Colonsay and Oransay are to benefit from a successful area based bid by the Nadair Trust. The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has made a grant of £2m towards a programme of 32 projects from a variety of groups from the islands of Mull, Coll, Tiree, Lismore, Islay, Jura as well as our own. The total cost of all the projects will be £3.36m with contributions expected from SNH, AIE, A&B Council, Historic Scotland, the Tourist Board and from private and charitable sources.

Four of these projects relate to Colonsay and Oronsay and these amounts to total expenditure over the next few years of between £250 and £300 thousand. The newly formed Colonsay Community Development Company is the lead partner in an ambitious Rhodedendron Clearance project, which will eradicate the invasive Ponticum completely from the island. This shrub, which has been spreading out from the woodland garden area around Colonsay House for the last hundred years has now taken hold in large areas of hill where it is threatening other plants, insects and birds. This project will take more than 10 years to be completed, though the most concentrated effort and work will take place in the early years. As well as having an environmental impact this project will also bring social and economic benefit to the island in the form of significant employment opportunity, with which training will be associated. The Community Company also has the opportunity to produce a new leaflet introducing visitors to the natural, archaeological and cultural heritage of Colonsay and Oronsay.

Oronsay Estate has been awarded funds towards fairly major preservation work on the fabric of the Priory and RSPB has been offered money towards development of new habitats for corncrake, chough and other species at their Oronsay Reserve, under a land and country management scheme.

The national press has highlighted various aspects and selected individual projects within the whole Nadair programme - the most interesting of these others to Colonsay is probably the idea of a floating classroom that will tour the area educating us all about local marine species.

About fifty people have become shareholders in the new Community Company, which has been formed to operate or facilitate business activities which will benefit the island; such projects as Petrol and Diesel supply, ongoing proovision of an Island Shop, Ponticum Eradication (see above!) etc. have been mooted.

On 21st November, the 1st AGM was held, at which the Steering Board stood down and made way for an elected body. Eight board members were to be appointed and some 60% of the shareholders were present or had appointed proxies. The difficulty was to make a selection from the outstanding panel of twelve potential candidates.

Eventually, those present had to harden their hearts and make a decision; the directors appointed were:
Christine Bailey, Christa Byrne, Iain Brown (Vice Chairman), John Currie, Nigel Grant, Duncan MacDougall (Chairman), Angus MacFadyen (Director of Finance), Seamus McNeill.

Those of us to be just pipped at the post were:
Kevin Byrne, Rhona Grant, Georgina Hobhouse, Alex Howard.

How does that Millwall Supporters song go again….?

As Hughie McNeill was heading home after the Community Company meeting at the Hall on 21 November, he was startled to notice an upturned vehicle in the ditch opposite the quarry. Because of the darkness and difficult conditions it was difficult to know if there was any casualty in or about the site, so the Emergency Services were contacted. (Almost?) all the members of the Fire Brigade were immediately paged and made their way to the station, where briefing details of the incident awaited them.

The Fire Engine and equipment was at the scene within minutes, and the rest of the team had assembled within a very short period. It was encouraging to find that the system worked efficiently, and particularly pleasing to find that nobody had been hurt. There are slightly worrying rumours that two members of the Brigade were not paged, and it would be good to be able to scotch these in a future issue.

Only the other day, Millie Howard was saying that you should not drive onto the verges; this incident just goes to show how right she is. Keep off the grass.

The Colonsay Young Farmers Club has recently secured Leader II funds of around £700, through AIE, to purchase games and sports equipment for islanders to use in the new Hall. The Young Farmers had to raise a further £300 themselves which they achieved with the help of several other local groups, including the Colonsay Gun Club. Young - and even old - farmers can now meet once a week in the Hall to use the darts board, and the pool and ping-pong tables. Badminton and an exercise bike will also be available. Everybody and anybody will be welcome. There is an idea that table tennis tournaments might be organised for wet weekends or evenings in the summer, since this is definitely a sport for all! This is another good example of what can be achieved when different groups within the community pool their resources.

