1. The Island of Gigha
and Seamus McSporran
The island of Gigha (pronounced Ghee-a) is six miles long, hardly two wide, and
has a population of about 150, mostly farmers and fishermen. It is 120 miles by
road from Glasgow plus, weather permitting, a twenty minute ferry ride across
from the coast of Kintyre. The island's east coast has several quiet white sandy
bays but the western shore is exposed to the full force of the Atlantic Ocean. On a
clear day it is reputedly possible to see Ireland from the top of the highest hill.
Most visitors to the island come to see the gardens of Achamore House, amongst
the finest in Scotland. The creation of a former laird, Sir Thomas Horlick (of
bedtime drink fame), these fifty acres contain splendid banks of rhododendrons
and many other rare exotic plants. It is said the site was chosen because of the
mildness of the climate, affected as it is by the Gulf Stream. The best time of year
to experience the blossoms is from March to June.
Gigha has many ancient ruins and carved stones. Of particular interest is one of
only two standing stones in all the Hebrides that bears an inscription in the
ancient Ogham script which dates back to the early Scottish kingdom of Dalraida.
The regular ferry service from Tayinloan on the mainland arrives at the main
village of Ardminish. Here is the island's only shop which doubles as the post
office. The store is stocked with everything from
bananas to televisions and since 1965 it has been
operated by Seamus McSporran. Seaumus is also the
postman, fireman and petrol pump attendant. He
drives the taxi which also serves as the school bus,
the ambulance and the hearse. In fact Seamus has
fourteen jobs on the island. His duties include
piermaster, rent collector, registrar of births,
marriages and deaths, and he also hires bicycles to
tourists. He sells life insurance and is also the
undertaker! He and his wife Margaret also run a bed
and breakfast establishment. It is said no man is an
island but Seamus comes close!
Gigha is an unhurried and peaceful place, little changed by the passing centuries,
Reading Exercises for ENIS Level 1
2. yet recently it has been much in the news and has even been the subject of a
television documentary. The island is actually one of the largest in the UK to be
privately owned. The laird, a property tycoon who bought the island in 1989, went
bankrupt as many did in the following recession, and the entire island was
repossessed by a Swiss bank. The only hotel was closed and the future of the
islanders and their homes was put in doubt. Gigha is now up for sale. Let us hope
the new owner appreciates this special place and the islanders can continue to live
undisturbed as they once did.
Since this article was written, Gigha has a new owner and the hotel is open for
visitors again. In 1989 Seamus was awarded the British Empire Medal for his
services to the island. And in April 2000 he was featured in the national press
when he announced his intention to retire from his remaining jobs. We wish him
well in his rather more relaxed new lifestyle. There is an interview with Seamus by
an Australian reporter on our links page.
LATEST. October 2001. Ill health has prompted the island's Laird, a retiring
businessman, to sell the island and the residents have united to gather the four
million pounds necessary to secure it for themselves. There is a BBC article about
the sale on our links page here
This information was taken from
http://www.mcsparron.talktalk.net/clan/clanbio4.htm
for educational purposes only.
Gigha, Scotland, UK
Reading Exercises for ENIS Level 1
