Years ago I treated myself to a subscription of the Ileach, Islay's newspaper. Even though it arrived 1-2 weeks after publishing, we enjoyed it enough to renew our subscription. Then a couple of years ago, the Ileach became available in pdf format. This is great since not only is it much cheaper but it comes direct to my email inbox in a timely way and the photos are in colour. It's a great way to learn about modern Islay and often there are articles pertinent to genealogy/history/geography. Also if you're planning a future trip to Islay, a subscription is invaluable. For further info on subscriptions, go to http://www.ileach.co.uk/subs The following is an article from the latest edition of the Ileach, Sept 2, 2006, reprinted here with their permission. Nerabus Conservation Project The Finlaggan Trust now owns this land in Nerabus Lower Burial Ground, which was formerly in the possession of the Clan Donald Lands Trust. In this burial ground are the remains of a chapel, probably dedicated to Saint Columba, dating from the 14th or 15th century when Nerabus lands belonged to the Abbey of Derry. There are also several recumbent Medieval carved gravestones, and a freestanding cross once stood here commemorating a man of high status, almost certainly a MacKay of the Rinns. The MacKays were appointed hereditary officers of the Rinns by the Lords of the Isles. Two parts of this cross are now in the Museum of Islay Life. Eleven stones in the Lower Burial Ground, including the cross, were recorded by R. C. Graham in "The Carved Stones of Islay", published in 1895. Two of those grave slabs are now lost, while the remaining eight have recently been cleaned, repaired and placed on a gravel bed within a stone plinth, and covered with protective toughened glass. The stone plinth was constructed by local man Douglas Smith, while the cleaning, repair and relocation of the stones was undertaken in March 2006 by the Edinburgh-based firm of Nicholas Boyes Stone Conservation. The Finlaggan Trust provided part of the funding and received a great deal of advice and financial support, led by the Oban-based Nàdair Trust, through whom a Heritage Lottery Fund grant was obtained. Historic Scotland inspectors gave us help, advice and funding, as did Argyll and the Isles Enterprise, the Community Economic Development Programme, and Argyll & Bute Council. Finlaggan Trust would like to thank all who advised and gave financial assistance. The project was formally opened on 25th August by Nàdair Trust chairman Mike Robertson. Cheerio Sue Visser Ontario, Canada

Hi Sue, Thanks for sharing this very interesting story with us. Are there any photos of the gravestones? Toni >From: "Sue Visser" <genealgal2@execulink.com> >Reply-To: SCT-ISLAY-L@rootsweb.com >To: SCT-ISLAY-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: [SCT-ISLAY] The Ileach and an Ileach article re NERABUS LOWER >BURIAL GROUND and the MacKAYs of the Rhinns > >The following is an article from the latest edition of the Ileach, Sept 2, >2006, reprinted here with their permission. > >Nerabus Conservation Project > >The Finlaggan Trust now owns this land in Nerabus Lower Burial Ground, >which was formerly in the possession of the Clan Donald Lands Trust. In >this burial ground are the remains of a chapel, probably dedicated to Saint >Columba, dating from the 14th or 15th century when Nerabus lands belonged >to the Abbey of Derry. There are >also several recumbent Medieval carved gravestones, and a freestanding >cross once stood here commemorating a man of high status, almost certainly >a MacKay of the Rinns. The MacKays were appointed hereditary officers of >the Rinns by the Lords of the Isles. Two parts of this cross are now in >the Museum of Islay Life. Eleven stones in the Lower Burial Ground, >including the cross, were recorded by R. C. Graham in "The Carved Stones of >Islay", >published in 1895. Two of those grave slabs are now lost, while the >remaining eight have recently been cleaned, repaired and placed on a gravel >bed within a stone plinth, and covered with protective toughened glass. The >stone plinth was constructed by local man Douglas Smith, while the >cleaning, repair and relocation of the stones was undertaken in March 2006 >by the Edinburgh-based firm of Nicholas Boyes Stone Conservation. The >Finlaggan Trust provided part of the funding and received a great deal of >advice and financial support, led by the Oban-based Nàdair Trust, through >whom a Heritage Lottery Fund grant was obtained. Historic Scotland >inspectors gave us help, advice and funding, as did Argyll and the Isles >Enterprise, the Community Economic Development Programme, and Argyll & Bute >Council. Finlaggan Trust would like to thank all who advised and gave >financial assistance. The project was formally opened on 25th August by >Nàdair Trust chairman Mike Robertson. > >Cheerio >Sue Visser >Ontario, Canada > > >==== SCT-ISLAY Mailing List ==== >You can find older, archived messages from this mailing list by visiting: >http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~steve/islay/archive1.htm - and from April >1999, you can access archived messages at >http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/SCT-ISLAY > _________________________________________________________________ Deck to dock: outfit your cottage in stylish comfort. Check out Sympatico / MSN Shopping for great Cottage Living ideas. http://shopping.sympatico.msn.ca/category/shp/?bCatID=11,ptnrid=176,ptnrdata=081801