Excerpts from issue 53/26 3 October 2026
Jura Music Festival
Islay High School Trad Band were featured in the marquee on Sunday afternoon during this year's Jura Music Festival.
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Islay Beef Herd Competition
Mairi Stephen writes:
The annual Islay Beef Herd Competition was held on Saturday, 26 September in fine weather, giving the judge ideal conditions in which to view the herds. The sunshine also helped create an enjoyable day for everyone involved.
The standard of cattle was particularly high across the classes, with farms throughout the island achieving excellent results.
Upper Cruach enjoyed a successful competition, taking first place in the Individual Cow class ahead of Keills and Brybruich. Keills went on to win the Team of Cows class, with Brybruich in second place and Upper Cruach third.
Upper Cruach claimed another victory in the Best Individual Calf class, followed by Knocklearach in second and Carrabus in third. Carrabus took first place in the Best Team of Calves class, with Knocklearach second and Upper Cruach third.
In the Native Breed Herd class, Cornabus was awarded first place, with Craigens taking second and Neriby third. The Highland Herd class was won by Kilchiaran, while Kinabus placed second.
Upper Cruach secured another win in the Small Herd class, followed by Brybruich and Tormisdale.
The coveted Best Overall Herd title was awarded to Upper Cruach, with Keills taking second place and Cornabus third.
The organisers extended their thanks to Ewan MacGillivray and his family, who travelled to Islay to judge the competition. Their time, knowledge and expertise were greatly appreciated.
Congratulations go to all the participating farms, and thanks to everyone who helped organise and supported the event. Special thanks are also due to the Grub Hub, whose delicious food kept everyone going throughout the day.
The high standard of cattle, combined with the excellent weather, made for a successful and enjoyable competition.
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Proposed short-term-let control area
Argyll and Bute Council is asking residents, businesses, communities and short-term let operators for their views on proposals intended to support housing in the areas facing the greatest pressure.
The council has launched a consultation on a proposed Short-Term Let Control Area (STLCA) covering Mull and Iona; Coll and Tiree; Islay, Jura and Colonsay; and Lorn and the Inner Isles.
One of the reasons behind new national planning regulations bringing in STLCAs, is balancing an area's housing and economic needs.
New proposals for use of a house or flat as a Short Term Let in a STLCA will always need planning permission, which is not always the case in other areas.
In the area proposed as a STLCA in Argyll and Bute, up to 42% of housing is unavailable for use as a permanent home.
Evidence shows that the concentration of short-term lets is contributing to significant housing market pressures for individuals, families and businesses. These include; loss of housing available for permanent occupation; affordability challenges; declining housing choice; recruitment and retention difficulties; risks to population and sustainability; and wide impacts on communities and public services.
However, the council fully acknowledges the importance of balancing local housing demand with the needs of a sustainable tourism economy. Short-term lets, often referred to as self-catering, provide a valuable tourism resource and this needs careful consideration.
Councillor Jim Lynch, Council Leader and Policy Lead for the Economy and Housing said, "Housing pressures are affecting communities, businesses and public services across Argyll and Bute. We have to consider all options available for addressing this important issue. At the same time, the area also needs accommodation for its visitor economy.
"This consultation is an opportunity to become involved in assessing a STLCA as a way to help balance local economic benefits with the need for homes for residents and workers in areas under the greatest housing pressure."
Consultation findings will go to a future meeting of the council for consideration. If approved, it would have to be submitted to the Scottish Government for agreement.
The consultation is open until 1 November. More information can be found here.
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In this week's issue:
Mactaggart Leisure gym refit, Finlaggan to remain for winter timetable, Jura Music Festival, Council budget priorities, World Organ on Jura, Short-term-lets survey (again), Comedian Jim Smith's #keeptalking tour, Sea Connections event at ICCI, Sonas Childcare funding success, Bowmore Primary School page, Gaelic walking tour, Port Charlotte Primary's Nurture Award, Beef Herd competition, Islay Book Festival recap, Islay Golf Championships, Mòd Ìle, Perry Green, Music Review - Terje Gewelt, 'The Old Tree'
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Council budget priorities
Communities are invited to tell the council about their budget priorities by using an on-line budget calculator, now available on the council's website.
The council's funding gap next year is estimated to be around £9.4 million, increasing to £64 million by 2032. Savings can only come from controllable parts of the council's budget.
Some areas of spending are protected by national priorities, such as teacher numbers, or to some extent, funding for social work passed to the Integration Joint Board. Alongside inflationary costs, these are outwith the council's control.
Council Leader, Councillor Jim Lynch, said, "We all use council services. They are everywhere in our day-to-day lives. And the council will continue providing services that support day-to-day and longer term life in Argyll and Bute.
"However the huge scale of savings we have to deliver next year alone means we simply can't do everything communities want us to do, however much we'd like that to be possible.
"So we are asking people to let us know about their high level priorities for using the budget we have, by showing us how they would meet the £9.4 million savings target."
The simulator lists services where savings can come from and gives options to reduce or increase spend by different amounts until the target of £9.4 million is reached. There are also options to increase income to fund services, including through council tax or fees, and information explaining the potential impact on services of the choices respondents make.
Councillor Ross Moreland, Policy Lead for Finance Services said, “Spending money on one council service means less money for another. Council budgets are as simple and as difficult as that. There really are no easy choices for making the level of savings needed to balance the budget. We are asking for views to help ensure we reach the right choices."
The simulator is available on the council website until 30 October budget calculator
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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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