With the financial help of the Carnegie Trust and AIE and a huge contribution from Netta, the Hall Committee have recently bought a complete set of stage lights - two stands each with three adjustable spots, all connected to a main switch board for easy operation. The system also includes two fixed lights for immediately above the stage; one of these will provide general stage light and the other a central spot. Netta's special contribution is that she will herself make up the new stage curtains, which are part of the whole project. The curtain rail is already fixed and Netta and Hazel have been in the Hall, cutting the lengths of material, which is in "port" coloured velour (with a black lining). These curtains and the new lights will get their first use at the Kilchattan School pantomime in December. Last week, the first of two One-Act plays for first performance around Easter time was agreed upon and parts allocated. The second play will be chosen soon and rehearsals will start in the new year.

Here is a picture of Audrey and Stephen's new baby - a little boy called Kieran. We do not have a picture yet, but Lorraine had a baby girl this week as well, called Holly. Both mothers and both babies are doing well and in great form.

A recent correspondent to "The Oban Times" referred to "booming" Colonsay, and her remark was in tune with what we hear from IaaO and AIE. During this year we have seen £1.05m spent on water, £93,000 on shellfish development, £50,000 on an extension to the Pantry, £370,000 on a new Village Hall and a flood of private investment represented by seven new houses, an extension to 1 Glassard and extensive improvements to 5 Glassard. The Enterprise company has purchased development sites from Colonsay Estate and the current phase of work in Oransay has also been completed. All told, something over £2.5m. has been invested, or approximately £50,000 per household.

By all accounts, this level of investment will be maintained or exceeded in 2001. The purchase of the airstrip and upgrading of both strips, together with the capitalized costs involved in the air service itself, will cost in excess of £1m. At least seven new houses are known to be planned, with rumours of two more and a substantial extension. Two industrial units are to be built, there is talk of improvements to commercial premises, a new petrol pump is planned and it seems likely that there will be substantial investment if a Community Shop is created. There is even talk of an extension to the new hall, to create "surgery" facilities for visiting officials.

The IaaO website reads as follows: "For the last twelve months or so Colonsay Iomairt aig an Oir has been trying to make headway with the two issues identified in the community audit as fundamental to the islands development, transport and housing.

And there has been progress. Highlighting the problems of a ferry service, which is at best one ferry a week short, has led to a serious investigation into the possibility of regular flights to the island. A proposal is due to go before the Scottish Executive in June. Initial reactions to the idea seem very positive both on and off the island. This is of course dependent on the island agreeing a suitable timetable and fare structure, which has not yet been put to the community.

As for housing… At a recent meeting Scottish Homes acknowledged the need for more housing association houses to be built. Therefore a proposal to build 4 houses in the plots acquired for the community by Highlands and Islands Enterprise Community Land Unit (in April 2000) is to be put together. Alongside this, the Argyll and the Islands Enterprise are to build workshop spaces, which was also identified by the local community as a specific need.

And it doesn't end there… the local development company is soon to be established (just waiting on the formalities being sorted out) which in turn will provide the facility for such other possible projects as a community petrol pump and any other future community business ideas to come into being."

This is all very encouraging, but is there a danger that the trees may begin to obscure our view of the wood? The apparent creation of "up to three new jobs" (AIE Annual Report) in connection with the Pantry extension leads one to question whether the official line is based on hope rather than experience. It prompted the following attempt to analyze the actual effect of the £2.5m. which was invested in 2000, as an alternative to counting the chickens which are promised for 2001.

In November 1999, there were 114 residents in 54 household units, whereas there are now 115 residents, still in 54 units. In the interim there has been a certain amount of "churning", but of the inhabitants here in 1999, one has passed away and eight have left the island. Of those who left the island, all were of working age or younger; those who replace them include two pensioners. All eight of the other new arrivals may be said to be here on work-related postings. (Note: one of the eight has left since this article was prepared).

One effect of the new housing is to have broadened the ownership base, whilst another has been to concentrate the occupied properties more closely. When all the new-build houses are occupied, the effect will be as follows (exc. Flats etc.), with the situation last year in parentheses:

Thus, taken by district, there is a broader base of ownership; even taking the island as a whole (and so eliminating multiple ownerships), there are a total of 44 freeholdings to date. The patterns of ownership and residency have become very marked - Scalasaig and Glassard, with "Greater" Kilchattan, accounts for 37 of the permanent homes (68%) and 35 of the 44 individual freeholdings (79%). Most of the houses planned for the coming year will be built within the same confines. Large areas of the island are now deserted.

