News Naidheachdan

[Màiri Rodgers - Preseantair] Tha muinntir Bheàrnaraigh, ann an Leòdhas, a’ beachdachadh air an t-eilean a cheannach. As dèidh an fheadhainn leis a bheil e leigeil fhaicinn gum biodh iad deònach a reic riutha; bhàsaich an duine leis an robh e, an count Robin Mirrlees san Ògmhios an-uiridh. Agus chaidh an uair sin fhàgail aig ogha nach eil ga iarraidh. Bha an tè-naidheachd againne, Catriona NicIlleathain, ann am Beàrnaraigh agus dh’ inns i dhuinn beagan mu dheidhinn.

[Catriona NicIlleathain – Neach-aithris] ’S ann leis an Count Robin Mirrlees a bha Eilean Bheàrnaraigh agus an oighreachd mun cuairt air agus bhàsaich esan san Ògmhios an-uiridh. B’ ann leis a bha Eilean Bheàrnaraigh agus cuideachd eilean beag far Eilein Bheàrnaraigh, Beàrnaraigh Bheag. Chan eil duine a’ fuireach ann an sin agus tha sin ga làimhseachadh ann an dòigh eadar-dhealaichte agus fa leth bhon an seo. ‘S e a tha sinn a’ bruidhinn air an-dràsta, ach Eilean Bheàrnaraigh fhèin far a bheil mi nam sheasamh an-dràsta agus tha còrr is dà cheud a’ fuireach ann. Nis, dh’ fhàg an Count Mirrlees, dh’fhàg e an t-eilean an seo aig ogha dha agus tha luchd-lagh ogha a’ Chount air sgrìobhadh gu muinntir an àite agus tha iad air a ràdh riutha gum faod iad an t-eilean a cheannach, mas e ‘s gu bheil iad ga iarraidh.

[Màiri Rodgers - Preseantair] Agus a Chatriona, tha ùidh aig Muinntir an Eilein a cheannach, ma-thà?

[Catriona NicIlleathain – Neach-aithris] Tha muinntir Eilein Bheàrnaraigh air a bhith a’ beachdachadh air an t-Eilean seo a cheannach roimhe, ach cha robh fhios aca buileach, càite an robh iad a’ seasamh a thaobh an robh an t-uachdaran airson a thoirt seachad, no nach robh. A-nis, ‘s gu bheil iad air fios fhaighinn gum faod iad an t-eilean a cheannach, mas e ‘s gu bheil iad ga iarraidh, feumaidh cùisean tòiseachadh a’ gluasad rud beag nas luaithe na bha iad is a-nis gu bheil luchd-lagh airson faighinn a-mach a bheil ùidh aca ann ron chiad là dhen Ghiblean.

[Tormod Dòmhnallach] The first thing we have to do is ascertain whether a majority of the residents wish to buy the island, effectively. As I say, I’m delighted with the offer and I think it’s a great opportunity. I think, we’ve been looking at several different projects that we could take forward as a development group within the island and this was one of them. This, at the moment takes top billing, as it were.

[Màiri Rodgers - Preseantair] Dè thachras a-nis?

[Catriona NicIlleathain – Neach-aithris] Bha iad air buidheann-stiùiridh a chur air dòigh mu thràth. Cuiridh am buidheann-stiùiridh tha sin air dòigh coinneamh phoblach. Thèid cuireadh a chur gun h-uile duine a thighinn cruinn còmhla airson cùisean a dheasbad. Thèid an uair sin rannsachadh neo-eisimeileach a chur air dòigh a choimheadas air an dà chuid, na buannachdan agus na duilgheadasan a dh’ fhaodadh a bhith an lùib a bhith a’ ceannachd an eilean. Is feumaidh iad an uair sin, an-dèidh a h-uile càil a tha sin, a’ tighinn gu co-dhùnadh. Mar a chuala sinn, feumaidh an co-dhùnadh a bhith leis an luchd-lagh aig ogha a’ Chount ron chiad là dhen Ghiblean. Mar sin, là math do mhuinntir Eilein Bheàrnaraigh ann an Leòdhas, ach tha coltas ann gu bheil tòrr obrach romhpa a-nis.

[Mairi Rodgers - Presenter] The people of Bernara, in Lewis, are considering buying their island. After the owners have let it be known that they are willing to sell to them; the man who owned it, Count Robin Mirrlees died in June last year. And it was left to a grandson who does not want it. Our reporter, Catriona MacLean, is in Bernara and she told us a bit about it.

[Catriona MacLean – Reporter] The Count Robin Mirrlees owned the island of Bernara and the estate around it and he died in June last year. He owned the island of Bernara and also the small island off the island of Bernara, Little Bernara. Nobody lives there and that is being handled in a different way and separate from here. We are only talking about the Isle of Bernara itself where I am standing here myself and two hundred people stay there. Now, the Count Mirrlees, he left this island to a grandson and the Count’s grandson’s legal team have written to the people of the area and have said to them that they can buy the island, if they want it.

[Mairi Rodgers - Presenter] And Catriona, the people of the island have an interest in buying the island, then?

[Catriona MacLean – Reporter] The people of the island of Bernara have considered buying this island before, but they were unsure where they stood, did the landlord want to give them the land, or not. Now, they know that they can buy the island, if they want it. Things must move a wee bit faster than they were now that the lawyers want to know if they are interested before the first of April.

[Norman MacDonald] The first thing we have to do is ascertain whether a majority of the residents wish to buy the island, effectively. As I say, I’m delighted with the offer and I think it’s a great opportunity. I think, we’ve been looking at several different projects that we could take forward as a development group within the island and this was one of them. This, at the moment takes top billing, as it were.

[Mairi Rodgers - Presenter] What happens now?

[Catriona MacLean – Reporter] They have set up a steering group already. The steering group have now set up a public meeting/ an invite has been given to everyone to come together to discuss matters. Independent research will be set to look at the two scenarios, the advantages and the problems that could be involved in buying the island. They must then, after all of that. Come to a decision. As we have heard, this decision must be with the Count’s grandson’s legal team before the first of April. So that, it’s a good day for the people of the island of Bernara in Lewis, but it looks like they have a lot of work before them.