 July brought a gathering of family and friends to Eilean
We put on a surprise ‘reception’ for them in the Centre on their return from their island wedding.
We wish both couples much happiness in the future.
For information about wedding ceremonies at Finlaggan contact us on enquiries@finlaggan.com
Losing Linda
Sadly we have to report that, after 15 years loyal service, our project officer, Linda McArthur, will be leaving at the end of July. She has been a tower of strength to me, the current chairman, always helpful and willing. However, her workload has grown and grown, she had other commitments, too, and in the end she had to make a choice. Happily she will still be in touch with us. Correspondence will continue to be addressed to the Information Centre, and for the present I will be dealing with emails which should go to enquiries@finlaggan.com.
Gina McAuslan, chairman
Official Opening of the extended Finlaggan Information Centre
on Saturday 16th May
The sun shone, the wind was chill but spectators had wrapped up warmly and enjoyed a happy afternoon of music, Highland dancing, history and neighbourly chat. In the evening a packed hall of ceilidh goers enjoyed a feast of singing from James Graham, Kirsteen MacDonald, Andy McCowan, Janie Torrance, Eoin Brown and Libby Morris and clarsach music from Jennifer Port, Lynsey MacRitchie and Judy Morrison. They danced to the ever young Islay Fiddle and Accordion Band. The day's events were supported by a grant from Awards for All, complimentary welcome drinks were sponsored by Ardbeg Distillery and the Vintage Malt Whisky Company. The Finlaggan Trust Committee would like to thank the many people who helped to make the event a success, both on the day and in the weeks leading up to it.
Video of Opening Day click on www.ileach.co.uk http://vimeo.com/4710969?pg=embed&sec=
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