On Friday, Jamie McGrigor, Highlands & Islands Conservative MSP, spent the day on Islay carrying out visits and holding meetings with constituents. He was accompanied by local Community Councillor Alastair Redman.
For the trip, Jamie flew Glasgow - Islay - Glasgow.
During his visit, Jamie went to Islay High School, afterwards attending the opening of the new Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) affordable homes at Church Way in Port Ellen before touring the Kilchoman Distillery.
Above: The Inner Harbour, Port Askaig, Isle of Islay (Photo: Colin Hunter Freelance)
Speaking after his visit to the island, Jamie said:
“I had a very useful and productive trip to Islay.
“I had a most informative meeting with Islay High School headteacher Joanne Holmes, and subjects for discussion included the challenges of recruiting qualified staff on islands, making the most of budgets, transport of children within the island, the school’s charity work and a desire to modernise the building and facilities. I was highly impressed by Mrs Holmes’ enthusiasm and professional attitude.
“I was delighted to meet many constituents, as well as representatives of Macleod Construction who completed the scheme, at the opening of the new affordable homes at Church Way in Port Ellen which will make wonderful homes. Having seen inside one house, I was very impressed by the quality of the workmanship and warmth of the dwellings due to excellent insulation. Good insulation is so important, and I have repeatedly raised the need to improve the insulation of homes in the Highlands & Islands with the Scottish Government.
"Bowmore Primary School Gaelic Choir provided first-class entertainment at the opening with their haunting and inspirational melodies, despite the cold and windy weather, and, having heard them, it is not surprising to learn how well they did at the Mod. It was nice to enjoy refreshments afterwards at the recently refurbished Islay Hotel, which is an excellent facility.
"I then travelled to Kilchoman Distillery, which is unique in that some of the whisky it produces is made from local barley, from the farm, which is steeped and malted on the premises and produces a wonderful artisanal whisky of superb quality. Visiting (Kilchoman) is another wonderful Islay experience for tourists and for followers of the whisky trail alike; although smaller it is significantly different from the other distilleries, and I was very grateful to the manager, John MacLellan, for a thoroughly educational tour and a taste of the whisky itself at the end of the tour. Islay is the island with the most distilleries and produces a significant part of the whisky exports vital to Scotland’s economy.
“The air service to and from Islay was very efficient and comfortable, and is a great example of connectivity, as it was possible to go to Islay early in the morning, do a full day’s work, and then get back in the evening”.