• Published On: Dec 1, 20141.4 min readCategories: Community News, Events

    Wishing happiness and blessings to all our readers at Christmas greeting includes all men on earth of goodwill regardless of religious proclivity and is non gender-specific The schoolchildren are hosting...

  • Published On: Dec 1, 20140.9 min readCategories: History, Just for Fun

    Our illustration is from a later edition of David Wilson’s Colonsay Map of 1804; this particular edition includes the new Mill, so is probably dated about 1870, but the edition...

  • Published On: Dec 1, 20140.5 min readCategories: Community News, Events

    There was a great party for Hallowe’en, held at the Backpackers Lodge and attended by all the children.   Commemoration of Guy Fawkes’ bid for parliamentary reform took the form of...

  • Published On: Dec 1, 20141.6 min readCategories: Community Development, Community News

    Other local activities include the Scottish Country Dancing practice sessions held on Wednesday evenings,led by Seamus and Christine and supported by about a dozen folk.  There is also a Badminton...

  • Published On: Dec 1, 20141.3 min readCategories: Community News, Events

    Holidays for 2015: If you already have your reservations made, please remember to send any outstanding deposits.  If you have not yet booked, please refer to www.colonsay.org.uk to see the...

  • Published On: Dec 1, 20140.2 min readCategories: Odds and Ends

    Because it is looking so smart in our warm winter sunshine it deserves to be seen.  Persons with acute vision can see that even the chimney pots have been painted...

  • Published On: Dec 1, 20141.3 min readCategories: Community News, History

    COHT has secured the services of Hazel Smith to assist in the professional preparation and submission of bids for funding.  Your correspondent looks forward to further news, but is aware that...

  • Published On: Dec 1, 20141.1 min readCategories: History

    This year Colonsay and Oransay Heritage Trust were awarded a grant by the Association of Industrial Archaeology to restore the original Scalasaig minor light. The light, which was oil lit,...

  • Published On: Dec 1, 20142.5 min readCategories: Nature

    An exciting arrival on the strand this month was a little egret. Only the third record for Colonsay & Oronsay, the egret has been seen feeding regularly in the shallow...

  • Published On: Dec 1, 20140.3 min readCategories: Nature

    As Andrew Abrahams pointed out, lots of experts may have seen it, but he got the picture: He/she (?) is a snow bunting.  Arrived with a bunch of fieldfares and...

  • Published On: Dec 1, 20140.9 min readCategories: Community News, Odds and Ends

    Owing to some antediluvian anomaly (going back at least to the time of David MacBrayne) Colonsay suffers from mind-boggling freight charges – a lorry travelling from Oban to Colonsay return...

  • Published On: Dec 1, 20140.5 min readCategories: Community News

    The editor’s chair is vacant still – the position is unpaid, but it is rewarding in other ways.  The main purpose of the magazine is to maintain links with the...

  • Published On: Dec 1, 20140.4 min readCategories: Politics

    This is the Season of Goodwill so there are none included; in any case we will all get quite enough of politics in the next six months.  We should remember,...

  • Published On: Dec 1, 20141.3 min readCategories: On The Grapevine

    OK – this time Bill and Annie really have gone to Oz;  Argyll & Bute Planners came to give their views on possible wind-turbine locations and possible low-cost housing; the...

  • Published On: Dec 1, 20141.9 min readCategories: Odds and Ends

    Most readers will remember the familiar side-loading car-ferry MV “Columba”; in fact she is still a regular visitor to the island in another guise.  Anybody who ever travelled on her...

  • Published On: Dec 1, 20142.6 min readCategories: Odds and Ends

    It is interesting to note that the recent publicity about the death rate at Vale of Leven is a curious echo of the outrage concerning the high death rate at...

  • Published On: Dec 1, 20143.6 min readCategories: From The Archives

    The following article first appeared in The Corncrake about 15 years ago. Poem by "Colonsay Exiles" June 16th 1943 We wandered up to Clark's Hotel, to meet Mine Host so...

  • Published On: Nov 3, 20142.8 min readCategories: Community News

    Recent heavy rain raised the level of Loch Fada and eventually the water was 15” deep over the road as it passes An Déabhaidh (“the shallow channel between parts of...

  • Published On: Nov 3, 20140.5 min readCategories: Events

    The party was held at the Backpackers’ Lodge and attended by all the children, including a very welcome visitor from Italy, Lily.  There were outrageous costumes worn by children and...

  • Published On: Nov 3, 20140.7 min readCategories: Events

      The Heritage annual cheese and wine event was held on Saturday 25th October within the modest confines of The Old Generator Shed.  Despite lashing rain it was, as ever,...

