Who doesn’t love a good ceilidh? We started last year with what would be the first in a series of traditional ceilidhs, a wonderful celebration of the Old New Year. It was especially heartening to see the growing skill and confidence of our younger musicians. The evening set the tone for a year rich in music, creativity and community spirit.

Soon after it was time for us to mark World Gaelic Week. We hosted a service of worship and a bilingual reminiscence afternoon focusing on memories of Grimsay School. It was fantastic to welcome so many past pupils, staff and parents. Thanks to the work of our museum volunteers, these were shaped into a superb exhibition, which we launched at the Grimsay Family Fun Day in June.

Ceann na h-Àirigh was, once more, home to a vibrant cultural programme.

We hosted monthly exhibitions in our café, showcasing the work of local artists. In the evenings, our series of talks transported those who came along from Mongolia to St Kilda via New Zealand! We continued our community quizzes, some in Gaelic, others with a musical theme, and they have proved so popular they are now a regular fixture. We collaborated with Ceòlas to welcome step dancer, Sandra Robertson, to lead two evening workshops. Each week our Craft Café continued to flourish, with participants producing beautiful work, including a stunning set of crankie boxes which were showcased at the SECC. We also hosted a successful book sale to raise funds to catalogue and display the late John Love’s important natural history collection.

Workshops and heritage-focused activities with partners such as the Woodland Trust, Uist Community Archaeology Group and Guerilla Archaeology added further depth to the programme, bringing an energetic, creative buzz to Ceann na h-Àirigh.

The Grimsay Growers, who care for the community polytunnel, worked tirelessly throughout the year, embarking on seaweed and manure-gathering expeditions to enrich the growing beds. Their efforts produced high-quality local food for sale by donation, helped reduce food miles for local residents, and raised more than £1,000 for Grimsay Community Association.

We were delighted to welcome pupils from Sgoil Uibhist a Tuath for a lively, hands-on visit centred on the Grimsay Boats. The children learned about the Stewart boat building techniques and why the vessels were so successful both in the open waters of the Atlantic and the rocky inlets and sandy shallows of the Minch. They learnt the Gaelic names for different parts of the boats, and enjoyed dressing up and sketching their favourite museum objects. A visit to the old Stewart Boat Shed completed their visit, bringing the past vividly to life.

Last year we also marked the first anniversary of the Grimsay Folk and Live Music Club. The club, which meets on the second Friday of every month, is a true community hub for music lovers, bringing people together with an eclectic mix of performances and an atmosphere that is genuinely loved by all who attend. The first Friday of each month has also become an important and hugely enjoyable gathering where musicians share new work and prepare pieces for club night. We hugely appreciate the loyal group of regular performers who help to keep the club going.

Music is core to what we do and, appropriately, one of the standout moments of last year was our traditional ceilidh and dance in September, when Carinish Hall was filled to capacity. Thanks to the fantastic artistes, the generosity of local businesses and everyone who supported the raffle or attended on the night, the event raised an impressive £2,066 towards Griomasaigh Còmhla.

We continue our wider fundraising efforts, and the campaign has now reached an extraordinary £10,021 through the generosity of the community and the Grimsay diaspora. It is yet another reminder of the remarkable commitment and goodwill of the people of our islands.

For more information about Grimsay Community Association or any of the activities offered, email info@grimsay.org or call 07842 963 428.