Growth in store for isle community project
A community project is soon to have a permanent home of its own after working out of three different premises for more than two decades.
Barra
Calls for change of plan on school kitchen closure after repairs made during inspection
Western Isles Council has been urged to scrap plans to shut a primary school kitchen after temporary repairs managed to get its ventilation system back in working order.
Call for ‘sudden plans’ to close island school’s canteen to be dropped
A MP has attacked a council for allegedly threatening to close a school canteen and axe the cook.
Broken down ferry causes disruption for commuters
West coast travellers have suffered ferry disruption after one of Caledonian MacBrayne’s ships broke down.
Kayak team attempt dramatic rescue of minke whale entangled in rope in Outer Hebrides
The death of a minke whale after a dramatic rescue attempt sparked a row about “ghost” fishing gear yesterday.
Barra ferry woes as business and tourism ‘hit hard’ by cancellations and delays
Politicians are calling for a full review of the Barra ferry service amid claims cancellations and breakdowns are crippling the local economy.
Further headache for Cal Mac as broken down ferry blocking entrance to Barra
Engineers on their way to fix a faulty Cal Mac ship have been hampered by ferries cancelling services due to stormy weather.
Design unveiled for Eilidh MacLeod memorial
The design for a memorial to Eilidh MacLeod has been unveiled nearly two years after the teenager was killed in the Manchester Arena bombing.
Barra boat grounded due to a fisherman’s creel
It might be one of the most expensive and largest vessels in the Scottish fleet, but yesterday islanders were left scratching their heads when a simple fisherman's creel was said to have brought the Barra boat to a standstill.
Skipper rescued from grounded fishing vessel off Barra
A crewman from a floundering fishing vessel near Barra was rescued by two passing vessels and a lifeboat this morning.
Barra transport group hopes to win minibus
A community transport group on Barra already does good work around the island.
Plans to build first island distillery on Barra moving ahead
Plans to construct the first whisky distillery on Barra are moving ahead with the launch of a £1.5 million community shares offer.
Tragic Western Isles fisherman may have lived if he was wearing a life jacket, sheriff rules
A fisherman who died after falling overboard may have lived if he had been wearing a life jacket, a sheriff has ruled.
Western Isles musician Willie Campbell teams up with Barra pupils to pen a song on emigration
A new song by well known Western Isles musician Willie Campbell with pupils from Castlebay Community School and accompanying video is now available to view online.
Review to look at smaller council wards for islands
A review of council wards on Scotland’s islands has been launched in a move that could see councillors represent smaller areas.
Winter weather batters Scotland as major ferry disruption hits the west coast
Schools were closed, ferries cancelled and homes suffered power cuts as storms battered the west.
Barra plans public memorial to Eilidh MacLeod and other Manchester terror victims
The family of Barra’s Manchester Bomb victim has set up a charitable trust in memory of the teenager.
Saving Barra bank is a ‘victory for common sense’
Barra's only bank has been saved in what has been called "a victory for common sense".
UK Treasury Minister hears importance of Barra bank
UK Treasury Minister John Glen visited Barra yesterday to hear how the closure of its only bank would impact the community.
First year brings cheer for island gin company
An island distillery is marking a year in business, having already exported around the world and created jobs.
Faulty linkspan sees ferry diverted 166 miles away after another day of travel chaos
A faulty linkspan meant that ferry passengers from Barra had to travel to Uig on Skye yesterday – 166 miles away from the ship’s usual destination of Oban.
Faulty equipment causes ferry chaos between Barra and Oban
Rita CamFerry passengers between Barra and Oban suffered lengthy delays yesterday after a faulty linkspan saw the service being diverted via another island.
Ferry turns back after infant is injured
A ferry had to return to harbour after an infant fell and was injured during a sailing between Stornoway and Ullapool.
People on Barra are being urged to help save the island’s only bank
People on Barra are being urged to take part in a review which could save the island’s only bank.
RBS to suspend mobile bank van on Barra due to ‘low usage, ferry capacity and local hostility’
The Royal Bank of Scotland is to suspend its mobile bank van service on the Isle of Barra because of low usage, lack of ferry capacity and local hostility towards staff on some occasions.
Lifeboat pulls fishing vessel to safety after 11-hour rescue mission
A fishing boat was towed to safety during a rescue mission that lasted nearly 11 hours.
Pregnant deer killed illegally in the Western Isles
Police Scotland has appealed for information into the “illegal” killing of two pregnant red deer on North Uist.
Family tributes paid to Barra teen killed in Manchester attack
Barra victim Eilidh Macleod’s great-uncle last night described the “touching” and “exceptional” ceremony.
Barra terror victims described as vivacious, talented and inspirational
A schoolgirl from Barra who was killed in the Manchester Arena bombing will today be remembered as “vivacious and talented.”
‘Needless’ RBS mobile bank ‘uses up vital ferry spaces’
A mobile bank introduced to the Isle of Barra after finance bosses threatened to close the island branch is needlessly taking up valuable deck space as the tourism season kicks in, the local MP has claimed.
VIDEO: Scottish band releases single to raise money for memorial to Barra Manchester attack victim Eilidh MacLeod
A Scottish band has released a charity single in memory of Barra teen Eilidh MacLeod, who died in last year's Manchester Arena attack.
Cal Mac boss to be queried by Uist councillors following chaos on the Skye to Lochmaddy route
Cal Mac boss Robbie Drummond will face the wrath of Uist councillors when he meets them this Friday.