  • Published On: Nov 3, 20141.2 min readCategories: Events

    More commonly known as OctoberFest, this has become an established event and runs through the first few weeks of the month, covering the tatty-howkin’ school holidays.  It is a slightly...

  • Published On: Nov 3, 20141.2 min readCategories: Community News

    It seems that the ferry timetable for Summer 2015 will be very much the same as in 2014, commencing on 3 April 2015. The winter timetable is now in operation,...

  • Published On: Nov 3, 20141.3 min readCategories: Community Development

    Grace and Hannah, two unsung heroes who are achieving truly amazing things.  Trying to make things easy for oneself, your temporary editor asked them for an update: 'Recycle for Colonsay'...

  • Published On: Nov 3, 20140.9 min readCategories: Community News

    On a related mission, one should say that we are about to enter Year 3 of a campaign to render Colonsay and Oronsay completely free of litter and junk in...

  • Published On: Nov 3, 20140.1 min readCategories: Events

    Join us for a Bonfire, BBQ & Fireworks NOW WEDNESDAY 5TH OCTOBER 6.30pm Colonsay Community Garden  

  • Published On: Nov 3, 20140.3 min readCategories: Events

    Rev. E. Gibson will lead the community in a service of Thanksgiving and Remembrance commencing at 10.30 sharp on Sunday 9th November.  Please gather in good time within the CalMac...

  • Published On: Nov 3, 20140.9 min readCategories: Events

    The Colonsay Gathering is to be held at Crianlarich Hotel on the weekend of 7th February 2015 – this is a great chance for friends old and new to gather...

  • Published On: Nov 3, 20141 min readCategories: Community News

    Rev. Liz Gibson will be here for two weeks from Wednesday 5th and will be delighted to meet parishioners (of any persuasion or none); please do not hesitate to get...

  • Published On: Nov 3, 20140.5 min readCategories: School

    The students were industriously at work in the kitchen of Colonsay House this week, making special cakes for Hallowe’en.  Rumour has it that they may be planning to surprise us...

  • Published On: Nov 3, 20140.8 min readCategories: Community Development, Horticultural

    The Community Garden has gone from strength to strength with the grass now resembling a respectable lawn and the flower beds establishing themselves. With the threat of westerly storms just...

  • Published On: Nov 3, 20143.5 min readCategories: Nature

    Early October saw the return of the Greenland barnacle geese to Colonsay and Oronsay. The highest count on Oronsay mid-way through the month was an amazing 2396 geese, which in...

  • Published On: Nov 3, 20142.9 min readCategories: Uncategorized

    There has been an amazing flowering of literary talent in the recent past, and it would be too much to list everything.  Some works are by people with strong local...

  • Published On: Nov 3, 20141.7 min readCategories: Community Development, Community News

    The most recent meeting was on October 7th and the main topic was the cost of freight.  Various residents had kindly provided information on charges levied and it was noted...

  • Published On: Nov 3, 20142.8 min readCategories: Community Development

    As a member of the public one attended part of the most recent meeting of CCDC.  As a novice one may have missed or misunderstood part of the proceedings, but...

  • Published On: Nov 3, 20142.3 min readCategories: Community News

    Many of our readers will have noticed that the October edition appeared as usual and on time – and then it disappeared!  The background to the situation is that when...

  • Published On: Nov 3, 20141.2 min readCategories: Politics

    Sadly, no time or space for a proper contribution this month, but as a member of the public (and in the spirit of The Skibbereen Eagle) your correspondent did notice...

  • Published On: Nov 3, 20140.7 min readCategories: Community News, Nature

    A whale beached at Port Lobh recently and it seemed possible that it was an accidental stranding.  A very large number of people gave of their time to help keep...

  • Published On: Nov 3, 20141.5 min readCategories: Ancestry

    It is quite extraordinary to know that more than one million people in Canada alone have an ancestral link with Colonsay.  If you have a connection with the island, be...

  • Published On: Nov 3, 20140.5 min readCategories: Uncategorized

    At least one local business has been targeted – punter makes a booking from overseas, agrees the price and sends advance payment which covers the full rental plus an additional...

  • Published On: Nov 3, 20141.3 min readCategories: Odds and Ends

    Rumour has it that there is the possibility of a newly-arriving family for Colonsay; Seamus is finding it hard to run both the farm and the port, so is standing...