One result of the above analysis is to reveal that the number of occupied dwellings has actually fallen from 58 to 56 in the current year, a fall of 3%; and that the number of conventional homes used for other purposes has rocketed from 37 to 46, an increase of 24%. A year ago, 62% of the housing stock was in fulltime occupation, whereas now it is only 45%.

These figures do not reflect a healthy situation. Bearing in mind the aging population and the substantial proportion of "uncommitted" residents within the working sector of the population, it may be far to soon to say that Colonsay is "booming", or that it has yet turned any corner. The investment to date and in the coming year is absolutely essential, and more than welcome; hopefully it will have the desired effect in due course. Meantime it will be important to ensure that mainland agencies do not become complacent - throwing money at the island is not the complete answer to its needs.

Astronomy is a science for any age group. Everyone can observe the beauties and mysteries of the night sky - you have only to stand and stare at our celestial dome to enjoy these wonders. There is much to see - constellations, planets, the moon, meteor showers, to name but a few.

The Solstice occurs on December 21st and on that date the sun is furthest south in its annual path around the sky. In the U.K. the nights are at their longest and days at their shortest (although in the southern hemisphere it is the other way round). So now is the ideal time to start stargazing.

Orion is one of the most magnificent and prominent constellations of the winter skies. The figure of Orion striding through the December sky is one of the most familiar. Orion was a great hunter, the son of Poseidon and the sea-nymph Euryale. As a hunter of great prowess, he boasted he would rid the world of all animals - hence his club, raised against Taurus ("The Bull"), the neighbouring constellation. In response, the earth goddess Gala sent a scorpion to sting him, with the result that Orion and Scorpius are now kept well apart, on opposite sides of the sky.

To the naked eye, Orion's most distinctive feature is the group of three stars that form the hunter's belt; just below the belt is the Great nebula, a slightly misty patch where fresh stars are being born. In the northeastern corner of Orion are the shoulders, one of which is marked by Betelgeuse, a vast red Supergiant thirty times larger than our own sun; although it is a variable star, it is easily identified by its red colour.

On Orion's other side, at his knees, there is Rigel, a blue-white Supergiant with 60,000 times the luminosity of our sun. Going back to Orion's Belt and following it downwards and to the left in a straight line, you find Sirius in Canis Major, the brightest star in the sky. Sirius is pure white but, because of the thick layer of the earth's atmosphere, it seems to flash in various colours.

Going back to Betelgeuse and, in a straight line again, continue the line of the shoulders up to the left, until you reach two stars in a northeastward line. They are Gemini ("The Twins"), Castor and Pollux, and from them you can enjoy an annual meteor shower on December 13th and 14th. You may be lucky - if conditions are perfect you may see 60 meteors per hour.

When and where will you observe all these beautiful sights? Orion and his retinue can be seen any night from December until March (weather permitting). On December 5th at 10.00 p.m. Orion will be fully visible if you look to the east. Wrap up warm.

Irene Campbell ("absolute amateur astronomer").

An excellent dinner was served in the New Hall; Christa Byrne prepared the first course (mackerel etc.), Ross Moodie followed on with a carrot soup, and Lucy McNeill undertook the main course, beef, potatos etc.; the finishing touch - profiteroles - came courtesy of Diane Clark. Angus MacPhee did sterling service with the wines, and a good time was had by one and all.

It was unfortunate that the tide and wind conspired against the Oransay contingent, but they were better late than never. A pity to have missed the meal and cabaret, but at least there was still some wine.

Website to explore: Scotland's Birlinn

A message from Susie, who keeps us informed about Eileach, the birlinn (a.k.a "The Highland Galley"), which has been a regular visitor to Colonsay. There are great plans for dicumentary work in 2001, and at least one Colonsay resident is guiltily aware of work to be done.

"Hi Kevin, we are putting up a new web-site this week. We have a new (and gifted) web-master. He is Roland Groen - address rongroen@zeelandnet.nl The old site (with blue background) will be taken down and the new one launched at the same address www.galley.freeuk.com We would like to put in links to your site etc The temporary address for site under construction is www zeeuwsemedia.net/galley."

