‘It is so fitting’: Iolaire film to be shown on TV on New Year’s Day
Colin MacDonald says the sinking of the Iolaire is still felt keenly on Lewis and Harris. Picture: Alan HendryA short film written by Colin MacDonald about the Iolaire disaster will be shown on TV at New Year – exactly 107 years on from what has been described as the blackest day in the history of Lewis and Harris.The Iolaire was a naval yacht that had been carrying sailors home from World War I but in the early hours of January 1, 1919, while approaching Stornoway, it hit rocks and sank. A total of 201 men lost their lives and there were 79 survivors.Colin, who comes from Wick and lives and works in Edinburgh, says it is “so fitting” that the 15-minute film – entitled Survivor – is being broadcast on the anniversary of the disaster. It will be shown on BBC Alba at 10pm on New Year’s Day with the Gaelic title Tèarnadh.The film is directed by Mairead Hamilton and produced by two leading figures in traditional Scottish music, Julie Fowlis and Duncan Chisholm. It stars Iain Kenny Macrae and Douglas Yannaghas.Survivor has been translated into Gaelic by Morag Stewart and revoiced by Iain Kenny Macrae. Colin presented a preview showing of Survivor as part of a John O’Groats Book Festival event in Mackays Hotel, Wick, in October.“For me personally, the most important screening of Survivor has been the one in Wick,” Colin said. “The reception was superb. It was a privilege to be able to screen it in Pulteneytown. “For Survivor to be broadcast on BBC Alba in Gaelic on January 1, the anniversary of the tragedy, is so fitting.“I am very pleased that BBC Alba is so keen to screen it, and has pulled out all the stops so that it can be shown.“The sinking of the Iolaire is still felt keenly on Lewis and Harris. Its impact is huge.”A total of 280 men were on board the Iolaire, mostly naval reservists, and 201 lost their lives.Colin pointed out that the English language version of Survivor is having an Edinburgh screening on January 27. It was shown as part of the Inverness Film Festival last month, “with terrific audience reaction again”. Survivor was shown in Wick prior to a talk by Colin entitled The Teapot and the Thrasher: Caithness Inspirations. It attracted an audience of close to 100.The film is supported by the Imperial War Museum and the Iolaire Centre Trust.Colin has been a full-time writer for 40 years, producing work for TV, film, audio and stage. Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.
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