Ileach launches inspired mischief
published this on 10:24 pm, Friday, 18th December, 2009Community News| Islay| hallowe'en | Comments (rss) | Respond | Ping |
The Isle of Islay was already annoyed with CMAL (Caledonian MacBrayne Assets Ltd), owner of the ships contracted to west coast ferry operator, CalMac. The company ran a competition to name the new ferry being built for the Islay route, offering a vote on a set choice of four names. None of these was the Isle of Islay.
No amount of representation was able to change CMAL’s mind on the matter so the islanders went for the only one of the four names that had any connection with their island – Finlaggan, Islay seat of the legendary Lords of the Isles.
Finlaggan won and we announced today the names of the two lucky islanders who will go to Poland to see the launch of the ship.
The Ileach, the island’s consistently first class fortnightly newspaper, is not prepared to let the matter rest. It had contacted the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to enquire about the status of the name, Isle of Islay. This was available. So The Ileach applied, successfully, to reserve it.
It was hoped that CMAL would agree to replace the name Finlaggan with this name that had not been available but would have been the islanders’ preference. But no.
Then Northlink Ferries Ltd, corporate second cousin of CMAL and operators of the ferry services to Orkney and Shetland, announced a competition to rename the replacement for its retiring freight ferry, Hascosay.
However, The Ileach was quick to notice that the Northern Islanders were being offered the opportunity to suggest any name they liked.
Well, light blue touchpaper and retire.
The front page headline on the new edition of The Ileach, out today, shouts: ‘Once again there is one rule for Orkney and Shetland – and another rule altogether for Islay…’
The connection is born from the fact that CalMac Ltd and Northlink Ferries Ltd are together wholly owned subsidiaries of the parent company David MacBrayne Ltd – which itself is wholly owned by the Scottish Government. (Don’t ask.)
The Ileach was not so blinded by rage, though, that it could not quickly identify a neat strategic twist left open in the Northlink rules.
It has set a link on its website to Northlink Ferries online competition. It is recommending people to vote. It is suggesting that a great name for the Northlink freight ship would be – Isle of Islay. And of course it can guarantee that the name will be available.
You really warm to the intelligent mischief of this. We suggest that as many people as possible do as The Ileach suggests (and we’ve done it already) – and let’s see what Northlink do about it. Anarchy is endlessly attractive.
What Islay would have made of being given a ferry named, say, Isle of May doesn’t bear imagining, though.
It is obvious that the Ileachs’ annoyance at being given a set choice of names and not allowed the latitude to give the name of their island to their new ferry caused lessons to be learned in the corporate MacBrayne family. Otherwise, why would Northink have adopted the rule Islay had asked to operate.
It is also obvious that the name, Finlaggan, is a proud and reverberant name in the history of Islay. It underlines the historical power of the island as the headquarters of the MacDonald Lords of the Isles (on an island in Islay’s Loch Finlaggan), rulers of a marine empire stretching from the Isle of Man to the Northern Isles.
Perhaps this is the foundation for the renewed imperialism of The Ileach’s campaign to name the Orkney and Shetland freight ferry, Isle of Islay?
But Finlaggan is not Isle of Islay.
Anyone can initiate something and then see too late that there was a better way of doing things. When this happens, the big political lesson is just to put it right. This is the graceful and respected action.
But hey - in the meantime, it’s fun to vote to name the Northlink freight boat ‘Isle of Islay’. Let’s go.
And buy the latest edition of The Ileach – or take out an online subscription – for the full story and a lot of interesting correspondence on the Bowmore Shoreline project.
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January 10th, 2010 at 7:13 pm
What a load of “rubbish” you people talk at ForArgyll talk! Just like the hijacked Ileach! It clearly states, Ileach, 7th August 2004, page 4: Richard Russell Replies. Richard Russell, Ileach Company Secretary, responds to recent questioning about the Ileach’s Aims and Objectives. We do not see ourselves as press barons who can use the newspaper to promote our views on such issues – and on most such matters the opinion of staff and directors is probably as diverse as in the population at large. And we do not receive money from any organisation which is likely to try to influence our content. For these reasons, I for one am happy that we do not have “an Ileach view” on the major issues which exercise the minds of people in Islay and Jura. We are independent not only of our former owners, but of any special-interest group, campaign, party of faction.
Come on so-called “ForArgyll” newsroom let’s hear it, why you are supporting the Ileach’s failure to meet its Aims and Objectives?
