Hugh Smith’s letter from Islay
Chambered cairn
STANDING on the slope of a low hill called Creag Mhòr at Cragabus on the Oa peninsula are the remains of a Neolithic chambered cairn which was probably built between 3,500BC and 3,000BC.
Sadly, part of the structure has been destroyed to accommodate a track which once led to a quarry.
The cairn is covered with turf and its design is usually referred to as a Clyde type, a style commonly used throughout the south-west of Scotland for similar features.
This type of cairn normally consists of a semi-circular forecourt at one end, fronted by two large stones, which are described as portal stones, and the galleried grave chamber is often divided into separate compartments by vertical slabs.
The Cragabus cairn was aligned on an east-west axis with the chamber at the east end of the structure. Around three metres east of the chambered cairn is a large standing stone which measures 1.8m and specialists believe this was one of the two portal stones at the site.
This would suggest the cairn was around 26ft long and contained at least four compartments. Only one of these compartments has survived. It measures 16ft in length and both its width and depth measure 3.5ft.
Excavations at the site, including those carried out by the eminent archaeologist and physician Dr Thomas Bryce in 1901, unearthed animal bones as well as beaker pottery and flint flakes. These finds are now held by the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.
Cragabus is one of seven such tombs on the island.
Festive gin
A NEW island gin will be officially launched at Fèis Ìle 2018, Islay’s annual music and malt festival, which runs in venues throughout the island from May 26 to June 2.
The new spirit, called Nerabus Gin, is a family-run venture operated by Drs Audrey and John Gow and is produced in premises near their home at Nerabus on the Rhinns perninsula.
The new product is made with Islay water fused with island heather. This contrasts with the other Islay-made gin, Bruichladdich Distillery’s Botanist, which consists of 22 different botanicals. Lussa Gin, distilled on neighbouring Jura, features 15 botanicals.
The Nerabus launch will take place at Bruichladdich village hall at 1pm on May 28.
Other festival highlights include an appearance by comedian and broadcaster Fred MacAulay and an evening with whisky bard Robin Laing. Other performers will be Reely Jiggered, Islay High School Trad Band, Dougal’s Jumper, with its cosy Celtic style and young Argyll band Heron Valley.
Regular favourite events include the whisky nosing evening at Port Ellen, the clootie dumpling ceilidh at a new setting in Islay House Square, and a now sold out folk night at Ardbeg Distillery. Throughout the festival week, island distilleries will hold open days with a host of activities and entertainment on offer.
Fèis Ìle remains the most ambitious and well-supported event on the island’s social calendar.
It continues to attract worldwide support which results in the local population being almost trebled.
The festival was established in 1984 and has since gone from strength to strength. Thankfully, there is no sign of the interest and support abating.
African trip
EVERYONE is invited to Bowmore Baptist Church at 7.30pm tomorrow (Friday April 20), to hear two local doctors, Grace Gibson and Jess Cooper, describe their recent experiences while working for the Leith-based international charity the Vine Trust in Tanzania, and particularly on islands in Lake Victoria.
This should be an interesting evening as access to health care in such regions is most challenging and very different from the medical services available in the Western Isles of Scotland.
Hugh Smith, 4 Flora Street, Bowmore, Islay, PA43 7JX, telephone: 01496 810658.