  • Published On: Nov 3, 20140.4 min readCategories: Community Development, Community News

    If you have got this far, you deserve to know that any comments concerning the current edition should be addressed to byrne@colonsay.org.uk  If you live locally and got this far,...

  • Published On: Nov 3, 20140 min readCategories: Letters

    There aren't any. Pity.

  • Published On: Oct 31, 20140.1 min readCategories: Community News

    The November edition of the Corncrake has been delayed and will now appear before or on 8th November.

  • Published On: Sep 30, 20140.2 min readCategories: Community News

    Unfortunately it is not currently possible to update the Corncrake in it's new format. This will be addressed as soon as possible. In the meantime the newlsetter is still available in...

  • Published On: Jul 31, 20148.6 min readCategories: Community News

    The two main freight companies providing lifeline services to Colonsay are warning of massive price rises to cope with a Calmac crackdown on overloading. They say freight rates will have...

  • Published On: Jul 31, 20142.3 min readCategories: Community Development, Community News

    Scottish environment minister Paul Wheelhouse says he’s “sorry” island laird Alex Howard and the community development company have been unable to reach a deal yet to buy estate owned land...

  • Published On: Jul 31, 20142.1 min readCategories: Community News

    Fears that low water pressure is endangering island residents are being investigated by Scottish Water. The island community council asked for an urgent examination of the supply system following a...

  • Published On: Jul 31, 20140.6 min readCategories: Community Development, Community News

    Two new recruits joined the community council at it’s annual meeting recently. Island laird Alex Howard and resident William Joll were co-opted onto the council to join existing members Sheena...

  • Published On: Jul 31, 20141 min readCategories: Community News, Horticultural

    Garden volunteers organised a fund raising “Big Tea” to ensure the future of the community venture- and netted over £800 in an afternoon. The garden, in front of the village...

  • Published On: Jul 31, 20140.3 min readCategories: Community News, Sport

    Island resident Jim McLoughlin was honored in the Queen’s Baton relay as he carried the Commonwealth symbol through part of Argyll. Jim had been put forward because of his 30...

  • Published On: Jul 31, 20140.6 min readCategories: Community Development, Community News, Sport

    Colonsay’s set to celebrate the Commonwealth Games tomorrow (Saturday August 2) with an afternoon and evening of fun. Sports for children and adults alike are to commence at Machrins at...

  • Published On: Jul 31, 20142 min readCategories: Community News

    Alex Howard’s offering to help ease the island gravel crisis sparked by the council ordering him to stop selling stones off the shore. Argyll and Bute Council ordered a halt...

  • Published On: Jul 31, 20141.3 min readCategories: Community News

    Island friends of the late Davie Sutherland set out to make this year’s “poppy ceilidh” the best yet – and raised a record amount for the Earl Haig Fund. Highlight...

  • Published On: Jul 31, 20140.2 min readCategories: Community News

    Nearly four months after the McLennans van was stolen from the pier Police Scotland admit they are no nearer identifying the culprit. A spokesman for Police Scotland said their inquires...

  • Published On: Jul 31, 20143 min readCategories: Community Development

    Each month Island LDO’s Grace MacPhee and Hannah MacAllister give us the news from the volunteer led Colonsay Community Development Company:   There have been lots of exciting things happening...

  • Published On: Jul 31, 20142.4 min readCategories: Nature

    At the beginning of the month we did a survey of common seals on the Strand and counted 40 adults and over 25 pups. On the strand it is also...

  • Published On: Jul 31, 20140.8 min readCategories: Events, Sport

    The third Colonsay Rugby festival has been hailed an outstanding success with a record number of teams enjoying a packed weekend of sport that saw Oban RFC crowned champions –...

  • Published On: Jul 31, 20141.1 min readCategories: First Person

    Each month the Corncrake invites someone with Colonsay connections to give us an insight into who they are and why they’re here. This month it’s community nurse Michelle Cameron How...

  • Published On: Jul 31, 20140.7 min readCategories: On The Grapevine

    The piershed at ferry time is the place to find out what’s going on – sometimes the stories are even true! *Wednesday’s ferry from Colonsay was full for cars –...

  • Published On: Jul 7, 20140.3 min readCategories: Full Newsletters PDF

    Please find below links to PDF copies of the Corncrake which you can print out and enjoy at your leisure: Corncrake May 2017 Corncrake April 2016 Corncrake February 2016 Part...

  • Published On: Jul 4, 20143.3 min readCategories: Community Development

    Development company convener Gavin Clark says he is confident they will be able to build affordable housing on the Hotel Brae – which would be the culmination of 10 years...

