This Is Islay

In a conversation with Jean MacLellan, Kate Skinner tells us about the Coop's history with Fairtrade, and how Fairtrade and buying Fairtrade products makes a difference all over the world. Fairtrade Fortnight in 2025 runs from September 22nd to October 5th, with special promotions in the Coop and online. As Kate says: "I'd be dressing a banana". Find out more by following @Coop Kate and visit https://www.coop.co.uk/our-suppliers/fairtrade .

Host: Jean MacLellan

Guest: "Coop Kate" Skinner, Port Wemyss Resident

This Is Islay Production: Tom O'Farrell and Team

In this episode, This Is Islay gives an update on music events coming up this month and beyond, and talks to Jazz Scotland about the Caol Ila Islay Jazz Festival taking place September 19-21 2025: 21 events, 9 venues across Islay.

Caol Ila Islay Jazz Festival - September 19-21

Islay Local Mod / Mod Ile - September 20

Jura Music Festival - September 26-28

The Islay Sessions - November 9-11

Acknowledgements:

John Youngs, CEO and Artistic Director, Jazz Scotland

For This Is Islay:

Jolyon Thurgood and Team

Music:

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Colin Steele Quartet, Blue Nile: "Headlights on the Parade"

This Is Islay turns to the issue of housing on Islay, exploring the unique challenges and issues which face individuals and families seeking a place to live in our island community. In this episode, the first of a multi-part series, Glen Roberts speaks with local councillor Dougie McFadzean who tells us how many people are on the housing waiting list, how the points system works, how many new houses are being built, and introduces other factors at play.

If you have been impacted by housing challenges on Islay or Jura, or would like to join this discussion, please contact us at [email protected] or drop us a DM.

Acknowledgements:

Councillor Dougie McFadzean

Music:

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For This Is Islay:

Glen Roberts, Gordon Bermingham, Jean McLellan, Tom O'Farrell, Russell Pollock, Jolyon Thurgood

This Is Islay's Jean MacLellan in conversation with Charlène Busali, Chair of Islay Book Festival, discussing the festival programme, authors, events and activities. The 2025 Islay Book Festival takes place across Islay 28-31 August.

For more information visit https://islaybookfestival.co.uk or find "Islay Book Festival" on Facebook.

This Is Islay is a volunteer-led podcast which celebrates the people, places and connections which shape the Islay and Jura communities.

For more information visit https://thisisislay.co.uk

Acknowledgments:

Charlène Busali, Islay Book Festival Committee

For This Is Islay:

Jean Maclellan, Gordon Bermingham, Jolyon Thurgood

Music:

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The Rhinns Lighthouse was engineered by Robert Stevenson and became operational in 1825. To mark its 200th birthday, local communities have organised the Rhinns Lighthouse Festival to take place over the weekend of August 8-10, 2025. To learn more about the festivities, Jolyon Thurgood met with Mairi Trawber and Angus Ferguson, members of the Festival Committee.

Acknowledgements:

Mairi Trawber and Angus Ferguson

The entire Lighthouse Festival Committee: Fergus Speight, Kate Skinner, Mairi Trawber, Sandy MacLean, Kat Coughlin, Emma Crawford, Neil Gillespie, Angus Ferguson and Fiona MacLeod.

Music: Pixabay Sonican 340334

This Is Islay production: Gordon Bermingham, Jolyon Thurgood

Catriona Bell is well known on Islay for her various contributions to the community over many years. She was one of those who set up and managed The Ileach in its early days and she played a significant role in the establishment of our swimming pool. In this first conversation for the This is Islay podcast Catriona recounts being born in Brora in Sutherland, coming to Islay to teach in the High School and building a life here.

For This Is Islay:

Jean MacLellan, Gordon Bermingham, Jolyon Thurgood

As part of our collaboration with Islay Primary Schools (episode June 1, 2025), this episode presents recordings made in Bowmore and Port Ellen primary schools as part of their reading programmes, and was produced by This Is Islay.

Ann an co-obrachadh le Bun-sgoiltean Ìle (prògram 1 Ògmhios, 2025), chaidh am prògram seo a chlàradh ann am Bun-sgoiltean Bogha Mòr agus Port Eilein mar phàirt den phrògram leughaidh aca.

Acknowledgements:

Bu mhath leinn taing a thoirt do na tidsearan agus na sgoilearan a chuir ris a’ phrògram seo.

Many thanks to the staff and students who contributed to this episode.

Bun-sgoil Bhogha Mòr / Bowmore Primary School - The Reading Changemakers group

Port Ellen Primary School - The Reading Citizens group

Music :⁠Pixabay⁠ - 335607-Happy Kids Cartoon

For This Is Islay production:

Gordon Bermingham, Jolyon Thurgood

In September 2024, we recorded a conversation with Islay primary school teachers Amy Hannett (Port Ellen Primary) and Morvern Scott (Gaelic Medium, Bowmore Primary) about plans to work with This Is Islay to record activities at primary schools across Islay, including both English and Gaelic language material.

In followup episodes we will hear directly from students on a range of activities - from discussing favourite books and authors, to Dinosaur Days with visitors from the Natural History Museum.

Acknowledgements:

Thanks to our guests Amy Hannett and Morvern Scott, and to Bowmore and Port Ellen Primary Schools for their support

This Is Islay Production crew: Jolyon Thurgood, Tom O’Farrell, Greig Barker and Gordon Bermingham

Music: Pixabay RFM ambient-piano-and-strings-10711

In May 2025, This is Islay chatted with Cancer Support Group Islay (CSGI), shortly after its first birthday. Three founding members: Jennifer Gillies, Jo O'Farrell and Agnes McEachern, discuss why their informal support group was set up, how group members help each other, and recent successes in bringing mainland expertise to Islay.

Living with Cancer is hard enough and this episode explores various associated challenges, as well as the extra hurdles our island location dictates, all presented honestly with a touch of humour and positive energy. The common themes throughout: you and your loved ones don’t have to go through this alone, there are handy hacks to tackle those extra hurdles, and the overriding importance of talking and focusing on the positives for living well with Cancer.

For more information, visit the Cancer Support Group Islay's website at  https://cancersupportgroupislay.co.uk/

Also note the upcoming two-day event to take place on Islay 17th-18th July 2025: "Living with Uncertainty" presented by Beatson Cancer Charity https://www.beatsoncancercharity.org/how-we-help/group-support/living-with-uncertainty/

A conversation with the This Is Islay team gathered in the Islay High School studio, including: Gordon Bermingham, Jean MacLellan, Tom O'Farrell, Glen Roberts, and Jolyon Thurgood.

We pull back the curtain on the behind the scene workings of This Is Islay - we discuss our favourite episodes, future plans, and the challenges and opportunities that come with our Islay-focused podcast.

Thanks to Islay High School, Russell Pollock and Greig Barker for studio support, and to Tom O'Farrell for production.