Fàilte! Welcome!

Taing dhuibh airson tadhal air a’ làrach-lìn againn agus tha mi an dòchas gu faigh sibh fiosrachadh a tha feumail dhuibh.

Thank you for visiting our web-site and I hope you will find the information helpful.

Iain Macaulay in his Lieutenant's uniform

’S e prìomh dhleastanas Morair-ionaid a’ Chrùin ’s na h-Eileanan Siar, a bhith a’ riochdachadh A Mhòrachd An Rìgh agus a’ dion inbhe a’ Chrùin. Tha mi dèanamh ceangal eadar An Rìgh agus na h-eileanan agus a’ brosnachadh co-obrachadh am measg nam buidhnean saor-thoileach agus nan seirbheisean armachd sa choimhearsnachd againn.

Tha mi an-còmhnaidh ro-thoilichte tadhal air buidhnean airson tuilleadh fiosrachaidh a thoirt seachad air obair na dreuchd agus ma tha sibh airson ’s gun tadhail mi oirbh leigibh fhios thugam aig:

Iain MacAmhlaidh
Morair-ionaid a’ Chrùin
'Solas', 81 Col Uarach
Eilean Leòdhais, HS2 0LT

Fòn-taighe – (01851) 820501
Fòn-làimhe – 07747456059
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As Lord-Lieutenant of the Western Isles, I represent His Majesty The King and my overall duty is to uphold the dignity of the Crown. I am the link between His Majesty and the islands and my role is to encourage a spirit of co-operation in the voluntary, uniformed and armed forces sectors of our community.

I am always available to visit groups to provide more information on the role and work of the Lord-Lieutenant. If you would like a visit, you can get in touch with me at:

Iain Macaulay
HM Lord-Lieutenant
'Sollas', 81 Upper Coll
Isle of Lewis, HS2 0LT

Telephone – (01851) 820501
Mobile – 07747456059
e-mail:

Mu dheidhinn na h-Eileanan Siar

Tha na h-Eileanan Siar a’ gabhail a-steach prìomh eileanan Leòdhais, Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh, Beàrnaraigh, Uibhist a Tuath, Beinn na Fadhla, Uibhist a Deas, Èirisgeigh, Barraigh agus Bhatarsaigh. A bharrachd air Hiort agus Rockall, tha 50 eilean fàsach san roinn cuideachd. Tha 130 mhìltean de dh’astar eadar an ceann a tuath agus an ceann a deas agus tha cabhsairean agus bàtaichean aiseig a’ ceangal nan 6 prìomh eileanan.

Tha 2898sq Km de mheudachd anns na h-eileanan air fad.

Aig Cunntais-sluaigh 2011 bha 27,684 a’ fuireach anns na h-Eileanan Siar le 53% luchd-bruidhinn na Gàidhlig, gar dèanamh mar an sgìre as motha ann an Alba airson luchd-labhairt a’ chànain.

About the Western Isles

The Western Isles comprises the main islands of Lewis, Harris, Scalpay, Berneray, North Uist, Benbecula, Eriskay, South Uist, Barra and Vatersay. In addition to St Kilda and Rockall, the area also covers some 50 uninhabited islands. The distance between the north and the south is some 130 miles and causeways and ferries link the main 6 islands.

The islands cover an area of 2898 sq Km.

The population of the Western Isles, at the 2011 Census, was 27,684 of which 53% were Gaelic speakers making it the largest Gaelic speaking community in Scotland.

Cò sinn? Who are we?

Iain Macaulay holding remembrance wreath

The Lord-Lieutenant

Iain Macaulay was appointed Lord-Lieutenant on 22nd March 2022, in succession to Donald Martin CVO who was appointed Lord-Lieutenant on 24th November 2016, having succeeded Alexander Matheson CVO, OBE who had held the post since 2001.

The native Gaelic speaker was born and brought up in Sollas, North Uist and has been a Deputy Lieutenant since 2003.