Your claim that the ferry name Isle of Islay “…would have been the islander’s prefrence.”
As Ileach you or the Ileach newspaper don’t talk for me! Nor the 3,200 other people on Islay. The irony of your and the Ileach’s campaign to name Islay’s new ferry when we ‘the people’ have had no vote to elect you people claiming to be ForArgyll nor at the Ileach is “hypocrisy”.
Wind your necks in and report the news “objectively” i.e. without bias: without being influenced by personal feelings and let the people talk for ourselves!
“Helpsupportprotect” You can find my latest YouTube video “Islay’s lost voice!” I bet you can’t dispute those facts, so-called ForArgyll?
Oh, still have not read in any media why a Seaking helicopter with armed police and dog handlers over christmas arrested an Islay man? Don’t worry though I will report it soon via YouTube people should know about Islay’s terrorist cell, had the procurator fiscal not dropped their case against me in Campbeltown Court on 15th May 2009 I would have exposed the cell then!
January 12th, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Hey so-called “ForArgyll” cat got your tongue? I am sorry for monopolising this forum but there is ‘nobody else’ supporting your and the Ileach’s “demand” for CMAL to replace the ferry name Finlaggan with your choice nobody has been given a vote on!
As Ileach I am happy with the name Finlaggan and chose not to vote as my favoured name
“Queen of the Hebrides” was not an option, something I have turned the page on – yet you AND the Ileach want to disregard 900 peoples votes is a disgrace! ForArgyll is clearly a dictating group. Where can I read your doctrine and read who you people are?
Come to Islay and face our community in an open meeting – and you and the Ileach editor can dictate to our community your claims above and see how you get on – as you are the Ileach’s biggest fan?
As the guy who delivers the “daily newspapers” to Islay I hear and see Islay’s news and opinion everyday and the naming of Islay’s ferry is not a ‘big deal’ you and the Ileach are making it out to be. The editorship of the Ileach is!
Are you so-called ForArgyll going to join my ‘Ileach’ call for an open democracy at Islay’s so-called community newspaper and position of editor to be a position all Islay residents can stand for and vote on?
I would write into the Ileach and voice these views within the Ileach so-called community newspaper but the Englishman Editor suppresses my opinion. I note Carl Reavey/Editor non-Ileach via the Ileach has started the new decade as he ended the last with his opinion, at least CMAL gave us a vote which is more than ForArgyll and the Ileach has given us!
January 12th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
For Colin Campbell:
Isle of Islay is not ‘our’ choice for the name for an Islay ferry, Colin. We understood that a substantial body of opinion on Islay would have liked the option of that name. We said, in the article you’re referring to, that Finlaggan is a great and historically resonant name bringing to the fore Islay’s role in the era of the Lords of the Isles.
It is hard to understand why Isle of islay was not a voting option, given than the naming of boats for islands is part of the naming convention CMAL inherited. So, since The Ileach was enterprising in identifying that the name was free and lassooing it for potential use, it would make sense for CMAL to do a quick online poll of Islay folk, offering a straight choice between Finlaggan and Isle of Islay.
We support The Ileach’s encouragement of voters to name the new Northlink Orkney freight boat, Isle of Islay – because it’s fun. Rather than go on a rant, the paper chose to go for a laugh with a sharp point.
And while you obviously have ‘issues’ – as we say these days, Colin – with The Ileach, sometimes an external view, like ours, is a useful counterpoint. It’s hard to believe that an island with the spirit of Islay would ever want ‘bland’.
What you’ve got in The Ileach is a spirited paper which practices markedly good journalism, balances local interest with a watchful eye on the bigger picture and is not afraid to say what it thinks.
This is the new journalism which is still emerging, largely internet driven and which has a lot to commend it. You can agree or disagree from one article to the next, but it provokes thinking, counter-opinions and discussion. Much of the value of our service comes from readers’ contributions through comments – thoughtful, challenging, expert, knowledgeable and open to exchange.
The Ileach does not speak ‘for’ Islay any more than we speak ‘for’ Argyll. It and we speak ‘to’ our respective audiences. But The Ileach is ‘for’ Islay in every word it prints, as we are ‘for’ Argyll is everything we say. We journalists may not always get it right but we stick our necks out in support of people and issues that would otherwise be rolled over by larger interests. In the case of Islay, these larger interests are, among others, Diageo and Bank of Scotland. In the case of Loch Striven, it is Clydeport; and in other cases across Argyll, it’s our own Council.