Regulars

Readers Write

One message was received that caused something of a flurry, since it carried a virus called "navidad". It was a complete pest and I am most grateful to Dominic Cornford for sorting it out, and to Rhona Grant for downloading the necessary patch. I am told that the best information about it is posted on the Macafee site (appropriately enough).

Many thanks to Madeline Solomon for her detailed paper "Wetland Development or Woodland Disturbance? A Pollen and Microscopic Charcoal Analysis of an Apparent Woodland Decline at Loch Cholla, Colonsay, Scotland ca. 7800 BP." It is not easy going, but Madeline has kindly offered a summary for the non-specialist reader in due course. The paper reveals evidence of fire in the study period, but apparently the cause is uncertain and there is no evidence to support a suggestion that fire was used to manage hazelnut production. The information on plant species and relative strengths is intriguing and interested persons are welcome to consult these findings.

Grateful thanks also for the copy of "Transatlantic Studies", Will Kaufman and Heidi Slettedahl MacPherson, University Press of America ISBN 0 7618 17905. Chapter 5, "National Culture of Mobility: The Colonsay-Canada Connection" by John W Sheets is an outstanding contribution to our understanding of the "Diaspora" issue. It would be excellent to be allowed to reproduce it here, and a request for permission has been made to the publishers; in the meantime, islanders are welcome to borrow the volume and readers elsewhere will be able to obtain it through the usual channels.

"Dear Corncrake - I was interested to read a report of a red headed bunting being seen on Colonsay in an edition of Corncrake a few weeks ago. In 1975 a Schools Hebridean Society expedition recorded the following :

"The most colourful passerine, and the one which caused the most delight, and then controversy over its origin, was a male red headed bunting at Balnahard Farm north of Kiloran Bay. Until recently all British sightings of this Asiatic bunting have been regarded as escapes, but the appearance of them on Fair Isle in autumn has forced some reappraisal of its status in these isles. The Fair Isle birds have been generally immature, and the age of the bird seen on Colonsay, a male in full summer plumage, works against it being a genuinely wild bird from eastern parts."

So it appears the bird has been seen on Colonsay before........I could supply more jottings from these 1970s journals for the magazine section if you like.

The Corncrake is an excellent newsletter! What about a book review?- Isles of the West by Ian Mitchell - it may be controversial but it's not often a book comes out with its first chapter all about Colonsay! Roger Butler"

The following message may be of interest to a wide audience, from MLRamsey:
Date: 13 November 2000 09:07
Subject: MacEvie, 1580s; also O Neill's daughter & Macfie chief, 1500s
>>**** topic 1 - 1500s MacEvie, and Colonsay Macvees etc and the wife of a Macfie chief, Ferdoragh MacEvie of 1580s found by Belinda Mahaffy, Black Rock, Lifford, County Donegal, Ireland in a book, Scots Mercenary Soldiers in Ireland 1565-1603 which is just loaded with people, dates,places it appears from the few pages I have.

McEverye in same book. Also, "Sean O Neil's daughters were as shadowy as his sons. Denis Campbell mentions only one, whom he had by Catherine MacDonald, and who eventually married MacFee of Colonsay. The Lambeth genealogist mentions two."

The author of Scots Mercenary Forces in Ireland, G. Hayes-McCoy also mentions Donald MacEvie, a Scots captain, killed at Bingham's instigation (also 1580s it appears) and Clan Macvee which the author thinks is the "MacEvies or MacFees of Colonsay" & mentions 300 of them and a Neil Oge M'Evee with 100 men and many other people were at The Massacre at Ardnarea, 1586 (Vide p. 174 ante.)

Re population: 1593 Islay had 4,800, Jura 600, Colonsay/Oronsay had 600 & about 800 men were in a rising-out from just those 3 islands

Also mentioned is this "He [the O'Neill] and O Donnell of Tir Chonaill, being determined upon matrimony, sent Ferrall MacEvye and Ferdoragh MacNymye, both members of the Bardic class, the latter having been described in 1563 as "the richest rymer in Ireland,' to Scotland, as the Irish Council put it, `for wives.' A Scottish wife was very desirable for an Ulster chieftain at that time, for a Highland spouse meant Highland aid. O Neil's choice was the Lady Agnes, widow of James MacDonald and daughter of the fourth Earl of Argyll...."