He retired as Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s (Western Isles Council’s) Director of Social and Community Services in 2016 after a 35-year career in social work and has taken on more diverse voluntary roles since then.

His main interest since retiring have been on family and participation in a number of voluntary community organisations while he also enjoys gardening, walking, spending time in Uist and following sport; in particular Scottish and English football.

Iain is married to Anne and they have two children, Marion and Andrew, who were brought up on our Grenitote croft in North Uist before moving to Lewis in 1997 on his appointment as Depute Director of Social Work.

Marion is a Gaelic Medium teacher in Inverness Gaelic School and is married to Iain who works for the Crown Prosecution Service. They have a son, James.

Andrew is the Western Isles Child Protection Coordinator and is married to Marianne who is a community nurse. They have three young girls, Orla, Iris and Annie who live in the same village as us.

Leas Morair-ionaid a’ Chrùin

Tha Ealasaid (Betty) Nic An t-Saoir à Barraigh na Leas Morair-ionaid a’ Chrùin. Bha i na manaidseir ann an oifis an CAB ann am Barraigh agus na Comhairliche bho 1990 gu 1994. Bha i na ball de Bhòrd Slàinte nan Eilean bho 1997 gu 2005 agus na Iar Chathraiche air a’ Bhòrd airson an dà bhliadhna mu dheireadh. Bha i cuideachd air Bòrd Colaisde a’ Chaisteil fad 8 bliadhna gu 2010, na Cathraiche airson na 2 mu dheireadh. Chaidh a suidheachadh na Iar Mhorair ann an 1998 agus tha i air seirbheisean a thoirt seachad do ceithir Mhorair-ionaid a’ Chrùin.

Vice Lord-Lieutenant

The Vice Lord-Lieutenant is Elizabeth (Betty) McAtear from Barra. Mrs McAtear is a former manager of the local CAB office in Barra and was a local Councillor from 1990 to 1994. She served as a member of the Western Isles Health Board from 1997 to 2005 and was Vice Chair of the Board for the last two years of her term. She also served on the Board of Lews Castle College for 8 years till 2010, the final 2 years as its Chair. She was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant in 1998 and has since served four Lord-Lieutenants.

Iar Mhorair-ionaid

  • Mairead Doig DL Steòrnabhagh, Leòdhas
  • Seòras MacDhòmhnaill DL Steòrnabhagh
  • Alasdair MacEachainn DL, Beinn na Fadhla
  • Aonghas S Mac an t-Saoir DL, Bornis, Uibhist a Deas
  • Ceitidh Anna NicFhionghain DL, Na Hearadh
  • Coinneach Iain MacIllFhinnein MBE DL, Calanais, Leòdhas
  • Anna Nicsuain, DL, Dail bho Thuath, Leòdhas

Deputy Lieutenants

  • Margaret Doig DL, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis
  • George Macdonald DL, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis
  • Alasdair MacEachen DL, Benbecula
  • Angus J Macintrye DL, Bornish, Isle of South Uist
  • Katie Ann Mackinnon DL, Stockinish, Harris
  • Kenneth John MacLennan MBE DL, Callanish, Isle of Lewis.
  • Annie Macsween DL MBE, North Dell, Isle of Lewis

Rianadair

Tha Rianadair aig gach Morair-ionaid airson taic agus comhairle le cùisean rianachd.

’S i Mairead NicAoidh bho Dhail bho Dheas ann an Leòdhas, a tha na Stiùiriche aig companaidh lagh Anderson Macarthur ann an Steòrnabhagh a tha san dreuchd seo. Cheumnaich Mairead bho Oilthigh Ghlaschu.

Mairead NicAoidh
Rianadair gu Morair-ionaid a’ Chrùin
Seann-togalaichean Banca na h-Alba
STEÒRNABHAGH, HS1 2BG

Fòn-oifis – (01851) 703356
Fòn-làimhe – 07788 985 111
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Clerk to the Lieutenancy

Each Lieutenancy has a Clerk whose duty is to undertake the administrative functions for the Lord-Lieutenant.

