Excerpts from issue 53/10 21 February 2026
And the winner is...
Katelin McClymont, Operations Coordinator for PSG Group (category award sponsor) accepts the 'Podcast of the Year' award on behalf of 'This is Islay' presented by Nicola McAlley, Head Judge.
Jolyon Thurgood writes:
Did I mention: No longer shortlisted, but absolutely Podcast of the Year at the Highlands & Islands Media Awards 2026?
The judges described this as an exceptionally tough category, commending 'This Is Islay' for its clear positive impact on the local community, with a wide range of voices, breadth of locally driven topics and high production quality. Run by volunteers, the podcast celebrates the people, places and events that shape island life. "Congratulations to Glen Roberts, Jolyon Thurgood and the whole team," said Nicole McAlley, Head Judge.
We hope you agree! Our volunteer team, consisting of Gordon Bermingham, Tracey Hunter, Jean MacLellan, Richard Mansbridge, Chinh Nguyen, Tom O'Farrell, Russell Pollock, Dhruv Raj, Glen Roberts and myself, is over the moon. We would like to thank our guests, listeners and supporters, but particular mention goes to Mairi Trawber and Angus Ferguson who participated in our episode on the Rhinns Lighthouse Festival in August 2025, and to Jo O'Farrell and Agnes McEachern who took part in our episode on the Islay Cancer Support Group along with the late Jennifer Gillies, in June 2025.
Those two episodes were submitted as our entry for the Media Awards competition, selected from 2025 to represent the range of topics we cover on 'This Is Islay'. These episodes, along with 46 others, make up our back catalogue, available on our website thisisislay.co.uk and all the usual podcasting platforms. If you haven’t listened yet, pick one to start - there are plenty of familiar names and voices on the air!
This was a new category for the Highlands & Islands Media Awards, so we are the inaugural podcast winners. Our award was presented by Katelin McClymont, Operations Coordinator for PSG Group (category award sponsor) and Nicola McAlley, Head Judge (see photo).
I would be remiss not to recognise the award sponsor, PSG Group, and the Ileach editor himself, for suggesting we submit an entry. Yes, brian palmer is quite familiar with these Media Awards, as the Ileach has been selected as Community Newspaper of the Year on more than one occasion, as recently as 2024!
To learn more about 'This Is Islay', follow us on Facebook and visit the website. As always, send feedback, suggestions for new topics via DM or email at thisisislay@gmail.com. Our next meeting takes place on Wednesday 4 March at 4pm, at the High School. Come and meet us and learn more about your local, award-winning podcast.
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In this week's issue:
Fèis Òigridh success, Cllr. Redman on travel payments, Changes at Laphroaig and Bowmore distilleries, CalMac at 175, MV Isle of Islay in Mediterranean rescue, This is Islay wins 'Podcast of the Year', A successful Highland Dancing year, Kilchoman Distillery's Doddie Bike Ride, A busy start at ICCI, Chough, dung beetles and veterinary medications, Energy Trust surgeries, CalMac's Starlink wi-fi, Is A&B Council's alterations to Morrison Court criticised, Bruichladdich's 25th Anniversary Rock'ndaal celebrations, Islay Book Festival lineup confirmed.
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Kilchoman's Doddie ride
Kilchoman Distillery has put together a team for Doddie's Triple Crown, Rob Wainwright's legendary annual cycling challenge, raising funds for the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation.
The Foundation does vital work supporting people living with MND and funding crucial research. Kilchoman Founder, Anthony Wills said that the distillery wanted to do something meaningful to support this life-changing cause.
The 2026 challenge runs from Tuesday 10 to Friday 13 March, covering 800 miles over four days, finishing in Dublin just before the Scotland v Ireland rugby match at the Aviva Stadium.
Forming a part of the Kilchoman cycling team of ten, from Islay are Tom Hunter, David Brodie and Keith Shaw.
Their day one route takes them from Melrose to Leeds, then onto Gloucester the next day and ultimately, Pembroke, before boarding the overnight ferry to Rosslare on Ireland and riding to Dublin in time for the rugby match.
