This Is Islay

In May 2024, This Is Islay joined Gus Newman in his corner office in Lagavulin. In our conversation Gus introduces us to his life and times in and on the waters surrounding Islay. He talks of the family ventures and adventures, including Storm-Cats, Storm-Pods and Islay Sea Adventures. Gus's mother Ann Newman joins us for the second part of the episode.

This Is Islay: Gordon Bermingham, Jean MacLellan, Jolyon Thurgood

This Is Islay's Jean MacLellan in conversation with Charlène Busali, Chair of this year's Islay Book Festival. Together they discuss various elements of the festival, its events and activities which take place between 29 August and 1 September 2024.

For more information visit islaybookfestival.co.uk.

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 thisisislay.co.uk.

This episode launches Season 3 of our community podcast celebrating the people, places and events of Islay and Jura.

This episode focuses on the people of Islay, and specifically "What makes someone an Ileach?"

Greig Barker interviews Islay High School students, Russell Pollock speaks to Samantha MacArthur and the podcast team gathers various views on the subject.

We would like to thank Islay High School students Diura Paterson and Matthew Campbell, and Glasgow University student Samantha MacArthur for their participation in this episode.

We would also like to thank those Facebook users who responded to our posts.

Podcast team: Greig Barker, Jean MacLellan, Tom O'Farrell, Russell Pollock, Glen Roberts, Jolyon Thurgood.

Support from Islay High School and Studio facilities much appreciated.

In this episode, Sharon Jones, on her third visit to Islay together with husband Mike, contributes her own recording to our podcast series. She relates her experiences travelling the highways and byways of Islay by e-bike. This episode was recorded, by Sharon, in September 2023.

This is our very first Leap Day episode.

In this episode, Lars Weitbrecht, a traveller from Germany shares his discovery of Islay whisky, the Islay landscape and the Islay community, in conversation with Jolyon Thurgood. This episode was recorded in September 2023.

In May 2023, Jolyon interviewed Fiona Kalache MBE who manages Mid Argyll Youth Development Services, known as MAYDS. In this role, Fiona provides support and guidance to the programmes offered on Islay by the Mactaggart Youth and Community Outreach Services (MYCOS). MYCOS was formerly known as MYFOS and the Mactaggart Cyber Cafe in Port Ellen, but offers a broad range of services and activities for young people and other islandwide community groups.

Note: This is a companion episode to the interview with Lynn Johnstone, also with MAYDS, focussing on Mental Health Support and first released in October 2023.

More information can be found at:

http://www.mycos.org.uk/ and https://www.mayds.org.uk/ and by following MYCOS on Facebook at @MYCOS

This episode features Glen in conversation with Lynn Johnstone, part of Mid-Argyll Youth Development Services (MAYDS), focussing on the mental health support she provides at Islay High School. More information is available at https://www.exchange-counselling.com/ .

The Independent Newspaper for Islay and Jura, the Ileach, was founded in 1973. To mark the occasion, Glen Roberts sat down with current editor Brian Palmer and past editor Calum Murray to discuss all things Ileach, and in particular the role of this publication in the local community.

The Ileach is published fortnightly, with print editions of the Ileach available on Islay and Jura, and through UK and worldwide subscriptions by post. Electronic (pdf) subscriptions are also available. More information at ileach.co.uk .

Three Scottish Artists - Anne Campbell, Pauline McGee and Cathy Wilson - discuss their art and inspirations in conversation with Jolyon Thurgood. The three artists have an Exhibition, "Interactions", taking place at the Gaelic Centre near Bowmore (until August 11th 2023). Open Monday to Friday 9am-5pm. Many thanks to the Bridgend Hotel for allowing us access to the main dining room studio for recording. Martine Nouet hosts a whisky-tasting event in conjunction with the Exhibition on Friday August 4th 5:30pm. Tickets available by contacting the Gaelic Centre directly at 01496 810 818.

In this episode Jolyon Thurgood and Glen Roberts talk with Lesley McCall, Secretary of the Fèis Ìle Committee, as she and her colleagues get ready for the Islay Festival which takes place from May 26th to June 3rd 2023.

Fèis Ìle - The Islay Festival - is a gathering of whisky and Islay fans from across the globe.In the last week of May, we celebrate Islay, her culture and her spirit, in a ten day event that defines the whisky calendar.

More information, including tickets, at feisile.co.uk .

Listen to all This Is Islay podcasts at thisisislay.co.uk and on Spotify and other podcasting platforms.