Finalists: For Argyll Awards 2009

Here are the finalists going into the online voting stage which opens tomorrow morning at 9.00am.

Some categories actually have four finalists and some five – because there were ties in the final numbers of nominations some had received.

We decided that the fairest response to the nominations was to go by the top three numbers of nominations and accept however many candidates these embraced. They are given below in alphabetical order, not in rank order of nominations given.

When you’re voting, we know that some of you will vote because you have a commitment to a particular finalist.Please would you look at other categories, check out the candidates and vote in as many categories as you like. This is what these awards are about. We want them to inform people on what is happening in Argyll – so check it out.

Voting rules

These will be on the voting form available from 9.00am tomorrow (25th December) but here is sight of them in advance.

• You may vote only once for any one candidate in any one category.
• You may vote for more than one candidate in the same category – this may seem odd but it is a way of giving your vote the best chance of counting. You may feel that two candidates in a category are worth your support. You don’t know which of them is going to get most votes overall – so if you see more than one worthy candidate in a category you may cast one vote for each.
• You may vote in as many categories as you like.

Best Achievement for Argyll

Joy Dunlop – Taynuilt Gaelic Musician
Inveraray& District Pipe Band
Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop
Eilidh Steel – Helensburgh Musician

Best Tourism Initiative

Fiddle Workshop / Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop
Jura Passenger Ferry
Mull Eagle Watch
Walking Theatre Company

Best Environmental Initiative

Islay Energy Trust
Seil Community Garden Project
Seil Natural History Group

Best Community Initiative

Finlaggan Centre Development (Islay)
Helensburgh Heroes
Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop
Three Villages Hall, Arrochar

Best Homecoming Event

Islay Festival & Homecoming Parade
Lismore Homecoming
Spirit of the West, Inveraray Castle
St Columba Ceilidh Trail
The Hidden Jewel, Dunollie

Best Major Event

Mid Argyll Triathlon
Mull of Kintyre Half Marathon and 10k Run
Royal National Mod Oban 2009
World Stone Skimming Championships, Easdale

Best Community Event

Helensburgh Heroes Recording
Meur Chruachain pre-Mod Ceilidh
Mull of Kintyre Half Marathon and 10k Run
Seil Community Garden Project
World Stone Skimming Championships, Easdale

Best Arts Programme

Easdale Island Community Hall
Fiddle Folk / Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop
Meur Chruachain Summer & Winter Ceilidhs

Best Activity Website

Islay Shipping Blog
Islay Wilderness Guide
Mid Argyll Triathlon & Cycle Club

Best Wildlife Website

Islay Birding
Islay Birds
Mull Eagle Watch
Seil Natural History Group

Best Community Website

Arrochar and Tarbet
The Carradale Goat
Kintyre Forum

Best Local Newspaper

Dunoon Observer
The Ileach
Oban Times