Scottish Government awards £10,000 to WWI commemorations 20//4/14
The First World War commemorations on the Western Isles, led by Proiseact nan Ealan
(the Gaelic Arts Agency) has been given a funding boost of £10,000 by First Minister
Alex Salmond.
Proiseact nan Ealan will mark the significant contribution the people of the Western
Isles made to the First World War through a series of five multi-media exhibitions
and a series of community productions based on writings, songs and experiences of
those that lived and died in the Great War.
The First Minister made the announcement while on Lewis as part of a series of cabinet
meetings across Scotland and he paid tribute to those who perished on HMY Iolaire
off the coast of the Isle of Lewis on January 1, 1919 when returning home from war.
Visiting the HMY Iolaire memorial Mr Salmond said: “In 1919, off the coast of the
Isle of Lewis, more than 200 service personnel returning from war tragically lost
their lives when the HMY Iolaire sank so close to Stornoway Harbour. It remains one
of the largest domestic losses of life in the maritime history of the British Isles.
“This year, when we mark the centenary of the start of the Great War, we reflect
on the sacrifices made by generations of service men and women, including those currently
serving.
“The centenary programme will see commemorations of major battles and the observance
of significant domestic events, such as the loss of HMY Iolaire.”
Erica Morrison, Chief Executive of Proiseact nan Ealan said: “Many of our island
communities suffered an imaginable loss and we have a responsibility as a Gaelic
arts agency to commemorative the Iolaire loss and also to give a fitting tribute
to these families which contributed to the war effort.
‘This welcome funding coupled with other sources of financial support will enable
Pròiseact na Ealan to create a series of high quality, multi-media Gaelic exhibitions
capturing community perspectives, illuminating social impacts, legacies and lessons
for the rising generation based on the significant contribution made by those from
the Western Isles to the Great War.’