  • Published On: Jul 4, 20140.9 min readCategories: Community Development

    An appeal has gone out for volunteers to take on an island renewable generation project that could see the community benefit to the tune of £40,000 a year. The Local...

  • Published On: Jul 4, 20140.9 min readCategories: Community Development, Politics

    Scottish environment minister Paul Wheelhouse has told people on Colonsay that they are in a position to benefit from new proposals aimed at speeding up the SNP’s land reform agenda....

  • Published On: Jul 4, 20142.2 min readCategories: Community Development, Politics

    MSP Michael Russell writes for the Corncrake: “Land Reform is back in the news again.    Paul Wheelhouse, the Environment Minister, told the Community Land Scotland Conference in early June...

  • Published On: Jul 4, 20140.8 min readCategories: Community News

    Island emergency service volunteers are asking members of the public, especially visitors, to pull into passing places and allow overtaking on Colonsay’s single track roads. Twice in recent weeks 999...

  • Published On: Jul 4, 20141.3 min readCategories: Community News, Events

    Island residents gathered in force to say hello to the new look perished and goodbye to the old piermaster. After 16 years presiding over the comings and goings of ferries...

  • Published On: Jul 4, 20140.7 min readCategories: Events, Music

    Island impresario Donald “Pedie” MacNeill has put together a series of concerts to get the feet tapping during those long hot summer nights. A recent visitor survey clearly showed music...

  • Published On: Jul 4, 20140.8 min readCategories: Ancestry, Community News

    Colonsay and Oronsay Heritage Trust is launching a drive to recruit new supporters to help fund its vital work protecting the islands’ heritage. Trust convener Dave Binnie is asking people...

  • Published On: Jul 4, 20144 min readCategories: Community News

    Two new starts next term mean Kilchattan Primary School will boast a total of nine pupils when the academic year starts in August. Headteacher Gill MacKenzie has kindly given the...

  • Published On: Jul 4, 20140.3 min readCategories: Community News, Obituaries

    The family would like to thank everyone for the exceptional care, concern and kindness shown throughout Mike’s illness and over the last few weeks. Through the very generous donations made...

  • Published On: Jul 4, 20140.6 min readCategories: Community News

    Rescue crews from HMS Gannet at Prestwick made three emergency trips to Colonsay in June – up two on their previous month’s total. The most serious was to airlift a...

  • Published On: Jul 4, 20147.4 min readCategories: Ancestry, Events

    A fascinating conference took place mid June organised by the Island’s Book Trust to celebrate the life of Donald Mackinnon – first professor of Celtic Studies at Edinburgh University. As...

  • Published On: Jul 4, 20141.3 min readCategories: Community News, Nature

    Despite being fantastic animals with an essential function in the right environment, hedgehogs are not a native species to Colonsay and Oronsay. By Scottish law they should remain that way....

  • Published On: Jul 4, 20141.1 min readCategories: Community Development, Community News, Events

    On June 1st Colonsay held its first ‘Big Lunch’ - it is a very simple idea from the Eden Project aimed at getting as many people as possible across the...

  • Published On: Jul 4, 20142.3 min readCategories: Nature

    So far summer on Colonsay and Oronsay has been full of sightings both expected and unexpected. We have two new breeding species for the reserve- a pair of sparrowhawks and...

  • Published On: Jul 4, 20142.5 min readCategories: Events, Sport

    In the month of June, an eighteen-strong raiding party left the shores of Cholbhasa, bound for Eileann Ila, writes our Golf Correspondent Scott Weatherstone. Their challenge was to play The...

  • photo of the month
    Published On: Jul 4, 20140.2 min readCategories: Photo of the Month

    Sue Taylor has a wonderful way of making the island fauna, domesticated and wild, perform for her camera. How about this great portrait of a seal:  

  • Published On: Jul 4, 20140.7 min readCategories: Community News

    There has been a makeover at the Pantry with Gavin gearing up for the season. First to arrive was the island’s first barrista style coffee machine, , and then a...

  • Published On: Jul 4, 20140.2 min readCategories: Just for Fun

    This beautiful looking fish was caught on the west side of the island by Colm McNicholl. We think it’s a male Corkwing Wrasse which is native to the eastern Atlantic...

  • Published On: Jul 4, 20141.1 min readCategories: On The Grapevine

    The piershed at ferry time is the place to find out what’s going on – sometimes the stories are even true! *A commercial diver found a very rich scallop bed...

  • Published On: Jun 27, 20142.2 min readCategories: Community Development

    Community Land Scotland, the representative body of Scotland’s community land owners has published economic indicators data of community ownership.  The report demonstrates remarkable results showing that community ownership can out-perform...

