Western Isles
BALLOT papers for postal voters in the Western Isles have started arriving on doormats, ready for the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election on Thursday May 4.
Malcolm Burr, returning officer for Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, said: ‘For this election, you must vote using numbers. You will need to number the candidates in order of preference using 1, 2, 3 and so on – and you can make as many or as few choices as you wish. When you receive your postal voting pack, make sure you read and follow the instructions carefully before completing your ballot paper. Postal ballot papers must be received by the returning officer by 10pm on May 4.’ ON SATURDAY April 29 between noon and 4pm, An Lanntair will launch its Fèill Ceàird is Còcairachd (Craft and Cookery Festival).
This is a free festival throughout offering a fabulous tour of food and craft from the diverse island communities of the Outer Hebrides. Visitors will be able to sample world cuisines from the Minch to Mumbai in a fun-filled day of cooking demonstrations, food tasters and Hebridean craft stalls, highlighting the quality of handmade crafts to be found on a journey through the islands. Marking a season of ‘craft’ at An Lanntair, and with the aim of supporting and celebrating craft practitioners from the Outer Hebrides, a wide range of high quality local professional artists, designers and makers have been invited to exhibit and show demonstrations. Exhibitors will include Uist Wool, Scalpay Linen, The Birlinn Yarn Company, Driftwater Weaves, Solus Studio, Shoreline Stoneware, Borgh Pottery, The Middle Room, Lewis Revival, Verisimilitude, Islewear, Salka Seaglass Jewellery, The Old Leatherworks and Hebridean Baskets. This project forms part of An Lanntair’s Bealach Programme for the Creative Place Awards 2015. AN EXHIBITION will visit both Museum nan Eilean premises this year, in partnership with National Museums Scotland.
Fossil Hunters provides a glimpse of life around 360 million years ago when Scotland lay south of the equator. It showcases fossils discovered in Scotland as recently as summer 2015 which were formed from animals believed to be among the first vertebrates to live on land.
The exhibition will be open at Museum nan Eilean Lews Castle until July 26. Fossil Hunters has been curated by National Museums Scotland, one of the key partners in creating the new museum at Lews Castle and continues the partnership by bringing other elements of the national collection to the Outer Hebrides. After the exhibition closes at Museum nan Eilean Lews Castle, it will be shown at Museum nan Eilean Uibhist agus Barraigh from September 8 until December 2.