We’re an online service, Colin and, as you know, anyone can post a contrary view on any story we do and we publish almost all of them. We have only ever had to ‘kill’ two submitted comments – one was viciously libellous of an individual on personal grounds and one was racist in its views of ‘incomers’. We have never not published anything critical of ourselves.
Another thing to think about is just how punishingly hard work it is to get out a paper like The Ileach, issue after issue in relentless sequence – and work to keep it financially afloat. In work like this, you’re never ‘off’. The business means you can’t afford to be.
There’s nothing wrong with criticism – we take it seriously because without it we won’t grow – but it’s fair minded to pay attention to strengths and achievements. It’s also always easier to do nothing than to do something.
Argyll has a range of great local papers but Islay is lucky to have The Ileach, with a vitality and a voice that is very much its own – and we celebrate that. It says a lot ‘for’ Islay and it says a lot ‘for’ Argyll too.
January 12th, 2010 at 6:05 pm
Condesending and contradicting ForArgyll and in support of Islay’s hijacked Ileach newspaper in breach of the Ileach’s “Aims and Objectives” which you have not answered my question as an (on-line) journalist – how the Ileach that is trading to be free from campaign as your report above is “campaigning” supported by ForArgyll who have ‘no’ doctrine, democrasy or mandate to talk ForArgyll?
The Ileach was handed over to the community to stop it campaigning, if elements of ‘our community’ want to campaign then fair enought the Ileach can report that. Islay’s loudest voice i.e. the Ileach has ‘no right’ campaigning and no mandate from the community to do so and I note ForArgyll i.e. you have not joined my call for open democrasy at the Ileach. The Ileach editor should be chosen by the Islay community after all it claims to be a community newspaper, surely you can’t dispute that logic?
So, you “ForArgyll” not of ‘Islay’ want “…CMAL to do a quick online poll of Islay folk, offering a straight choice between Finlaggan and Islay of Islay.”. You have all ready reported above and I reiterate you reported the new ferry name Isle of Islay “…would have been the islanders’ preference.”
In your responce to me that’s now change to “We understood that a substantial body of opinion on Islay would have liked the option of that name.” You therefore on behalf of ForArgyll ‘you’ have mislead your readership, just as well a journalist like me is watching you and you can’t negate the fact the majority of comments via the Ileach’s letters page and ForArgyll forum have been critical of the Ileach editorship, which is treated with disregard by the Ileach and ForArgyll, is that not factually correct?
But back to your campaigning for Islay, as Ileach/from Islay you want an online poll open to abuse with two name choices over the four CMAL offered. I reiterate “Queen of the Hebrides” was ‘my’ favoured choice and you ForArgyll want to disregard that. An online poll would prove nothing and I take it you don’t care what people think who are ‘not’ online?
You are showing your true colours so-called “ForArgyll” and I note your comment that I “obviously have ‘issues’”. OK, I think your support of the Ileach’s “…encouragement of voters to name the Northlink Orkney freight boat, Isle of Islay – because it’s fun.” Is immature! And just proves what you want, you and the Ileach should get!
You conclude your Ileach’s ‘biggest fan’ responce to me with “Argyll has a range of great local papers but Islay is lucky to have The Ileach, with a vitality and voice that is very much its own – and we celebrate that. It says a lot ‘for’ Islay and it says a lot ‘for’ Argyll too.”
Aye, your right the Ileach’s voice is very much its own AND not the Islay’s community as it was intended to be. Where do the rest of Islay’s 3,200 community voice their opinion so the community can read it. Since the Ileach so-called community newspaper has money to burn registering a maritime name it can hold open ‘community’ meetings and face our community direct. I reiterate come to Islay and reiterate your responce to me and article in an open Islay community meeting that “…the Ileach is ‘for’ Islay in every word it prints, as we are ‘for’ Argyll in everything we say.”?
Can’t wait to hear who the two in three people Carl Reavey Ileach editor want’s to cut are and how the community in an open meeting will respond to his population control articles and other articles.