Another quote regarding Ulster and Lord Deputy Russell: "So significant were these movements that Lord Deputy Russell set out from Dublin on March 6th to frustrate them...he sent out Captain Lee against the Scots,....fell upon the Scots camp and completely routed the mercenaries. Two days later Russell attacked Cloghan Castle in Lusmagh on the Little Brosna, where a ward was holding out for O Madden. The thatched roof was fired without difficulty, the castle carried by assault.... On the 13th an unsuccessful search was made on `an Iland a mile distant where it was supposed some of the cotts [small Irish boats - Editor] should be found which the Scotts gott over the Shanon with, ....Among those killed in the castle were four gentlemen from O Rourke's country and an O Conor from Sligo, and there were killed in the attack on the Scots camp another Sligo O Conor and Ferdoragh MacEverye and a MacDonald, captain of the Scots. The whole body thus discomfited was a typical mixed band of local forces and fighting men from O Donnell's command in Ulster and North Connacht stiffened by a body of Redshank Scots."

A chart of O Neils shows Sean the Proud d. 1567 as son of Con Bachach, 1st Earl of Tyrone d. 1559 and 2nd wife dau. of O Neil of Clandeboye, and that Sean the Proud married Catherine, dau of James MacDonald and had two children, 1st, Henry (father of Sir Henry Og) and 2nd, "Dau. m. to MacPhee of Colonsay" The chart shows Con Bachach was son of Con Mor and his first wife, Dau. of Gerald, Earl of Kildare. Con Mor was the son of Henry & his wife Dau. of Thomas Earl of Kildare. This Henry was son of Owen the son of Niall Og the son of Niall Mor, the son of Hugh.

Another chart shows Colla son of Donald d. ante 1585 son of Somhairle Buidhe and his first wife Mary, dau of Con O Neil, 1st Earl of Tyrone (very hard to read but appears to be 1st and can't read the date he died), and that Somhairle Buidhe was son of Alexander Carragh (d. cir 1540) and his wife Catherine MacIan ofArdnamurchan, and that Alexander was son of Eoghan Cathanach & Celia Savage, and that Eoghan was son of Eoghan of Islay & Dau. of O Neil, and that this Eoghan was son of Donald Ballach & Dau of O Donnell, and that he was son of Eoghan Mor & Margaret Bisset, and Eoghan Mor was son of John of the Isles & his 2nd wife Dau. of the Steward of Scotland. John of the Isles was son of Angus Og & Dau. of O Cahan; Angus Og was son of Angus Mor who d. 1300, the son of Donald (a quo Clan Donald)son of Raghnall (Rognvald) a son of Somerled.

[Con Bachach and Alison, a concubine, had Don, and also a Dau. m. to Somhairle Buidhe, and a son Ferdoragh or Mathew, Baron of Duncannon, and a Dau m. to Knight of Dartry, and Sean Gald, and another Dau. m. to Manus O Cahan.]

Con Bachach and first wife Dau. of [the] O Byrne had Pelin who had son Turlough Barshilagh. Con Bachach and his second wife Dau. of O Neil of Clandeboye had Turlough d. 1562, Henry Og, Con Ruadh and the aforementioned Sean the Proud d. 1567, if I read the numbers rightly.

Editor's note: From the above, I now find that my own ancestors are entwined on both sides with the MacPhees; a great deal of the above will be familiar ground to our readers, but the relationships are very interesting. Hayes McCoy's book is the standard authoritative work on the history of Scottish mercenary forces and is available in a superb facsimile edition, bound in full buckram with head and tail bands from Eamonn de Burca, De Burca Rare books, Cloonagashel, 27 Priory Drive, Blackrock, Co Dublin, Ireland. Cost is £35 plus P&P and Visa etc. are accepted (on a 2% premium charge). An outstanding book - mention "The Corncrake".

We will be happy to receive more letters and, as always, the editor would like to hear from anyone who might wish to contribute. Individual articles on news or local events will always be welcome.
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