The 50th anniversary of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar was marked with an event at Stornoway
Town Hall on Friday.
Speeches at the event were given by Cllr Paul Steele, Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean
Siar, Angus Campbell, former Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Donald Martin,
former Lord Lieutenant of the Western Isles. Cllr Kenny Macleod, Convener of Comhairle
nan Eilean Siar took on the role of Master of Ceremonies.
Notably present at the event were four Conveners of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Alexander
Matheson, Alex Macdonald, Norman Macdonald and Kenny Macleod) 3 Leaders of Comhairle
nan Eilean Siar (Angus Campbell, Roddie Mackay and Paul Steele) and 3 Chief Executives
of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Roy Maciver, Bill Howat and Malcolm Burr).
The event also served as the official launch of the Comhairle’s 50th anniversary
publication “50 Years of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar”.
The book is now available for sale to the public at Museum nan Eilean (Stornoway)
and the reception of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Sandwick Road Offices. The book
will also be available for sale in other outlets across the Western Isles over the
course of the next couple of weeks.
In his speech Paul Steele, Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar said: “For those of
my generation it is easy to take for granted the fact that we live on a chain of
islands with its own Local Authority and the accountability of local elected representatives.
“It is all my generation have known but many in this room bore witness to genuine
transformational change. It is therefore important that we all look back and understand
the massive achievements of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar since 1975 and the huge improvements
made for individuals living in our islands over that time.”
50 years of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
21 May 2025
