A popular piping competition in Stornoway has received a lifeline donation of £25,000 from a Highland charity to enable it to continue in the Western Isles for the next five years.
The Donald MacLeod Memorial Competition, which is organised by the Lewis and Harris Piping Society, will receive £5,000 from wind farm charity the Point and Sandwick Trust, to help cover its annual expenses.
John Kennedy, chairman of the society, said: “We invite and welcome top quality musicians to come and play each year.
“We have all the top eight pipers in the world; people with a gold medal or equivalent to play tunes of Donald Macleod’s music. It is important to keep these tunes international.
“We are delighted with the generosity of the Point and Sandwick Trust, enabling us to promote the music of the late Donald MacLeod on a world platform.”
The festival costs £11,000 to stage every year, including expenses for air fares and accommodation for all the pipers and judges.
Rising costs meant the event was under threat of being moved to the mainland, potentially Glasgow, in a bid to reduce costs.
Point and Sandwick Trust chairman Angus McCormack added his organisation was committed to helping keep the competition in its home town.
He said: “We have a strong ethos of supporting arts and cultural activities on the island.
“Piping is an integral part of our culture and we are very pleased to be able to help the Piping Society in their efforts to continue this prestigious annual competition in Stornoway.”
Donald MacLeod was born and bred in Stornoway and became one pf the most famous pipers in the instrument’s history.
He won the Gold Medal at the Northern Meeting in Inverness in 1947 and at the Argyllshire Gathering in Oban in 1954.
The competition began in 1994 in memory of his life’s work.