Iolaire

THE CRUELLEST TWIST 22 To mark the centenary of the disaster An Lanntair, the creative hub for the Outer Hebrides based in Stornoway, has commissioned a new Memorial to complement the existing one. “The anniversary of the Iolaire disaster on 1st January 2019 will be the final formal event in the official, national four-year programme commemorating the Centenary of The Great War. Arthur Watson RSA, Marian Levan RSA and Will Maclean RSA, three of the most respected visual artists in Scotland have been commissioned to create a bronze sculpture located near the site where the vessel was wrecked. The central bronze will depict a large coiled heaving-line. This references the heroism of John Finlay MacLeod … It also serves as a metaphor for the Isles’ connection with the sea and the timeless dialogue between ship and shore, the past and present. It is intended that it will complement the present Memorial, encourage deep reflection, symbolise, represent and commemorate survivors, those lost, their families and the survival of the community itself. Because, ultimately, it is not possible to fully understand the history of Lewis in the 20th Century without recognising the scale and impact of the Iolaire disaster.”