Skye’s first official flag was unveiled after a year of searching for the symbol representing the island that ended with the drawing of a nine-year-old venue that won the crown.
A small organization of socially remote visitors today attended the Nicolson Memorial in Portree when the flag was first deployed and hoisted through Kilmuir’s winning designer Calum Alasdair Munro.
The young man, passionate about the collection of flags, said he was encouraged through the history and heritage of the island, while his design took precedence over the other 369 entries.
A panel of constituents on the island reduced the 369 entries, more than two hundred of which arrived here from schoolchildren, to just six, in which members of the network had to vote as their selection to make up the misty island.
Calum’s design is fostered through a Birlinn, a wooden ship used in the Hebrides in the Middle Ages, and the rich history of the MacLeod, MacDonald and MacKinnon clans, the first Skye clans.
He said: “I have an idea of Celtic heritage, Viking heritage and flora MacDonald’s history. On my flag in Birlinn, there are oars representing Trotternish, Waternish, Duirinish, Minginish and Sleat.
“I think yellow for the MacLeod and the blue for the MacDonalds or MacKinnons.”
The flag originally scheduled to be unveiled in March, but delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Calum is tasked with hoisting the flag after vowing to keep it secret before today’s deployment.
He said, “I was very happy, but I didn’t tell any of my friends at school.
“I just told Grandma. He’s very happy.”
The procedure was guided by Lord Lyon’s court honorary vexylologist, Philip Tibbets.
Tibbets said: “This flag of Skye is a testament to the creativity of it.
“The design not only responds to heraldic practices, but also provides an exclusive and new touch to a classic taste, and in doing so combines the Scottish, Godhlig and Nordic heritage of Skye.”
West Highland Free Press festival organizers have begun generating winning design flags that will be displayed through local businesses.
All the proceeds from the flag will pass to Skye and Lochalsh Young Carers.
Keith Mackenzie, editor-in-chief of West Highland Free Press, said he was extremely happy with the result and the highest point of local engagement.
Mackenzie said: “It’s a wonderful design, yet the other thing that hit other people is what it meant. It combines so many elements of Skye”.
“There are notes on Christianity, there are notes about our Celtic heritage, about our Nordic heritage, about clans.
And also, the Skye colors themselves as a jewel of Scotland.
“We thought it was vital from the beginning to rent to as many other people as you can imagine locally.
“The other people who came up with the concept and entered the contest came from Skye, the vast majority of tickets came from Skye, the vote of other people from Skye or related to Skye and we also have a local winner.
“People may or may not like the flag, but I don’t think they can oppose the design search process.”
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