Hogmanay 2011

A new newsletter is available for winter 2011-see the Community page

 

Press release from North West Skye Recreational Association

www.nwsra.org.uk

North West Skye Recreational Association to host a public consultation meeting on the 3^rd December at 3pm at Dunvegan Community Hall

There will be a public consultation meeting on the 3^rd December at 3pm at Dunvegan Community Hall to establish a new community company “North West Skye Recreational Association.”

What is NWSRA all about?

NWSRA is working with people who live in North West Skye and with interested organisations to create and develop amenities for recreation and sport for everyone who lives here. We are working closely with local schools, local community trusts, local businesses, sports organisation and voluntary organisations to support this aim and have already secured significant support which we hope to match with further investment.

What is the need and what would the benefits be?

Nearly 2000 people live in North West Skye, in the communities of Edinbane, Waternish, Dunvegan, Glendale, Struan and Carbost. Whilst village halls, local primary schools and other groups provide fantastic support for these communities’ facilities for recreation and sport are underdeveloped. A recent community consultation recognised the negative impact that a lack of easily accessible facilities for recreation and sport is having on the community, particularly young people. The ideas which gained greatest support through the consultation included an all-weather multi-sports pitch, a youth café and drop-in centre, and an indoor sports facility. The benefits in terms of health, education and community cohesion were also recognised. In addition, with tourism a strong part of our local economy, investment in local recreational and sports facilities would also greatly enhance our local tourism offer and further strengthen the economy in the area.

What do we hope to achieve?

NWSRA is seeking to raise funds to develop a sports and recreation in Dunvegan to provide an all weather sports facility; indoor recreation and sports centre with changing rooms, showers, gym; meeting rooms and café facilities; and flexible facilities including on-line information to provide a focus for recreational group and visitor activities.

Development be modular and will be phased in as funding comes on line.

Our vision is to create an inspirational recreational centre which serves the communities of North West Skye and its visitors well. A place which is an exciting focal point for recreational activities, which is widely used and which contributes effectively to the health, education and well being of the people who live in these communities.

 What has been achieved so far?

We’ve been busy:

• An interim Management Committee has been formed,
• A constitution has been prepared, and the formal arrangements for the Association put in place.
• A public meeting is being arranged to get local people involved in the association and to elect the Management Board.
• Murdo MacLeod has agreed to act as patron and Dave Thompson (MSP) has agreed to support
• The MacLeod Estate working with the Roag Township has offered land as a match for funding conditional on the development going ahead and provided a letter of support
• Dunvegan Community Association has given a grant and is supporting the work of the project
• Dunvegan, Struan, Edinbane and Glendale Community Trusts are also supporting the project
• Waternish Community Association have provided a letter of support
• Local schools and sports associations have been approach and will be directly involved in development of the project.

 

Speaking ahead of the meeting, John Hermse, chairman of the interim management committee said:

“It is vital that we develop a multi-sports facility for the whole community here in North-West Skye. Health and fitness are important to the well being of the community and it is essential that the people of this part of Skye have access to an all year round facility for all kinds of sports be it football, shinty, athletics, gym facilities and so on.

We are delighted that the support that has already been shown for this initiative from many community groups and we are also delighted to have the support of such a well known and regarded football figure that Murdo Macleod is, who has agreed to become our patron.

Now is the time to consult with the wider community.

We want the community of North West Skye, those in Edinbane, Waternish, Dunvegan, Glendale, Struan and Carbost to come and discuss with us their thoughts on this exciting project.

At the meeting on the 3^rd December we will place in front of the community a constitution for the association as well as seeking to elect a management board of nine members.

It is important that all with an interest in the area that have an interest in sport for all and in health and fitness come along to the meeting. Further details of this venture can be obtained by visiting our website at www.nwsra.org.uk or by contacting John Hermse at johnhermse@btconnect.com”

John Hermse can be contacted on 01470 521225 or   johnhermse@btconnect.com

Issued by Ian Blackford on behalf of NWSRA. ian@firstseer.com 01470 511218 

A new newsletter is available for  autumn 2011

Remembrance Sunday 2011

North West Skye Recreational Association – NWSRA

Fit for Life in North West Skye

 

What is NWSRA all about?

NWSRA is working with people who live in North West Skye and with interested organisations to create and develop amenities for recreation and sport for everyone who lives here. We are working closely with local schools, local community trusts, local businesses, sports organisation and voluntary organisations to support this aim and have already secured significant support which we hope to match with further investment.

 

What is the need and what would the benefits be?

Nearly 2000 people live in North West Skye, in the communities of Edinbane, Waternish, Dunvegan, Glendale, Struan and Carbost. Whilst village halls, local primary schools and other groups provide fantastic support for these communities facilities for recreation and sport are underdeveloped. A recent community consultation recognised the negative impact that a lack of easily accessible facilities for recreation and sport is having on the community, particularly young people. The ideas which gained greatest support through the consultation included an all-weather multi-sports pitch, a youth café and drop-in centre, and an indoor sports facility. The benefits in terms of health, education and community cohesion were also recognised. In addition, with tourism a strong part of our local economy, investment in local recreational and sports facilities would also greatly enhance our local tourism offer and further strengthen the economy in the area.

 

What do we hope to achieve?

