The Formation of The Glasgow Islay Association

In 1862, at 62 Argyle Street, Glasgow, at the Printing House of Archibald Sinclair, the idea of a Glasgow islay Association took shape. Mr Sinclair was a son of Mulindry, Islay,. He had served an apprenticeship in Campbeltown, worked for a time for Mr William Gilchrist and had started business on his own at Argyle Street

The inaugural meeting of the Association was held in Garrick's Hotel, Stockwell Street. Present among others were Mr Sinclair and his son Archibald, Rev. Robert Blair of St Columba's Church, Thomas Pattison of 'Gaelic Bards' fame, William Gilchrist, printer, John Taylor, John Pinkerton, Hugh Carmichael, Finlay macleod, Joh Sinclair, Duncan Macewan, Donald Carmichael, afterwards Minister of Inveraray, and Dr. William MacDonald, joint author with John Murdoch of 'Sketches of Islay'. Mr Archbald Sinclair became the first President of the Association.

The objects of the Association were formulated as follows:

1 To afford releief to necessitous and deserving natives of Islay

2 To bring together natives of Islay to cherish their native attachments and language.

3 To collect and preserve the Traditions, Taes and Poetry of Islay.

Mr Sinclair was followed as President by Mr Malcolm Smith, and he in turn by Mr Archibald Sinclair, who was President until 1899. He is buried in the Southern Necropolis, Glasgow, the place being marked by a fine Cetic Cross erected by the Association. He edited and printed many Gaelic books, but is possibly best remembered for 'An t-Oranaiche'

At the Association's Jubilee year in 1912, the Association instituted the Sinclair Memorial Fund as a tribute to his memory and is awarded annually to all schools on Islay

We have always observed the objects of the Association - we have refused no case of need. We have helped in the pblication of the 'Gaelic Poems' of William Livingstone, one of the second edition of 'West Highland tales', of Hector Maclean's 'Ballads', and of Duncan Johnston's 'Croman nan Tonn'. We have donated prizes and trophies to the local Mods and to the National Mod, as well as to the Scottish Pipers' Association. We have erected a monument to Ian Og Ile' at Bridgend and a Celtic Cross to Hector maclean on islay.

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