Merkinch & South Kessock News and Views

01/01/2025

Merkinch's Dell McClurg, and Nairn's Alex Mackintosh and Kirstin Ann Grant were just some of the Highland residents to be honoured.

12/12/2024

The Kessock Ferry and the Kessock Hotel, North Kessock, c1950s

[source: HLH Libraries]

06/12/2024

Did you know that we hold a rare collection here at Inverness Library? Boasting at 5000 volumes the Fraser-Mackintosh collection is truly special.

Stop by our free session this evening from 5.00pm to find out more. We have some great folk from UHI and the Robert Gordon University sharing stories of history and heritage through this incredible collection.

https://www.highlifehighland.com/reference-and-local-history/special-collections/

06/12/2024

19/11/2024

https://youtu.be/EwnKKsECzZY?si=Gxy25QVRTaVob77o

The new Merkinch Primary under construction on 29th May 2019

19/11/2024

Inverness Town House gets Wi-Fi and Highland Council report shows it cost almost £1m

Highland Council has said £980,000 has been invested in installing Wi-Fi in Inverness Town House in a bid to make it commercially viable as a multi-functional venue – something it wants to check with a feasibility study.

The cash itself is likely to have come not directly from the local authority but from the Common Good Fund that is administered by the council – the same fund ploughed in £7.4 million into the maintenance of the building.

The issue was featured in an official report to the Inverness committee yesterday as councillors discussed the investment and development of the Town House as a viable commercial earner for the Common Good Fund.

The paper stated: “The Town House has seen significant investment in its infrastructure following the £7.4 million renovation project” – which has won acclaim for preserving the Category A-listed building.

It continued: “Wi-Fi has been installed at a cost of £0.98 million and non-structural works have been undertaken to enable occupation by a number of third-party tenants to the rear of the building.”

Even given the fact that it is a Category A-listed building which would require additional measures to preserve its integrity, the cost of close to £1 million for Wi-Fi does seem high.

Despite taking the decision to vacate the building for official meetings and other council business almost two years ago it has only just decided to launch a feasibility study on the medium to long term options for the use of the building.

That study aims to understand “the potential market” while “identifying the requirements to deliver different commercial options” and delivering an outline business case that considers the risks and challenges to the Common Good Fund.

Among the other measures is the launch of a new website www.theinvernesstownhouse.co.uk to promote bookings for weddings, private functions, corporate meeting rooms and civic events.

The website has a reasonably detailed photo gallery that “allows viewers to immerse themselves in the opulent interior and history of the Town House” while what’s-on listings show public events that are scheduled.

Centrally located, the historic Inverness Town House offers a range of rooms available for booking for weddings, meetings and events.

16/11/2024

🫖𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐅𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐂𝐋𝐔𝐁

With Christmas now on the horizon, we look to bring the community spirit with it.

From the 24th of November, we will be operating a Breakfast Club every Sunday from 9am-11am on the lead up to the festives in our boardroom and also marquee.

Along with this, we will also assist by donating a weekly breakfast pack for those who can not attend.

This event is open to all, should you wish to attend socially with friends and family, or simply want some company on your weekend.

08/11/2024

HCA/D1371/9/1 Horse and carriage, n.d.

This photo is from the Taylor of Munlochy collection and shows a horse and carriage carrying sails of small vessels, presumably en route to a body of water in which to launch them. The caption on the reverse was probably written by one of the sons of Alexander and Margaret Taylor, who kept a village store in Munlochy which was founded by the family in 1842.

08/10/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/VDKDnBmeg3sRSK7M/

Charleston, North Kessock, early 20th century

[source: HLH Libraries]

25/09/2024

🌟 URGENT CASTING 🌟

We are looking for people of all ages, genders and ethnicities for a Netflix Thriller shooting in Inverness in October 2024 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🎬

Good rates of pay 💷

You must be aged 17+ with a valid UK national insurance number in order to apply:

www.castingcollective.co.uk/inverness

Our urgent casting calls are fully compliant with the UK Equality Act. While we may specify certain characteristics sought by productions for casting purposes, we warmly invite applications from individuals of all genders, ethnicities, and ages; all will be considered, and no discrimination should be implied.

14/09/2024

Stones with special names and stories – in and around the Highland capital – are among the treasures highlighted in a new book published by NatureScot. Leugh ann an Gàidhlig As the author of t…

13/09/2024

🪩🕺🏻 𝗗𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘-𝗔-𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗡 🕺🏻 🪩

𝙊𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙥 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙎𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝟯𝙧𝙙 𝙉𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙮 𝙩𝙤𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙧 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬 ‘𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮’𝙨 𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙅𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙚’.

𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙤 𝙖 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙢𝙪𝙢 𝙤𝙛 𝟰𝙝𝙧𝙨 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡 𝟭𝟮𝙝𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝘼𝙡𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧! 😱

𝙋𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙩𝙤 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜!

𝘼𝙇𝙇 𝙒𝙀𝙇𝘾𝙊𝙈𝙀!

🎉

13/09/2024

Another casting opportunity for children aged 9-11yrs 🧙‍♀️

More info - app.castittalent.com/HPcasting

08/09/2024

KESSOCK FERRY - EXHIBITION at NORTH KESSOCK (17th Sept)

Well worh a trip across the firth for this (use the Bridge!)

07/09/2024