From the WEST HIGHLAND FREE PRESS
Celebrating the 5th anniversary of
the passing of the Isle of Gigha into communal ownership.
It was a moment to bring a lump to the throat. Twenty-one children from Gigha Primary School singing a Gaelic song in praise of their island — tir tha comhnard àlainn luachrach — to celebrate the fifth anniversary of its entry into community ownership.
That's the island moving into community ownership - not the school.
There are three little miracles contained in that single sentence. First, the fact that Gigha of all places has ended up as a role model for what community ownership can achieve. For this was an island that had swung between the extremes of what the alternative model, private landlordism, are capable of doing to a place.
Against all the odds, an island just a short crossing from the mainland, more than 50 miles south of Glasgow, has maintained a living, Gaelic identity into the 21st century; a precious thread that can now — just possibly — be sustained into another generation. That is the second little miracle that a visit to Gigha always reminds you of.
And the third one is that there are now 21 children in that school with another eight waiting to join it. Just five years ago, the roll was down to six. Twenty-four fine new houses complete with solar panels have been built on Gigha since the community take-over. There is work for everyone. The excellent hotel, also owned by the community, is open all year round rather than seasonally. There is plenty money to invest in further ventures, because of three wind turbines which spin merrily around — named Creideas, Dochas agus Carthannas. And so on.
What a great story it is and what a powerful example it sets for others to follow.
A delightful, progressive tale, well-told by one of the best journalists and editors native to Scotland. Read the whole story, folks. You won't find anything like it reported in the pages of "leading" newspapers either side of the pond.
Brian's a former MP, ex-Tony Blair's cabinet, founding editor and publisher of the WHFP back when I think he only shaved twice a week.
Posted: Sun - April 1, 2007 at 03:42 PM