Before I go, since I am banned form the Ileach since my last 2006 letter printed in the Ileach exacerbated Reavey’s third anonymous “The White Settler” article of 2006 wanting to close ‘Port Ellen’ sparking off fury in our community – I think it was a disgrace Palmer and Reavey staff at Islay’s hijacked so-called community newspaper via that paper last year were complaing about the Council increasing road grip where two adults and a child from our community were killed in a car accident less than a year earlier. Even more of a disgrace Palmer and Reavey didn’t even mention their reason for that complaint was that they were cycling fanatics and didn’t like the bumpy road! Oh and 100% supported by ForArgyll too!
January 17th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
The ‘irony’ of all ironies! The ‘hypocrisy’ of all hypocrisies! AND patronizing me ForArgyll, your the one’s with egg on your face if only you could see the “wood for the trees”!
You write: “And while you obviously have ‘issues’ – as we say these days, Colin – the Ileach, sometimes an external view, like ours, is a useful counterpoint. It’s hard to believe that an island with spirit of Islay would ever want ‘bland’.”
In my opinion the Ileach is ‘bland’ AND unless I am mistaken and the information I was told yesterday was in error, Alison bell one of two winners of CMAL’s referendum naming Islay’s new ferry ‘Finlaggan’ you are campaigning to overturn is the daughter of Catriona Bell, former Ileach editor and now director with the Ileach who in responce too Richard Russell now Chairman of the Ileach outlined the Ileach’s doctrine too be free from and I quote: “…campaign…” Ileach, vol31, No. 20, 7th August 2004. If that is not the ‘irony’ of all “ironies” Catriona Bell’s Ileach letter 15th August 2009, page 5, titled “Hard Facts” and I quote her letter conclusion: “It’s up to us to keep our concerns before CalMac, and elected representatives. Volume of letters have been known to trigger action, and everyone who is concerned can contribute.”
Is that not the ‘irony’ of all “ironies” ForArgyll or are you lay?
You and Carl Reavey editor of the Ileach’s call to name Islay’s new ferry ‘Isle of Islay’ is nothing more then “brainwashing”. Say the name ‘Islay of Islay’ loud enough and over and over again and people would just give in too you, too shut you up! Duncan MacNeill of Port Ellen was correct to direct his Ileach letter 18th February 2006, Page 5, titled “Support for CalMac” “To the Editor” your mate Carl Reavey and Mr MacNeill wrote and I quote: “The general opinion in Port Ellen is that we are sick of this biased brainwashing, continually putting the boot in to a company which is well revered in these parts.”
I think ForArgyll who-ever you people are should apologise via the Ileach’s letters page I am banned from for supporting the Ileach’s breach of their doctrine or is journalism just more sleazy than MSP’s and MP’s over their attempt to hide their transgressions, the media do not let happen?
Which is even more ironic given the people elect the Government while ‘the media’ just print and suppress what the want – like the Ileach suppresses my Ileach opinion while dictating their’s!
I am happy to answer your question in your pro-Ileach ‘news article’ above and I reiterate your question: “Perhaps this is the foundation for the renewed imperialism of the The Ileach’s campaign to name the Orkney and Shetland Freight ferry, Isle of Islay.”.
The ‘hypocrisy’ of all “hypocrisies”! “…renewed imperialism of the The Ileach’s camaign…”. Dictonary definition of your word “imperialism” and I quote: “Takeover and dominate: the extension of power or authority over others in the interests of domination.”
Carl Reavey Ileach editor and Brian Palmer longest serving staff member at the Ileach – within Campbeltown Sheriff Court, you know the ‘law of the land’ had me convicted on the 31st July 2008 for my poster campaign against the hijacking of the Ileach by a dictatorship you “news article” above is further proof that my conviction on behalf of the Ileach who ForArgyll is its biggest fan was a miscarriage of justice, which I thank ForArgyll for and will now print off a copy of this extra evidence and inform John Watt, Area Procurator Fiscal who is looking into my claim of perjury against Carl Reavey Ileach editor.
I also note your 7th January 2010 article and I quote: “Robbie the Pict asks Prince Charles for help – but not humbly, reminding him, some of us still have claymores from culloden. A genuine hero for out times, Robbie the Pict…”
Aye – well – I, Colin M Cam Beul, used media techniques and Ileach “Community newspaper of the year 2006″ content in my ‘brief’ poster campaign against the Ileach who had me arrested and convicted where even the arresting Police Sergeant said “You would think they would expect it.”. It was a dark day for the media supressing my campaign and suppressing my human right the media enjoy to “freedom of expression” AND those in the media who support the regime at the hijacked Ileach so-called community newspaper – hang your heads in shame!!