The current Clerk is Margaret Mackay in Lewis who is a Director of the long-established Stornoway solicitors Anderson Macarthur. Margaret is a graduate of Glasgow University.

Margaret Mackay
Clerk to the Lieutenancy
Old Bank of Scotland Buildings
Stornoway, HS1 2BG

Office – (01851) 703356
Mobile – 07788 985 111
Email:

Naidheachdan News

Two Western Isles voluntary organisations, SHARE based in South Uist/Eriskay and Lewis-based Long Term Conditions Hebrides have been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service. This is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.

news story illustration

The two charities are amongst the 262 winners from across the UK and 20 from Scotland, who received the prestigious award this year. It’s particularly noteworthy that the representation of the Western Isles in the list of winners demonstrates just how well the area is represented within a national context. The King’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups to benefit their communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and, following his accession, His Majesty The King emphasised his desire to continue the Award.

SHARE in Daliburgh, 2023 winners of KAVS Award

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Iain Macaulay, Lord-Lieutenant of the Western Isles said, “SHARE operates a thrift shop and café in Daliburgh, South Uist and reaches out to older people in the community, some of whom are lonely and isolated. It stands out for being a complete volunteer-led organisation that provides services which fill a gap in local service provision. It also reduces household expenditure on books and clothes and reduces the community’s carbon footprint”. Iain Macaulay added “incredibly, SHARE has distributed over £80,000 to other worthy local causes. This is an amazing contribution and all achieved through an extraordinary successful and well operated volunteer group, located in a small rural and island community.” Read more…

SHARE in Daliburgh, 2023 winners of KAVS Award

Iain Macaulay, Lord-Lieutenant of the Western Isles said, “SHARE operates a thrift shop and café in Daliburgh, South Uist and reaches out to older people in the community, some of whom are lonely and isolated. It stands out for being a complete volunteer-led organisation that provides services which fill a gap in local service provision. It also reduces household expenditure on books and clothes and reduces the community’s carbon footprint”. Iain Macaulay added “incredibly, SHARE has distributed over £80,000 to other worthy local causes. This is an amazing contribution and all achieved through an extraordinary successful and well operated volunteer group, located in a small rural and island community.”

Left to right: Margaret Walker, Avril Campbell, Kenny MacLennan DL, Alasdair MacEachen DL, Angus MacIntyre DL, Iain Macaulay L-L, Norma Neil

The Long Term Conditions Hebrides (LTCH) winners of KAVS Award

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The Long Term Conditions Hebrides (LTCH) provides support, advice and guidance to people living with Long Term Conditions in Lewis and Harris. Iain Macaulay said “this well managed group is volunteer-led in terms of direction and oversight and has been a "self-starter" organisation, providing support for people who suffer from anxiety, lack confidence, are socially isolated or who are dealing with mental well-being matters. It uses social media to promote its services, working hard to reach out to individuals who may benefit from the support available. Strong links with local GP practices is a significant factor in its success and strengthens the profile and reputation of Long Term Conditions Hebrides within the local community” Read more…

The Long Term Conditions Hebrides (LTCH) winners of KAVS Award

The Long Term Conditions Hebrides (LTCH) provides support, advice and guidance to people living with Long Term Conditions in Lewis and Harris. Iain Macaulay said “this well managed group is volunteer-led in terms of direction and oversight and has been a "self-starter" organisation, providing support for people who suffer from anxiety, lack confidence, are socially isolated or who are dealing with mental well-being matters. It uses social media to promote its services, working hard to reach out to individuals who may benefit from the support available. Strong links with local GP practices is a significant factor in its success and strengthens the profile and reputation of Long Term Conditions Hebrides within the local community”

Newsletters

read latest newsletter Read the most recent PDF newsletter from the Lord Lieutenant here (or dip in to the archive).