Mr Wills said, "We're excited and proud to take on this epic journey, and every donation, big or small, helps support those living with MND and advance vital research."
Donations can be made via Kilchoman's JustGiving page.
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Islay Book Festival 2026
Charlène Busalli writes:
The Islay Book Festival team have been hard at work over the winter, and we are delighted to announce our 2026 lineup!
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the book festival in style, we will welcome Booker-Prize winner Douglas Stuart, who will tell us all about his forthcoming novel, John of John, set in the Outer Hebrides. Another highlight will be Louise Welsh's talk about her new thriller, The Cut Up. This is the third book featuring auctioneer Rilke, by the bestselling author of cult classic, The Cutting Room, published last month to outstanding reviews, including from Ann Cleeves who said, "Oh my word, that writing!"
Another literary star who will be joining us is writer and broadcaster, Damian Barr, whose latest novel, The Two Roberts, tells the moving and almost-forgotten story of Scottish working-class artists Bobby MacBryde and Robert Colquhoun.
Renowned historian and TV presenter, Clare Jackson (if you haven’t watched her fascinating two-part documentary, The Stuarts in Exile, head to BBC iPlayer!) will celebrate the paperback publication of The Mirror of Great Britain: A Life of James VI & I, with us. The fascinating non-fiction title was named Best Book of the Year by both The Financial Times, and History Today last year.
If you're a sports fan, you'll be thrilled to know that one of Scotland's most successful and best loved broadcasters, Dougie Donnelly, will pay us a visit to chat about his autobiography, My Life in Sport. Dougie will also hold a special event at The Machrie Golf Course.
Another event at The Machrie not to be missed will be lunch with celebrated chef Julie Lin, who is also the author of Sama Sama: Comfort Food from my Malaysian-Scottish Kitchen.
Multi-award-winning novelist, poet and screenwriter, Jenni Fagan, will present her spectacular new novel, The Delusions, as well as visiting Islay High School.
Moray Watson, translator of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien into Gaelic, A' Hobat, will also be visiting the high school, as well as taking part in our general programme. Young ornithologist, environmentalist and diversity activist, Mya-Rose Craig, will have a busy schedule, giving a talk about her book Birdgirl, delivering this year's family event, and visiting primary pupils for a session around her breathtaking illustrated guide to birds and migration, Flight.
Of course, there will be something for whisky lovers too: author of the bestselling 101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die, Ian Buxton, will be with us to present the new edition of Whiskies Galore: A Tour of Scotland's Island Distilleries.
The local farming community will be glad to know we have concocted a little something for them too. Scottish naturalist and conservationist, Polly Pullar, will present her forthcoming book, In the Company of Sheep, a 'personal story centreing around [her] lifelong passion for sheep and the vital importance of the culture that surrounds them'.
We also have a treat for poetry lovers, in the person of former Makar for the City of Edinburgh, Hannah Lavery, who will read from her new collection, Everything Everyday: A Year of Empty Promises.
We are delighted to feature two local authors this year, Stuart Graham and Peter Roberts, who will present their long-awaited respective books about Islay in the Second World War and Islay birds, to be published in the next few months.
Scottish prolific illustrator, Eilidh Muldoon, and children's author, Justin Davies, will visit primary schools, as will Linda Macleod, an absolute favourite of the pupils at Bowmore Primary's Gaelic Medium Unit.
Last, but not least, Sandra Ireland, author of psychological thrillers, poet and facilitator of creative workshops in healthcare (among other settings), will deliver bespoke sessions for the local Cancer Support Group and residents of Gortanvogie Care Home.
Keep your eyes peeled for our full programme announcement - with a couple more surprises to come and tickets release later on in the spring.
Islay Book Festival: 27 - 30 August
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This is Islay
2026 Podcast of the Year featuring individuals, personalities and features of Islay and Jura. Listen now at https://anchor.fm/thisisislay
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