The following describes my experience of travelling with my partner, Captain S M Ross, whose job was to carry food and goods worldwide as a member of the British Merchant Navy. Then, in the 1990s, Mrs Thatcher encouraged British shipowners to get rid of the expensive British, acquire read more
Part 3: How residents’ houses become empty or holiday lets When Liosaich die or move for health reasons, it’s always a time of great sadness for islanders, especially when we see their once bright homes lying empty. From one day to the next, a family read more
The 2011 census states 85% of houses are occupied by residents while current figures show this is now only 58%. This trend of increased second and vacant homes creates a challenge for people wanting to move to the island. The purchase prices are high and read more
This is the story of our falling population and the rising number of second homes and how the two may be connected. Part 1 looks at Point, Part 2 at why a balance of residents and visitors is vital, and Part 3 stories of those read more
Lismore Public Hall is the most important hub of the island and, before the Heritage Centre, the only place, along with the church, where islanders met as a community. Obviously COVID-19 locked it down, but before that it was the home of ceilidhs, country dancing, read more
How many times have you been told how lucky you are to live here. Mostly in the summer and by dewy eyed visitors who are not fighting horizontal rain. Fact is, visitor, I may say ghoulishly, Lismore is lucky to have me. And you are read more
The February 2021 rainfall was 46% below the 20 year average (91.60 mm). January was 21% below. This is relevant because….. The fundamental difference between mainland life and island life is water: it surrounds us, it falls on us, we try to keep it out read more
The lights went on in Lismore on 31 October 1970. A mere fifty years ago. On that Saturday, at 3 Newfield Terrace, the late Donald John and Margaret MacDonald with their children Peggy and Lachlan (and a few dignitaries) stared up and witnessed a lightbulb read more
A flock of sheep are stock-still on the beach, heads raised, horns alert. A curlew, a blackbird, and a gull are busily rearranging the seaweed; they appear to be squabbling. Three oystercatchers are hurrying somewhere. A heron, like a predatory medieval cleric (can’t explain that read more
Has it ever happened before? First footing nil. New Year’s dance nil. Watchnight service nil. Virus Three. Sadly they were germ-fests; we had to forgo them. Our second complete lockdown started on Boxing Day. We were already in Level 4, so it is not like read more
3 January 2021 The wonderful weather is continuing. Outside is the new inside, exercising the new slumping and slouching. Wherever we go, we meet folk loving the winter sun. And of course we rhapsodise to each other about how lucky we are to live in read more
We may be in Level Four and to all intents and purposes locked-down, but this day has started perfectly. No wind, the tide exactly right, only decorative clouds, and the sun fully lighting our world just after nine. Normally we would be starting a day read more