This Is Islay

In this episode, This Is Islay's Richard Mansbridge is in conversation with David Protherough, a Senior Coastguard Operation Officer with responsibility for Islay, Jura and Colonsay. We learn what happens when the call comes, and the role of the Coastguard working in conjunction with RNLI and other emergency services, to perform critical work in the waters around Islay and beyond, and support...

Continuing our collaboration with Islay primary schools, this episode features the students across Port Ellen Primary discussing their favourite fact-finding books, as well as characters from their most-loved storybooks. Students also offer their reading recommendations to their friends and classmates. Recorded in April 2026. (Part 2 of 2) Acknowledgements: Many thanks to Amy Hannett, and other st...

Marking the new school year, and continuing our collaboration with Islay primary schools, this episode features the students across Port Ellen Primary discussing their favourite fact-finding books, as well as characters from their most-loved storybooks. Students also offer their reading recommendations to their friends and classmates. Recorded in April 2026. (Part 1 of 2) Acknowledgements: Many th...

Discover what makes the Islay Book Festival unique.  In this episode, This Is Islay's Jolyon Thurgood chats with Charlène Busali, Creative Director of the 2026 Islay Book Festival, We learn about the book creators and special guests who make up the festival and how its events engage the Islay community and visitors alike. The 2026 Islay Book Festival takes place 27-30 August. We also feature i...

In this episode, a group of students from Islay High School have created their own podcast. They did so as part of their journalism and media studies, as a result of a two day Media Skills programme sponsored at the High School by the National Union of Journalists and led by Fiona Macdonald, a well known BBC broadcaster and journalist with the World Service. During the workshop, she worked closely...

This episode launches a new four-part series on Caring for Older People . Part 1 –  Policies, People & Partnerships  - lays out the care framework by providing an overview of how national and local policies and services impact our lives as we get older, through Scottish Government policies for older people and the role of the local Health and Social Care Partnership. Acknowledgments: Hosts: Je...

In this episode, This Is Islay's Jean MacLellan is in conversation with Mairi McCuaig, manager of Argyll College on Islay, part of the University of the Highlands and Islands and offering further and higher education across Argyll. The conversation also include Andrew Davis, a Social Sciences lecturer at Argyll College, and student Angela. Acknowledgements: Host: Jean MacLellan For UHI Argyll:...

In this episode, we meet with Malcolm Ogilvie, Deputy Chair of the Museum of Islay Life, and the Museum Manager, Christine McPhie. We learn about the origins of the Museum in Port Charlotte, and take a tour of its highlights. Find out more at https://www.islaymuseum.org Acknowledgments: Many thanks to Malcolm Ogilvie and Christine McPhie of the Museum of Islay Life for spending time with us to sha...

Continuing our collaboration with primary schools on Islay, this episode features the students of Primary 1 and 2 and their older students of Primary 6 and 7, together with staff at Port Ellen Primary School, discussing the Vikings. What did we know before and what did we learn? One thing we know for certain: helmets worn by Vikings did not have horns. Acknowledgements: Many thanks to the staff an...

Continuing our collaboration with primary schools on Islay, this episode features students and staff at Port Ellen Primary School discussing "Marvellous Materials". Acknowledgements: Many thanks to the staff and students of Port Ellen Primary School who contributed to this episode through recordings made at the school. Music : ⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠ - 335607-Happy Kids Cartoon For This Is Islay p...

Continuing our series on housing on Islay, Tom, Russell and Jean review our coverage to date, and discuss in more detail current housing demand on Islay and recent allocations at the new Port Charlotte housing development, using the results of a Freedom of Information Request from HomeArgyll.  Hosts : Jean MacLellan, Tom O'Farrell and Russell Pollock Production: Tom O'Farrell

After six years, This Is Islay has reached 50 episodes. To mark the occasion, Tom O'Farrell assembled the team in the studio where we discussed our journey to become Highlands and Islands Media Awards Podcast of the Year, how we've grown, and our plans for the future. Acknowledgements: The This Is Islay team would like to offer our listeners, guest hosts, guests, and the people of Islay an...

