Clan Macquarrie Community Centre

Talla Choimhearsnachd Sgire Airidhantuim
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About Clan Macquarrie Community Centre
 
       

 

Clan MacQuarrie Community Centre was completed in April 2009 and is situated in Borve on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.  The village of Borve is in the middle of the Airidhantuim Community Council area and lies approximately 18 miles from the town of Stornoway. 

 

Clan Macquarrie is a Company Limited by Guarantee (Company Number being SC234402) and a registered Scottish Charity (Charity Number SC028732).  The initial moves towards setting out to achieve a new Community Centre in the district came in 1997 when several members of the Airidhantuim Community Council (covering eight villages and 500 people living between Ballantrushal and North Galson in North West Lewis) formed a sub-committee to address the deteriorating and outdated community facilities in the area.

 

After ten long and dedicated years of sustained effort, the necessary funds for the £750,000 project were achieved.    The modern new Centre comprises of a large main hall, a meeting room, a cafe area, kitchen facilities that meet modern commercial catering standards, a demountable stage, specialised sound and lighting facilities geared for stage performances and a "green room" which also doubles up as a fitness suite.  Changing facilities and a shower room make up the remainder of the public spaces within the Centre.  

 

The Centre has become a real focal point for the community with wedding celebrations, birthday parties, church meetings, drama productions, Crofters Market, ceilidhs and dances all featuring to date.   A host of regular user groups are now fully established in the Centre - these include a Gaelic Pre-school group (Croileagan); a club for the older members of the community (Young at Hearts); Youth Club; Amateur Dramatics Association (Cleas);  Ladies Keep Fit; Parent & Toddler (Parant 's Paisde); and Mens' Fitness Training. 

 

Hire of the Centre and its facilities is available to any new user groups (local or otherwise).  A booking form is available here.

 

Some History

On January 31 1953, the night of what became known as the Great Storm that wreaked havoc and brought tragedy to much of Northern Europe,  islanders from the Borve area of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides rescued 66 crew from the grounded cargo ship, Clan MacQuarrie. In driving rain and ferocious winds, gusting to 100mph, it was the biggest ever rescue carried out using breeches buoy in a single operation.  Miraculously, there was no loss of life. Read more of this exceptional story here.
As a gesture of thanks for the community's amazing efforts, the ship's owners, Clan Line, paid for a village hall to be built.
Fifty years on, the hall had passed its useful life. Plans were made to replace it with a multi-purpose £750,000 community centre to serve the whole of the West Side of Lewis.

The ambitions of the local community were realised in April 2009, with the completion of the modern and spacious Centre at Borve. 

 

User testimonials
 
Michelle & Matthew's wedding reception, July 2009....."This was the perfect venue for our wedding.  From seven months before our wedding through to our wedding day everything ran smoothly.  The committee were very helpful with menu choices, decor and all things wedding-related.  On the day itself everything ran smoothly without us having to worry about a thing.  We are very grateful to every member of the committee for all the work and effort they put into our day and we would highly recommend the Clan Macquarrie Community Centre for any wedding".
 
 
Mull Theatre Company, August 2009..."The Clan Macquarrie Community Centre was one of the particular highlights of Mull Theatre's epic Island Nights Entertainments tour in summer '09.  The facilities for us as a visiting company were excellent.  There was a lovely new kitchen, which was a pleasure to use, allowing us to cook our own food (which is a real relief when you've been on tour for two months).  The main space was large and welcoming, accommodating our audience and set with ease.  I am sure that the Clan Macquarrie Centre will become a hot spot for touring theatre".
 
Neil's 50th birthday celebration, October 2009.."Our experience of using Clan Macquarrie Hall could not have been more positive.The Hall itself is a lovely location, with lots of natural light, plenty of room, and a great stage and lighting system for holding musical and dance events. The staff provided us with a fabulous spread, adapting their menu to exactly what we wanted, and going above and beyond expectations with their personalised support of everything we wanted to achieve.We will go back, again and again";
 
Cleas Drama Group, January 2010.."fantastic sound, lighting, stage and other facilities.....";