Ah1 unit 3 the world of work the island of gigha

The Island of Gigha and Seamus McSporranThe island of Gigha (pronounced Ghee-a) is six miles long, hardly two wide, andhas a population of about 150, mostly farmers and fishermen. It is 120 miles byroad from Glasgow plus, weather permitting, a twenty minute ferry ride acrossfrom the coast of Kintyre. The islands east coast has several quiet white sandybays but the western shore is exposed to the full force of the Atlantic Ocean. On aclear day it is reputedly possible to see Ireland from the top of the highest hill.Most visitors to the island come to see the gardens of Achamore House, amongstthe finest in Scotland. The creation of a former laird, Sir Thomas Horlick (ofbedtime drink fame), these fifty acres contain splendid banks of rhododendronsand many other rare exotic plants. It is said the site was chosen because of themildness of the climate, affected as it is by the Gulf Stream. The best time of yearto experience the blossoms is from March to June.Gigha has many ancient ruins and carved stones. Of particular interest is one ofonly two standing stones in all the Hebrides that bears an inscription in theancient Ogham script which dates back to the early Scottish kingdom of Dalraida.The regular ferry service from Tayinloan on the mainland arrives at the mainvillage of Ardminish. Here is the islands only shop which doubles as the post office. The store is stocked with everything from bananas to televisions and since 1965 it has been operated by Seamus McSporran. Seaumus is also the postman, fireman and petrol pump attendant. He drives the taxi which also serves as the school bus, the ambulance and the hearse. In fact Seamus has fourteen jobs on the island. His duties include piermaster, rent collector, registrar of births, marriages and deaths, and he also hires bicycles to tourists. He sells life insurance and is also the undertaker! He and his wife Margaret also run a bed and breakfast establishment. It is said no man is an island but Seamus comes close!Gigha is an unhurried and peaceful place, little changed by the passing centuries,Reading Exercises for ENIS Level 1

yet recently it has been much in the news and has even been the subject of atelevision documentary. The island is actually one of the largest in the UK to beprivately owned. The laird, a property tycoon who bought the island in 1989, wentbankrupt as many did in the following recession, and the entire island wasrepossessed by a Swiss bank. The only hotel was closed and the future of theislanders and their homes was put in doubt. Gigha is now up for sale. Let us hopethe new owner appreciates this special place and the islanders can continue to liveundisturbed as they once did.Since this article was written, Gigha has a new owner and the hotel is open forvisitors again. In 1989 Seamus was awarded the British Empire Medal for hisservices to the island. And in April 2000 he was featured in the national presswhen he announced his intention to retire from his remaining jobs. We wish himwell in his rather more relaxed new lifestyle. There is an interview with Seamus byan Australian reporter on our links page.LATEST. October 2001. Ill health has prompted the islands Laird, a retiringbusinessman, to sell the island and the residents have united to gather the fourmillion pounds necessary to secure it for themselves. There is a BBC article aboutthe sale on our links page here This information was taken from http://www.mcsparron.talktalk.net/clan/clanbio4.htm for educational purposes only. Gigha, Scotland, UKReading Exercises for ENIS Level 1

Ah1 unit 3 the world of work the island of gigha

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