St Kilda Archives - Am Paipear

Irish Minister of State praises Taigh Chearsabhagh – Blasket Centre collaboration

April 14, 2015

Rock Citadel of the Blasket Islands.

Simon Harris TD, Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), has praised an event which effectively represents the twinning of two cultural centres in Ireland and Scotland with a simultaneous launch of exhibitions in both centres.

The Great Blasket Centre in Kerry is hosting an exhibition entitled ‘Sgeulacht Hiort – Scéal Hiort – the St Kilda Story’ from Taigh Chearsabhagh in Lochmaddy, North Uist. Meanwhile, Taigh Chearsabhagh is hosting an exhibition from the Great Blasket Centre called ‘Fairscin Inise’, a compilation of historic photos from the Great Blasket which has already been shown in the Blasket Centre.

The two exhibitions recently opened simultaneously in both centres with musicians, artists and special guests from both countries present to celebrate the occasion.

Mr Harris said: “I am delighted to convey my best wishes to this collaboration.

“The OPW Great Blasket Centre or Ionad An Bhlascaoid is such a evocative visitor centre, perched as it is on the Dingle Peninsula, telling the story of the heritage of the Blasket Island, the islanders and their way of life has a resonance with the story and heritage of the Isle of North Uist in the Outer Hebrides.

“I have no doubt that both exhibitions will be well attended and enjoyed by all.”

MacNeil receives St Kilda repair work confirmation

February 11, 2015

Staff were evacuated from St Kilda in January.

Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MP, Angus Brendan MacNeil, has welcomed the response from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to his parliamentary questions requesting an update on the repair of buildings and equipment at Hebrides Range on St Kilda.

The MoD has confirmed that work is underway and is due to be completed by late spring 2015.

Angus MacNeil MP said: “Hebrides Range is a valued employer and I am pleased to receive confirmation from the Ministry of Defence that action is being taken to repair the buildings and equipment on St Kilda which were damaged in the storm in January.”

Building and infrastructure on Hiort were damaged during a severe storm in January, forcing the evacuation of all staff based on the island.

Angus MacNeil MP asks for St Kilda damage update

February 3, 2015

MoD buildings in Village Bay, St Kilda.

Following the storms in January, which badly damaged buildings at the missile test range on St Kilda, Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MP, Angus Brendan MacNeil has tabled parliamentary questions to the Ministry of Defence requesting an update on the repair work.

Mr MacNeil said: “Buildings and infrastructure at the Hebrides Range missile test range on St Kilda were damaged during storms in January and it is important that the repair work is carried out quickly.

“I have tabled the parliamentary questions to the Ministry of Defence to ask when the buildings and infrastructure which were damaged by the storm will be repaired.”

15 of Qinetiq’s staff on St Kilda were evacuated from the island last month after a severe gale.

Personnel were airlifted by coastguard after extreme weather caused damage to buildings and infrastructure on the island.

Speaking at the time, a QinetiQ spokesman commented: “On Friday, 9th January, QinetiQ evacuated all its employees from the site at St Kilda, which the company manages on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, due to the extreme weather conditions.

“The safety of our people is our top priority, so as a precaution our 15 employees were airlifted from the island at around 3pm by the coastguard.

“There were no casualties, although the winds did cause damage to buildings and equipment. We will carry out a full assessment into the extent of the damage when conditions improve.

“Employees are now back at work in the Uists and a recovery plan is already in motion.”

Qinetiq: St Kilda recovery plan already in motion

January 12, 2015

Qinetiq staff were evacuated on Friday.

Qinetiq has commented on the evacuation of 15 members of its staff from St Kilda on Friday last week.

Personnel were airlifted by coastguard following extreme weather and damage to infrastructure on the island.

A QinetiQ spokesman commented:

“On Friday, 9th January, QinetiQ evacuated all its employees from the site at St Kilda, which the company manages on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, due to the extreme weather conditions.

“The safety of our people is our top priority, so as a precaution our 15 employees were airlifted from the island at around 3pm by the coastguard.

“There were no casualties, although the winds did cause damage to buildings and equipment. We will carry out a full assessment into the extent of the damage when conditions improve.

“Employees are now back at work in the Uists and a recovery plan is already in motion.”

Storm forces second St Kilda evacuation

January 12, 2015

MoD buildings in Village Bay, St Kilda.

For the second time in its history, St Kilda was evacuated last Friday after severe gale force winds apparently caused major damage to buildings and defence infrastructure on the archipelago.

Overnight on Thursday, gusts of well over 100mph were reportedly recorded on St Kilda, allegedly damaging buildings and defence equipment.

On Friday morning, Stornoway Coastguard airlifted 15 members of staff based at the MoD facility to Benbecula.

Am Paipear is awaiting details from the MoD and Qinetiq on the extent of the damage.

Prior to its famous evacuation, St Kilda is believed to have been inhabited for some two thousand years.

However, exhausted by a life of extraordinary isolation and difficulty, the last residents of St Kilda left the island at their own request in 1930.

A military base was established there in 1957. To this day, the only regular residents of St Kilda are MoD and Qinetiq staff, while conservation workers, volunteers and scientists are regularly based there during the summer.

The entire archipelago is owned by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS). It became one of Scotland’s five World Heritage Sites in 1986 and is one of the few in the world to hold joint status for its natural and cultural qualities.

A spokesman for NTS confirmed this morning: “No NTS staff or volunteers were present on St Kilda at the time and we are unaware of any damage to the historic buildings we care for at this stage.

“We have no confirmation of the wind speed recorded on St Kilda during the storms. We normally receive this kind of information from MoD staff.”

More to follow…

Irish Minister of State praises Taigh Chearsabhagh – Blasket Centre collaboration

MacNeil receives St Kilda repair work confirmation

Angus MacNeil MP asks for St Kilda damage update

Qinetiq: St Kilda recovery plan already in motion

Storm forces second St Kilda evacuation

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