A century on, Gael Force puts wind in sails of shipwreck visitor centre plan
The building of a visitor centre in the Hebrides that will tell the story of a tragic shipwreck and is being part-funded by aquaculture supplier Gael Force Group, has taken a step forward.
The Iolaire Working Group reached unanimous agreement to move the project to detailed planning and funding stage.
His Majesty’s Yacht Iolaire (Gaelic for Eagle) was carrying sailors who had fought in the First World War back to Lewis from the Kyle of Lochalsh when she hit the infamous rocks “The Beasts of Holm” and sank close to shore and a mile from Stornoway harbour on January 1, 1919.
The death toll was officially put at 205, of whom 181 men were islanders, but as the ship was badly overcrowded and there was a lack of proper records, the toll could have been slightly higher.
Viable business case
A project scoping exercise, facilitated by the Iolaire Working Group, has established that there is a viable and sustainable business case for the proposed Iolaire Visitor Centre which will mark the maritime disaster at Stornoway’s Number One pier.
Recruitment of a project manager is now planned to take place to progress the detail of the project plan, business case and funding package required to build the Centre.
Project funding has been committed by Gael Force Group with matched assistance and resource support agreed by HIE and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to fund the detailed development of the project plan through 2019.
Profound and lasting impact
Gael Force managing director and owner Stewart Graham said: “The unimaginable grief that the island suffered as a consequence of the Iolaire tragedy has had a profound and lasting, though largely unspoken of, impact on every aspect of our island life and culture, our population and our island economy.
“Although quietly marked and told, the story has not had the wider national or international recognition that it should. As well as tragedy there are of course stories of heroism, fortitude, resilience and the quiet dignity shown by islanders in the wake of this tragedy.
“Our shared vision is for a world-class visitor centre built in the heart of Stornoway which will along with the wider story of the island’s maritime history and war involvement, tell the story sensitively and with due respect, over a century after the tragedy.
Economic boost
“We should expect that what we create will encourage people from all over the UK and further afield to make visits to the island to take in this visitor experience as part of an island visit. Not only would this be a lasting commemorative introspection, but as a world-class visitor experience the Centre would provide a major, transformational, economic boost for the Islands and look positively towards the future.
“We are grateful to the public for sharing their enormous support and valuable feedback on the project vision during the initial consultation period earlier this year”.
A web site (www.iolaire.org) has been prepared for launch this month along with social media support which will provide the opportunity for members of the public to support the project financially and also keep in touch with the project’s development. Funds raised through the website will be set aside until such time as the building of the centre gets the final go ahead.
