Independence march in Stornoway

Around 500 Scottish independence supporters marched through the town of Stornoway this afternoon.

A rally was also held at the Acres car park.

The event was the first pro-independence parade held in the Western Isles.

Organisers hailed the “success” of the event and said they planned it to become an annual march.

A number of people travelled from the mainland to attend.

Campaign group, Outer Hebrides For Independence, said they organised the event to allow pro-independence supporters from the islands to take place in parade closer to home.

Chairperson, Heather Murray, was delighted with the size of the turnout which exceeded organisers’ hopes.

She said: Today went brilliantly.”

Ms Murray explained the reason for staging the event in Stornoway is because time and distance prevented many island-based independence supporters from participating in a mainland march

Alison Mackay, a member of the organising committee, said: “We are losing a day on each side of a mainland event so we thought of having our own march here for people who do not have the time or the ability to go away.

She pointed out the outcome of today “proves there’s a demand” for a local event.

“People who have never been to the island before have come today. They are loving it. They are enjoying the scenery and also promoting the Yes movement.

“Hopefully every year the event will get bigger and bigger.”

Organisers said they plan to “keep going” and staging a pro-independence parade in Stornoway every year “until Scotland gets independence.”

For Saor Alba pipes and drums - the “pipe band of the Scottish Independence Yes movement - it was their inaugural public performance as they led the parade from the Acres car park on Sandwick Road up Matheson Road, through Bayhead and back to the starting point.

Hundreds march for independence in the Western Isles

27 April 2019