From my recent Islay visit I returned with a quite large souvenir which is now hanging on one of my walls. A few weeks ago Pat Farrington announced on Facebook that she had some maps of Islay, Jura and Colonsay in Gaelic for sale. I contacted her that I was interested and if I could pick one up during my Islay visit in November (they were sold pick up / delivery on Islay only).
We agreed to meet in Bowmore, where £10 and in return the map changed hands. From Bowmore I drove over to Islay House Square, where I dropped it off at Islay Studios to be framed. Mark had mentioned that they had framed another copy, I decided to do the same to keep it in prime condition and make it easier to hang up. I picked a light coloured wood as most of my furniture is pine and I wanted them to go together.
Here’s how it looks with the map hanging above my ‘Islay Shelf’ (where I keep my Islay single malts, my Islay books and various souvenirs):
I’m very happy how it turned out, I think it fits very well above the shelf. The map looks very nice in the frame, it covers many places including villages, hills, mountains, lochs and more. Of course all in Gaelic, as that’s the whole point of the map. The speech bubble is a lamp (hence the cable), but it didn’t look very nice switched on for a picture, so I turned it off (it looks very nice otherwise and is lit while I’m typing this).
These really are wonderful maps. They are originally produced by @weegingerdug ?
I don’t know, all I know is that she was selling them at a good rate. But could well be, as he did create various maps.
Looks great Armin. And very useful too. Love the lamp! I suppose you have one too @RatherBeOnIslay?
He did some for Islay but I think they sold out. There are others on his website.
Unfortunately no. Hope I can get one next time I visit.
Are you talking about the map or the lamp?
The map, although the lamp would be really cool too!
The latter will be a challenge, as it can’t be bought in that form. I found the lamp in one shop, the power supply in another (otherwise it runs on batteries) and added the text myself.
Business opportunity?
Not sure how big the market is and how much effort it would be to build these at volume in consistent quality?
Came to read about the map and was in awe of the fine selection of spirits on display. 🙂
I can’t seem to get anyone in the family to drink a Laphroaig or Ardeg.
Do they know what they’re missing out on?
Laphroaig was the first distillery I visited on Islay, well before there was a visitor centre and before the Friends of Laphroaig plot numbers hit the 6 digit mark