This is the second of two episodes based on a conversation with Dr Margaret Storrie recorded in October 2025. In this episode, Margaret reveals how she first discovered Islay as a student, and recalls the path which led her via London back to Islay, and then to the publishing of her first book " Islay: Biography of an Island " in 1981 - currently available in its third edition. Margaret Storrie is...

In this episode, Dr Margaret Storrie talks about her latest book, focussing on the unconventional life of Lady Charlotte Bury Campbell, who was known as a notorious diarist (think Lady Whistledown) in the time of George IV, a popular novelist and mother of 11. Lady Charlotte's oldest son was Walter Frederick Campbell, who became Laird of Islay and named Port Charlotte after his mother. Margare...

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...

Continuing our collaboration with primary schools on Islay, this episode features students and staff at Port Ellen Primary School discussing neurodiversity, school houses (Orsay, Texa and Nave) and the Gold: Rights Respecting School Award (RRSA), awarded by UNICEF UK. Acknowledgements: Many thanks to the staff and students of Port Ellen Primary School who contributed to this episode through record...

This episode is released today to mark Catriona Bell's 90th birthday - Happy Birthday from This Is Islay! Catriona is well known on Islay for her various contributions to the community over many years. Continuing our conversation with Catriona, in this episode she describes the long path leading to success getting Islay its first indoor swimming pool, as well as the very early days of the Ilea...

We continue our exploration of local housing issues on Islay and Jura. This time Russell discusses the core issue of land ownership and particularly the role of community buyouts with Lesley Riddoch, the award-winning broadcaster, journalist, author, cyclist, land reform campaigner and lover of all things Nordic. For all our podcasts, visit thisisislay.co.uk Featuring Guest : Lesley Riddoch lesley...

This Is Islay continues the conversation on housing issues on Islay, exploring the unique challenges and issues which face individuals and families seeking a place to live in our island community. In this episode, we share the perspective of local housing builder, MacLeod Construction, who holds multiple contracts with housing associations on Islay as well as elsewhere across Argyll and Bute. Glen...

In a conversation with Jean MacLellan, Kate Skinner tells us about the Coop's history with Fairtrade, and how Fairtrade and buying Fairtrade products makes a difference all over the world. Fairtrade Fortnight in 2025 runs from September 22nd to October 5th, with special promotions in the Coop and online. As Kate says: "I'd be dressing a banana". Find out more by following @Coop Kate and visit http...

In this episode, This Is Islay gives an update on music events coming up this month and beyond, and talks to Jazz Scotland about the Caol Ila Islay Jazz Festival taking place September 19-21 2025: 21 events, 9 venues across Islay. Caol Ila Islay Jazz Festival - September 19-21 Islay Local Mod / Mod Ile - September 20 Jura Music Festival - September 26-28 The Islay Sessions - November 9-11 Acknowle...

This Is Islay turns to the issue of housing on Islay, exploring the unique challenges and issues which face individuals and families seeking a place to live in our island community. In this episode, the first of a multi-part series, Glen Roberts speaks with local councillor Dougie McFadzean who tells us how many people are on the housing waiting list, how the points system works, how many new hous...

This Is Islay's Jean MacLellan in conversation with Charlène Busali, Chair of Islay Book Festival, discussing the festival programme, authors, events and activities. The 2025 Islay Book Festival takes place across Islay 28-31 August. For more information visit https://islaybookfestival.co.uk or find "Islay Book Festival" on Facebook. This Is Islay is a volunteer-led podcast which cel...

The Rhinns Lighthouse was engineered by Robert Stevenson and became operational in 1825. To mark its 200th birthday, local communities have organised the Rhinns Lighthouse Festival to take place over the weekend of August 8-10, 2025. To learn more about the festivities, Jolyon Thurgood met with Mairi Trawber and Angus Ferguson, members of the Festival Committee. Acknowledgements: Mairi Trawber and...

Catriona Bell is well known on Islay for her various contributions to the community over many years. She was one of those who set up and managed The Ileach in its early days and she played a significant role in the establishment of our swimming pool. In this first conversation for the This is Islay podcast Catriona recounts being born in Brora in Sutherland, coming to Islay to teach in the High Sc...