Bàrr mo Theanga or Tip of the Tongue is a celebration of oral culture in many forms – storytelling, poetry, song and reading out loud, in English and Gaelic. With place at its heart, the new event will explore Jura, Scotland and her islands and that common ground that is human experience.

Artists and features confirmed for Bàrr mo Theanga include:

• Anne Michaels, Orange Prize for Fiction winning Canadian author of ‘The Winter Vault’, set partly on the island.
• Ian Stephen, Lewisman, storyteller, poet and man of the sea.
• Alasdair Roberts, renowned musician and folklorist.
• Jura’s ceilidh and oral tradition will be at the fore with workshops, ceildihs, song cycles, oral histories and a wonderful children’s programme.
• A new song cycle based on the works of the Islay Bards

All this at what those in the know say is the best time of year to see an island that boasts one the UK’s last wildernesses, with a community that won’t stop making you part of it while you’re there, and of course, there’s always the chance of a dram or two.

The event has been made possible by a Quality Production award from Creative Scotland and support from Jura Development Trust’s Argyll and the Islands Leader and HIE funded GatE Local Development Officer. You can find more information at www.tipofthetonguefestival.com and www.barrmotheanga.com

The highly covetable collection of three 15-year-old single malts have been named after one of the most distinctive and mystical mountain ranges on the beautiful Scottish west coast Isle of Jura. Colin said: “I’m very proud to be asked to launch the Jura Paps collection. Not only are they a whisky connoisseur’s delight, but they also celebrate and embody the character of what seems to be one of the most iconic landmarks on the island. Willie Tait, global brand ambassador for Jura, said: “The Paps of Jura are truly a fundamental and integral part of the character of Jura with legends unique to the mountains. “There has been many a dram fuelled discussion about the witch of Jura causing the deep glacial scar that runs down one fell. And many debate whether it’s true that the Paps are the burial chambers of giant Norse warriors. “But where there is no argument is that the Paps of Jura are truly majestic and iconic, and that’s what I have done with the whisky collection with the same name.” The gift-boxed limited edition whisky, which contains a fold-out Pap shaped leaflet, is expected to retail at £100 each, or £300 for the full set.

I met Grahame on Jura early May, it was the 5th, on a glorious day and had a conversation with him. Grahame told me his new business was doing really well. More and more people find their way to the “Small Isles Catering” and enjoy his delicious snacks and drinks. Grahame also runs Small Isles Photography and has a gallery and shop in the building next to the Feolin Ferry terminal. When you’re on Jura next time it’s very much worth while to stop at the gallery and walk up to his catering van for a coffee or snack.