So there we are, Christmas 2024 has arrived, Christmas Eve today. Time for some Christmas greetings and more. A selected few have received the physical form of these greetings, unfortunately I couldn’t send them to everyone. This year’s Christmas cards come courtesy of Islay Prints and have a maritime theme:
Christmas Wreath Cards courtesy of Islay Prints
A slightly different take on a Christmas wreath, inspired by the sea all around Islay. And I wrote on these cards to relatives and close friends under the light of the Islay lamps I’ve mentioned previously.
Have a great Christmas, hopefully with a few Islay treats. I’ve got some chocolate from Islay Cocoa and of course some Islay whiskies to open. I haven’t decided which ones yet, but I will aim to share my choices over the coming days. Feel free to share your treats in the comments.
Back in October I shared an interesting 180° VR video from a walk to Ardilistry Bay. I noted that the channel was quite new and wondered if there were going to be further Islay videos. That question has now been answered, as there’s now another video, a video from a boat trip around the Oa:
Scotland Islay Skerries – Wild Marine Music Adventure VR 8K 180 3D
I’m not sure why they say Skerries, as far as I know the cliffs of the Oa are not part of the Skerries. Maybe I’m wrong. Either way, some great views up the cliffs with the American Monument on top, also some interesting views around Soldier’s Rock. Same as with the other video it uses some kind of 180° panoramic technology, meaning you can to an extent change the direction you’re looking.
Over the last few days I’ve seen a few posts, mainly on Facebook, about Crom Dubh na Nollaig, a mystical creature which was used to scare children on Islay to behave around Christmas. Usually the post contained some AI generated image of said creature, so I couldn’t resist to create my own version before we get to what the story behind it is:
Crom Dubh na Nollaig (as imagined by AI)
Usually the story went something like this:
On the Isle of Islay, people once told the story of Crom Dubh na Nollaig, a creature like Krampus, to scare children into behaving at Christmas. Legends said that screams from the chimney marked his arrival, though it was often just the sound of the winter wind. This Scottish Christmas monster is mostly forgotten now, but it was once an important part of the holiday season.
Several Ileach have commented on it, some had heard of it, many others hadn’t. As usual there is some truth in the story:
Back in 1969 Peggy Earl (who passed away in 1978) told Mary MacDonald about celebrating New Year and a Christmas creature:
The contributor says that although New Year was an important celebration, Christmas was also kept. Children were threatened with ‘Crom Dubh na Nollaig’, a creature that howled down the chimney.
I believe the comparison to Krampus is a later addition, but I don’t think it’s right. While Krampus was used to scare Children I think the link is mainly made to get people familiar with the better known Krampus interested.
From some articles I’ve seen the creature isn’t only an Islay story, it seems to also be known in other parts of the Hebrides, possibly also Ireland (if anyone from Ireland reads this and knows, can you let us know in the comments?).
Either way, a story worth preserving, I hope you found it interesting as well.
Found a rather nice Islay and Jura drone video this evening. It was filmed and edited by Phil Curry, you can find quite a few drone videos on his channel, from Scotland and many other places. But as this blog is about Islay (and Islay’s neighbours) we of course focus on this video:
Islay & Jura 2023
Beaches, dolphins, a walking excursion to the Corryvreckan whirlpool north of Jura, lighthouse, hills, many great views of Islay. I hope you enjoyed the video.
With Christmas just around the corner I remembered I should write about an Islay present some of you might like, available at The Celtic House in Bowmore. I came across them during my visit in June and have one hanging on my wall at home. It’s a replica Islay road sign, in my case pointing to Port Charlotte:
Replica Port Charlotte road sign
I think they are really well done, they even have some rust spots even though they are not made of metal. I’ve put it next to my Gaelic map of Islay and Jura:
Replica Port Charlotte road sign next to Islay and Jura map
And they’ve done it again. I’ve shared videos by the BadLads Diving before (eg their tribute to the Otranto), now I’ve come across their 2024 video. Some fantastic views from above and below the water in a variety of locations around Islay, also some wildlife thrown into the mix:
Seaweed & Seals 24
Thanks for sharing these videos, gives us non-divers some great views we would never otherwise experience.
It’s a rather wet October Sunday morning where I’m writing this (and rather breezy on Islay), a good time to stay in for some Islay reading. So here are a variety of links to articles and more I’ve found. I hope you’ll find something interesting:
Something slightly different this evening: I’ve shared quite a few “regular” videos over the years and I’ve also shared a few 360° videos. This one is a 180° VR video, meaning you can zoom in and out a bit and also move your viewport to an extent. The description also mentions 3D, although I haven’t noticed any 3D features. Either way, the video is from a walk to and along Ardilistry Bay on the south coast of Islay:
Scotland Islay Ardilistry Bay – Relaxing Music Virtual Walk 8K 180 3D
This seems to be a quite a new channel with only two videos so far, will be interesting to see if there are going to be further clips from Islay.
Islay is a popular destination for Japanese tourists, in particular the famous whisky distilleries (some of course are Japanese owned). On the YouTube channel 空から世界を見てみたい (which according to Google Translate means “I want to see the world from the sky”) I’ve found a few short drone videos of said distilleries and more taken back in 2019:
LAPHROAIG distillery, Islay Island, Scotland
Quite misty and moody, similar conditions just down the road at Lagavulin and Dunyvaig:
LAGAVULIN distillery, Islay Island, Scotland
A bit brighter slightly further down the road:
ARDBEG distillery, Islay Island, Scotland
Much sunnier at the other end of the island, the new Bunnahabhain visitor centre still under construction then:
BUNNAHABHAIN distillery, Islay Island, Scotland
Back to the other end of the island again, no sign yet of the rebuilt Port Ellen distillery:
PORT ELLEN distillery, Islay Island, Scotland
To close a bit of Islay history:
Kildalton Cross, Islay Island, Scotland
I hope you enjoyed the videos and waved back at them.
Back in June I bought my first Islay cottage. Not one I can stay in, my budget doesn’t stretch that far, only a tiny one I can enjoy looking at standing on my Islay shelf. It comes courtesy of Gordon and Mairi Want’s Islay Celtic Craft Shop. This is how it looks:
Islay Cottage from Celtic Craft (1)
It’s a small cottage at the shore, a rowing boat tied up on a pole just outside. A chimney for the fire of course. You won’t be able to buy this specific one, as each of the cottages they sell is handmade and unique. You can find more of them on their Facebook page (link above) or even better by visiting their shop just outside of Portnahaven on the back road past Kilchiaran to Port Charlotte.
Islay Cottage from Celtic Craft (2)
When you visit the shop you’ll find all kinds of great local art and Islay things. If you’re lucky you also get to meet a very friendly cat (unfortunately can’t remember its name). Not to forget, Gordon was very helpful and found the perfect box to get my cottage home safely.
Oh, and the cottage wasn’t the only thing I bought. But that’s for another post…
