Yearend Milestone80 Years YoungNorman Maclean – if he turns up!

31st December doesn’t just mark the end of 2016. It’s also the day when the number of Island Voices Facebook “likes” reached 2000! The project now works on a voluntary basis, so we’d like to take this opportunity to thank all our contributors over the past year who continue to make this an interesting site to visit. Our biggest project this year was undoubtedly “Saoghal Thormoid“, which we were glad to bring out in Norman’s 80th year, but we shouldn’t let that overshadow the contributions of many others. We were particularly happy to start pushing the “Sharing Gaelic Voices” theme this year, which has already doubled the number of languages in which Guthan nan Eilean videos have appeared. We hope to grow that number further in 2017…

We’re delighted to have reached 2000 Facebook “likes”, of course. The page is a great way of spreading news about the project. But our real “home” is here on WordPress. If you want to be sure of getting all the news about what we do without worrying about Facebook’s sometimes mysterious algorithms, you may wish to consider subscribing for e-mail notification? If so, check the right-hand sidebar for instruction, just below the “Follow on Facebook” icon.

We wish all our followers a happy 2017! Keep the ideas coming…

Bliadhn’ Ùr Mhath – nuair a thig i!

Ceann-bliadhna sona do Thormod an-diugh! Norman Maclean is 80 today, and still going strong. The BBC marked this milestone with a special item on the News – and we wish him well at Island Voices/Guthan nan Eilean. What a contribution he’s made, and is still making! (Remember also to check his recently started blog…)

There’s a treat in store for anyone who’s seen and liked Norman Maclean‘s work on Island Voices (or elsewhere). Norman is starting his own blog – “If he turns up” – and is inviting readers to give it a shot. It will consist of slices from his newest title, not yet published – “A Half-Breed Looks Back”.

“I’ll do this on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays until I have evidence, one way or another, that there is measurable demand for my stuff. Please share with anyone who may be turned on by my ramblings about slum life in 50s Glasgow, undergraduate lowlights and a veteran entertainer’s return to the Hebrides.”

Here’s his first post – Ready, Steady, Go!

Nach sgaoil sibh an naidheachd seo, a chàirdean!