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Some Islay links for an October Sunday read

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:

The Telegraph boards the well known Flying Dutchman for Learning the science of whisky on a Hebridean cruise
I’m not entirely sure if this is an Islay specific way of making it, but here’s a proper Cock-a-leekie soup recipe
Scotland Outdoors has two podcasts (an hour each, so that should keep you busy for a while), Islay Part 1 and Islay Part 2
But wait, there’s more: Out of Doors, The Island of Islay is another one from BBC Scotland
Camra has a list of Pubs & Clubs around Isle of Islay (not so sure about the clubs bit)
Royal National Mòd Gold Medal winner Ryan Johnston shares his secrets on winning (see also BBC report Lewis and Islay singers win gold at the Mòd in Oban)
A bit of Islay history/archaeology: Rare island find reveals everyday life in ancient Scots kingdom
The last one for today is probably mostly for any Canadian readers I might have (the postage costs to the UK are a prohibitive £27), found via this Threads post are these The Islay Smokeshow Made with Ardbeg Wee Beastie (Box of 6 Cookies)

I hope you found something of interest, please leave your thoughts in the comments.

This Is Islay asks: What Makes Someone an Ileach?

During my walk this morning I finally managed to catch up on some podcast listening, specifically the This is Islay podcast. In the latest episode it raises an interesting and to an extent controversial question: What Makes Someone an Ileach? For some it’s a very narrow definition, for them you have to be born and bred on Islay. Others draw the line far wider and make your connection and integration to the community their criteria.

This Is Islay: What Makes Someone An Ileach?

With most babies being born in Paisley these days instead of on Islay the narrow definition might become challenging in the future. In the podcast they also raise the question of siblings where one was lucky enough to be born on Islay while the other was born in Paisley even if they returned to Islay the next day. Otherwise they both have the same upbringing on Islay. Does that make the latter a lesser Ileach?

A topic that can probably be debated for hours, the podcast is planning to return to it in upcoming episodes.

On a slightly personal note there might be an even narrower definition which could be used: I was born and grew up in Bremen, Germany (although I haven’t lived there for over 30 years now and haven’t been for 7 years). I was very close to be a “Tagenbaren” (or “tagenbarer Bremer”), which is someone born and grown up in Bremen where not only both parents but also all grandparents were born in Bremen. I failed the criteria on account of one of my grandmothers.

Listen to the This Is Islay podcast

Some new media from Islay to write about. Back in August the This is Islay podcast was launched. Its goal is to bring you voices from Islay, news and events with interviews from the community. It is intended for both locals and listeners further afield to give an insight into what is happening on Islay and how the community experienced events. The intention is to complement other news sources (e.g. The Ileach), not to compete with them.

As of writing this two episodes have been published, Welcome to This Is Islay Fàilte a chàirdean and Islay Resilience and A Trip To India. The below embedded player should list and allow you to play the most recent episodes (as of writing this the two mentioned ones):

Pickups For Peace – Beth Newman – This Is Islay

At the end of November 2025, Beth Newman returned from her second visit to Lviv, Ukraine in support of Pickups For Peace, a charity initially organised by Scottish farmers to support Ukraine's fight against the Russian invasion. Beth, Islay's local vet whose practice is based in Bowmore, tells Glen and Jolyon about her experience driving from Islay to western Ukraine in a used pickup (trip 1) and a used van (trip 2), each packed with vital supplies and heading to provide urgently-needed support to the front lines in eastern Ukraine. She also explains how we can each support this charity.For more information, visit https://pickupsforpeace.co.ukOr contact the Islay Vet Surgery by email at vet.islay@gmail.comAcknowledgementsGuest: Beth NewmanMany thanks to Beth for sharing her thoughts about her trips to Ukraine with the Pickups 4 Peace network and the support she received from Islay and Jura residents.Hosts: Glen Roberts and Jolyon ThurgoodMusic : Carol of the Bells – This version is from White_Records on Pixabay 171731 This song is derived from a traditional folk song celebrating New Year, which kids used to sing while walking around the village from one house to another collecting presents and lollies. The original name of the song is "Shchedryk" – generosity in the Ukraine language. Visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OUJLYLtqSs for a traditional version of this song.Production: Jean MacLellan, Greig Barker, Gordon Bermingham and Jolyon Thurgood

I hope you’ll enjoy the podcasts as much as I did and will subscribe to them (I’m using Google Podcasts, which works really well for me, but various other services including Spotify are available). With the latest developments around Covid-19 I found the information about the Islay Resilience Group very interesting and how it will help with possible future developments. But of course there are plenty of other interesting topics as well.

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Pickups For Peace – Beth Newman – This Is Islay

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