Rural Europe on the move English_chapt1_6 | Page 38

CHAPTER 3
it. Isobel’s vision was to gather the
“It certainly was an exciting time,”
bit of apprehension at the scale of the
strength and energy of the Forum recalled Karen Helliwell, the challenges ahead. So we were more
Synergies folks together with Scottish secretary of the Eigg Residents than happy at the thought of sharing
decision-makers and land-reform Association and one of the many our plans for the future with others.
activists to help the islanders start on strong island women involved in the We were opened to all ideas and
that new turn of the Eigg journey. campaign, “but there was still quite a suggestions!”
PE OP LE !
Based in the very remote Shetland island of Foula, passionate about Scottish
history and rural development, Isobel Holbourn exerted a huge influence as a
writer and broadcaster. Having brought up her family when there was still no
electricity or running water on the island, her active community involvement
promoted the Foula airstrip and the Foula electricity scheme. Drawing from
her personal experience, she was instrumental in setting up the Highland and
Island Forum as a networking organisation, bringing together isolated rural
communities to learn from each other. Enthusiastically involving herself in the
work of Forum Synergies, she then served as the first president from 2000 to
2006. ‘She was full of fun, always up for a laugh and she saw the great side of
everybody.’ Sadly she passed away in 2010 and is much missed.
From storytelling
to ceilidh dancing
Organising a social evening to
welcome everyone in the Big House,
and which has now come to mean
energetic dancing to the traditional
reels and jigs of the Scottish Gaelic
culture.
“Music and dance are very important
now acquired by the islanders, was to us,” explained Karen, “it cuts across
the perfect setting to signal Eigg’s all generations and all the differences
positive intentions: subverting a place there might be between the indigenous
associated with a rigid social hierarchy islanders and those that have moved
into an open, fluid and social space here in the last 20 years. For us, music
was the best way to kick things off! is a huge part of our identity and
Then came the important stuff -
‘sense of place’. Every year we have
the ‘ceilidh’. The ‘ceilidh’ is a Gaelic a small traditional music and dance
institution which originally meant a festival – Feis Eige- to ensure the next
sharing of news, stories and songs, generation will continue with ceilidh
dancing and play fiddle and accordion
tunes. The old folks used to say that if
7. Winnie Ewing Member of European
Parliament (MEP) (centre)
8. From right, Hannes Lorenzen, Vanessa
Halhead and Drennan Watson
34
the island loses its music, it will lose its
soul, and we certainly don’t want that
to happen.”