NWSRA is seeking to raise funds to develop a sports and recreation in Dunvegan to provide an all weather sports facility; indoor recreation and sports centre with changing rooms, showers, gym; meeting rooms and café facilities; and flexible facilities including on-line information to provide a focus for recreational group and visitor activities.

 

Development be modular and will be phased in as funding comes on line.

 

Our vision is to create an inspirational recreational centre which serves the communities of North West Skye and its visitors well. A place which is an exciting focal point for recreational activities, which is widely used and which contributes effectively to the health, education and well being of the people who live in these communities.

 

 

What has been achieved so far?

We’ve been busy:

• An interim Management Committee has been formed,
• A constitution prepared, and the formal arrangements for the Association put in place.
• A public meeting is being arranged to get local people involved in the association and to elect the Management Committee. This will take place at the Dunvegan Hall on the 12^th November at 3pm to which all are welcome to attend.
• Murdo MacLeod has agreed to act as patron and Dave Thompson (MSP) has agreed to support
• The MacLeod estate working with the Roag Community has offered land for development and provided a letter of support
• Dunvegan Community Association has given a grant and is supporting the work of the project
• Struan, Edinbane and Glendale Community Trusts are also supporting the project
• Waternish Community Association have provided a letter of support
• Local schools and sports associations have been approach and will be directly involved in development of the project.

 

 

 

The Blas festival which ran from the 9-17th September graced Glendale with an opening night ceilidh at Borrodale School on Friday 8th September,

Blas had decided to celebrate the Year of Scotland’s Islands by showcasing much of the best of Gaelic singing from the highlands and islands together with traditional accompaniment.

The Glendale Ceilidh was much enjoyed by the large audience that came along to Borrodale School. We listened to musical accompaniment from Ian and Murdo Cameron who hail from Glenelg whilst we heard from three truly outstanding Gaelic singers, John “Seonaidh Beag” MacMillan, Mary Smith and Chrissie MacVicar.

A wonderful evening of great entertainment was to be had and we certainly look forward to welcoming the Blas festival back to Glendale next year.

After the success of the first Glendale Homecoming there was a clearly expressed opinion that the event should be put on again but in an extended format running from the Thursday evening until the Sunday, from the 21-24th July. Positive feedback from last year’s event encouraged the local community, Diaspora and tourists to join in this year’s events in even greater numbers.

The homecoming began with a Gaelic service in the Free Church of Scotland in Glendale where the service was led by Rev. Neil Maclean who was born and brought up in Lower Milovaig. It was a joy to see so many participating in the service and the wonderful sound of the psalm singing as well as the fine words of the homecoming service to open the homecoming weekend.

Friday so the heritage exhibition acting as the focal point for the day. As well as our own expanded Glendale exhibition we were blessed by having the archive centre in Portree also coming along for the day and exhibiting their material on Glendale. In reality they have so much which is a joy to explore that one day does not do the material justice. We are grateful for the continued co-operation and support from the archive centre who have also granted us the loan of the Skye War exhibition for the summer.

In what was a fine summer’s day, indeed good weather was a feature of the homecoming weekend, Elizabeth Ann MacDonald last year’s winner of the fishing competition, retained her title this year. Iain Morrison, formerly of Lower Milovaig had sadly passed away shortly before the homecoming and we were honoured that his family donated the trophy for the winner of the fishing competition. The cup for winning the fishing competition is now aptly named the “Iain Morrison Memorial Cup.” Iain of course was a very keen fisherman.

Late Friday afternoon was the time for the annual “Glendale Lecture” which we are indebted to the Free Church who granted permission for this to take place in the church, a most apt venue for such an event. A good audience listened to the renowned author Andy Wightman talk about his latest book “The poor had no lawyers” and to discuss the land issue more generally.

After dining on traditional fayre at the exhibition, Friday evening allowed us to enjoy our traditional Gaelic ceilidh. The ceilidh was produced by Feisean Nan Gaidheal, showcasing much of the emerging musical talent we have in Skye and Lochalsh. The evening was superbly hosted by Alan Campbell of Colbost.  The venue was full to bursting and the audience certainly seemed to appreciate the quality of entertainment that they enjoyed. A most memorable evening.

The activity for Saturday morning was a walk to Lorgill from Ramasaig and unlike last year was done in agreeable weather. It was a most pleasant way to spend a Saturday morning. After lunch Sam Thorburn hosted a demonstration of sheep shearing at the Waterstein fank.

The annual football match for “The Glendale Cup” took place in the afternoon when Glendale took on the rest of the world, although in reality in this case the Row was Dunvegan FC! There was a fantastic turnout and no less than 20 players wanting to turn out for Glendale! We had a marvellous start when Glendale took the lead although it was difficult having done this in the first couple of minutes to hang on for the rest of the game! Superior fitness took its toll and despite Glendale being allowed to bring on subs without taking anyone off we could not match the rest of the world. In the end the rest of the world won a penalty shut out. One wag was heard to proclaim at least Dunvegan had won some silverware this season!

With the sporting activities at a close, it was on to the ceilidh at the hall where we were entertained by the Ardmore ceilidh band. The hall was packed for what was a marvellous night.

Most aptly the homecoming weekend was closed with a service at the Free Church on Sunday morning when the service was led by the Rev Donald G MacDonald of Borreraig.

The homecoming weekend has become a very popular event in Glendale, we look forward to seeing everyone back again in 2012!