  • Published On: Jun 27, 20142.5 min readCategories: Community Development, Politics

    The long awaited final report of the Scottish Government Land Reform Review Group is recommending ways of helping the country’s communities, rural and urban, achieve the First Ministers Target of...

  • Published On: Jun 27, 20141.6 min readCategories: Events

    The annual Colonsay Spring Festival, which finished Mid May – saw large numbers of locals and visitors alike getting up close and personal with the Island flora and fauna, and...

  • Published On: Jun 27, 20141.8 min readCategories: Ancestry, Events

    An exhibition featuring the stories of the men who left Colonsay to fight in the First World War never to return is underway on the island. Entitled ‘Colonsay Remembers’ the...

  • photo of the month
    Published On: Jun 27, 20140.1 min readCategories: Photo of the Month

    Barry McMichael from Largs captured this stunning view of Loch Fada earlier this month

  • Published On: Jun 27, 20141.2 min readCategories: Just for Fun

    Bob and Alison liked this so much they thought they would share it with Corncrake readers.  If you have a recipe you thinks deserves to be shared please email colonsayldohannah@gmail.com...

  • Published On: Jun 27, 20140.7 min readCategories: On The Grapevine

    The piershed at ferry time is the place to find out what’s going on – sometimes the stories are even true! The piershed is the tale – its refurbishment is...

  • Published On: Jun 27, 20140.2 min readCategories: Events, Sport

    The Isle of Colonsay Golf Club would like to announce that, contrary to information imparted in an earlier edition, the Open Championship will now take place on Saturday, 16th August. The Golf...

  • Published On: Jun 27, 20141.4 min readCategories: Politics

    Politics is show business for ugly people opined Texas Political consultant Bill Miller in 1991.  He was , I am sure, merely echoing the distaste for organised politics that exists across...

  • Published On: Jun 27, 20148.8 min readCategories: First Person, Uncategorized

    Each month the Corncrake is going to invite someone with Colonsay connections to give us an insight into who they are and why they’re here. First up, after a bit...

  • Published On: Jun 27, 20142.1 min readCategories: Community Development, Uncategorized

    Following on the Community Land Scotland report the Corncrake asked the convener of the Gigha Heritage Trust, community owners of the island just to the North of the Kintyre peninsula...

  • Published On: Jun 27, 20140.7 min readCategories: Community News

    Rangers-mad man about town Angus MacPhee is to make the ultimate sacrifice to raise money for the favourite cause of his recently departed friend Davy Sutherland. Wee Davy organised the...

  • Published On: Jun 27, 20142.6 min readCategories: Just for Fun

    There is, just to the West side of the 18th green of the Isle of Colonsay Golf Course, a large stone lying between many a golfer and a satisfactory finish...

  • Published On: Jun 24, 20142.1 min readCategories: Nature

    For the fifth year running the RSPB Seabird Tracking and Research (STAR) team has returned to Colonsay for the summer months. This year the team consists of Tessa Cole, who...

  • Published On: Jun 24, 20140.9 min readCategories: Community News, Uncategorized

    Three new faces will be at Monday evening training sessions at the fire station as Fire Scotland increases it’s team on the island. Phil “on the hill” Jones, Matthew “Cammy”...

  • Published On: Jun 24, 20141.1 min readCategories: Ancestry, Events

    A major event to mark the centenary of the death of the first professor of Celtic studies at Edinburgh University, Colonsay born Donald MacKinnon, is taking place on the island...

  • Published On: Jun 10, 20141.4 min readCategories: Just for Fun

    There is a moment in everyone's life when they have the ultimate realization... an epiphany if you will. They realize that beyond everything that this world has to offer, beyond...

  • Published On: Jun 9, 20140.1 min readCategories: Community Development

    The CCDC held its Annual General Meeting on Thursday evening....

  • Published On: Mar 28, 201411.4 min readCategories: Uncategorized

    The Isle of Colonsay’s online community newsletter Issue 266, February 2014. Table of Contents Articles Community’s purchase of hotel falls through Burns’ Night 2014 A tribute to Mrs Flora MacNeill...

Recent Posts

  • Published On: Jul 20, 2018

    2018

    Though the not-quite-a-drought time eventually ended, summer did not part, as it might have done,...

  • Published On: Jun 6, 2018

    2018

    The warm dry spell that spread across the whole country in late spring and extended...

  • Published On: May 3, 2018

    2018

    Spring came late this year, but by May calving and lambing were well underway on...

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