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![[Flag of Skye]](../images/g/gb-sskye.gif)
image located by Dave Fowler, 25 August 2020See also:
The new Skye flag has been announced: https://www.thenational.scot/news/18672878.isle-skye-unveils-new-flag-designed-9-year-old-local/
24 August 2020located by Dave Fowler, 25 August 2020
IAN Blackford has congratulated the 9-year-old designer of Skye's new official flag, saying the young lad had created an "enduring image" of the island. The blue, yellow, and white flag designed by Skye local Calum Alasdair Munro was unveiled at a ceremony in Portree this afternoon.
Munro's design beat out well over 300 other competitors from all over the world. The 9-year-old winner, from Kilmuir on Skye, said he has a passion for collecting flags and drew his inspiration from the island’s history and heritage. He said, “First, I thought of the birlinn [a wooden boat used in the Hebrides in the middle ages] and I was thinking about the MacLeods and MacDonalds and the MacKinnons – the first clans on Skye. I thought about the Celtic Heritage, the Viking heritage and the history of Flora MacDonald. In my flag, in the birlinn, there are five oars representing Trotternish, Waternish, Duirinish, Minginish and Sleat. I thought about yellow for the MacLeods and Blue for the MacDonalds or the MacKinnons.”Constituency MP Ian Blackford said he was "delighted to see the strength of interest in the competition", adding: "Calum should be very proud of coming up with the winning design. His legacy will be the flag which will become an enduring image of Skye."
The competition, which was launched last autumn, had 369 designs submitted from all across the globe. A panel of community representatives then drew up a short list of the six flags which they felt best symbolised the island, and the six were then put to a public vote. Competition organiser Keith Mackenzie – the editor of the West Highland Free Press – said, “It is a tremendous design but the other thing that struck people is what it meant. It pulls together so many elements of Skye. There are notes to Christianity, there are notes to our Celtic heritage, to our Nordic heritage, to the Clans. And also, the colours themselves reflect Skye as a jewel of Scotland.
Following the adoption of flags for Barra and South Uist, a competition has
been announced to select one for Skye.
The office of the Lord Lyon, which
is the body responsible for recording and protecting all heraldry, flags and
national symbols in Scotland, has been petitioned to register the idea following
initial meetings involving the Free Press, Highland Council ward members and
tourism promoters Skye Connect. A steering group to take forward the process
will involve representatives from local schools, volunteer, community and
heritage groups. The Free Press plans to help run the competition.
Skye
councillor John Finlayson said: "I have had lots of positive feedback about the
plans for a flag for Skye and I am delighted we have made such good progress
with the idea. I am excited to see what designs will come forward, and having a
competition that encourages people of all ages to submit their designs is
absolutely the right thing to do." a flag for Skye and I am delighted we have
made such good progress with the idea. I am excited to see what designs will
come forward, and having a competition that encourages people of all ages to
submit their designs is absolutely the right thing to do." Councillor John
Finlayson said: "I have had lots of positive feedback about the plans for a flag
for Skye and I am delighted we have made such good progress with the idea. I am
excited to see what designs will come forward, and having a competition that
encourages people of all ages to submit their designs is absolutely the right
thing to do."
Philip Tibbetts, honorary vexillologist with the Court of
the Lord Lyon, said: "It is fantastic to see Skye become the latest community
start the journey of developing its own flag to fly proudly alongside the
Saltire. Given Skye's iconic nature, the potential for both the design and
subsequent usage of a flag for the island is incredible. "Following the formal
approach to the Lyon Court work can now begin to plan the timings and details."
The arms used by Skye and Lochalsh council include a stag's head with
antlers, a representation of a castle, a birlinn or lymphad, the local vessel
typically used in the waters around the island and a boar's head, elements which
may feature in any proposed flag.
Posted on August 24, 2019 by Vexilo
John Moody, 8 September 2019
The finalists are presented and voting started, to last until 2020-02-29.
The winning design would be submitted to Lord Lyon for approval.
Sources:
[1] West Highland Free Press website:
https://www.whfp.com/voting-underway-to-select-skyes-official-flag/
[2]
BBC News website:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-51558612
[3]
British County Flags website:
https://britishcountyflags.com/2019/08/24/a-flag-for-skye/
Tomislav
Todorovic, 21 February 2020