0:00:39 > 0:00:42It's not been a great start to summer
0:00:42 > 0:00:44on the remote island of Barra,
0:00:44 > 0:00:48the most southerly inhabited island of the Outer Hebrides,
0:00:48 > 0:00:53way out in the Atlantic Ocean, off the wild northwest coast of Scotland.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05Even the Roman Catholic parish priest,
0:01:05 > 0:01:09Father John Paul MacKinnon, has been largely confined to barracks.
0:01:11 > 0:01:13It's just been a bit continuous just now.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17You do usually get two days bad and then get a little break for a day.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20But we just seem to be getting days and days and days,
0:01:20 > 0:01:23and it's just not getting any better.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25We depend on good weather, we want people to come,
0:01:25 > 0:01:28see the beautiful island, come and visit, stay,
0:01:28 > 0:01:32bed and breakfast, hotels, and just be part of the island
0:01:32 > 0:01:36way of life here, and being able to give to the businesses, and,
0:01:36 > 0:01:40if people see that there are big rain clouds, and big low pressures
0:01:40 > 0:01:44hanging over the island, then people aren't going to go near.
0:01:44 > 0:01:46Nearly everyone is affected by the rain here.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55Hard hit are the island's crofters, like Angus John Morrison.
0:01:58 > 0:02:02Some amount of rain that's down today! It's, oh, terrible.
0:02:03 > 0:02:08Och, terrible weather. It's so cold, it's...
0:02:08 > 0:02:11the weather we're getting just now is like
0:02:11 > 0:02:15weather you'd get at the end of March, beginning of April,
0:02:15 > 0:02:20you know, it's so cold, and it affects everything.
0:02:20 > 0:02:25He recently opened up a new campsite on his land
0:02:25 > 0:02:28on the northern tip of Barra to help supplement his income.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31But it's not exactly got off to an auspicious start.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36Now the cold and lack of sunshine,
0:02:36 > 0:02:41combined with the heavily waterlogged soil, are threatening his main livelihood,
0:02:41 > 0:02:45and the future well-being of his cattle.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47Well, look at this field here.
0:02:47 > 0:02:52Last year, I had 35 bales of silage out of it.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56Well, the way it's going, if the weather carries on the way,
0:02:56 > 0:02:59the same way in which it's been,
0:02:59 > 0:03:02I reckon I'll be lucky to halve that this year.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04I'll be lucky to get 20 bales.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06I won't even get 20 bales out of it this year.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09- And this is what you rely on to feed the cattle?- Yes.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12See this field here,
0:03:12 > 0:03:17it's six to nine inches back on this time last year.
0:03:17 > 0:03:18Six to nine inches shorter?
0:03:18 > 0:03:22Shorter than last year, than this time last year.
0:03:22 > 0:03:26And you've only got another six weeks to go before you start cutting.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29The other fields I've got are even poorer than this.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32This is one of the best ones I've got.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36I'll have to buy hay in, to counteract for that.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38Or either that,
0:03:38 > 0:03:40you're going to have to get rid of some of your cattle.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43- So...- Is that what you're going to have to do?- Well,
0:03:43 > 0:03:46that's the situation you're in.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49It's worrying for me now, I'm starting to worry about it,
0:03:49 > 0:03:53because I've got a lot of cattle, and I'm starting to worry about it.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57If it's going to carry on, it's going to be a total disaster.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07Down the road, another islander utterly dependent
0:04:07 > 0:04:13on the weather, is ex-maths school teacher, Sheila McIntosh.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17You've always got to check that the front is tight,
0:04:17 > 0:04:20or it comes out all over the floor. SHE LAUGHS
0:04:23 > 0:04:28She's poured her lifetime savings into an unusual enterprise,
0:04:28 > 0:04:30which she hopes will soon pay dividends,
0:04:30 > 0:04:35because Sheila is Barra's only ice cream maker.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39There's a fair amount of strawberry sold, in the tubs,
0:04:39 > 0:04:42but it's the mint choc chip's the main favourite.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45And they're going to enjoy it whatever the weather.
0:04:45 > 0:04:49But it does make a difference to the amount you sell, obviously.
0:04:53 > 0:04:58A friend in Stornoway said, "Ooh, I think it'd be a good idea having an ice cream van."
0:04:58 > 0:05:03She was talking about Stornoway and I thought, it'd be a good idea for Barra.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05So I started making ice cream!
0:05:05 > 0:05:09And it's nice to do something for the local kids too,
0:05:09 > 0:05:12that's appreciated, that nobody else is doing.
0:05:12 > 0:05:17You, basically, when you're on an island, you do what's wanted and where there's an opening.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21I mean, I'm not a good businesswoman, I know that,
0:05:21 > 0:05:25but, we manage to survive and that's the thing that was important.
0:05:25 > 0:05:29Is it a struggle to make money, to make a living here?
0:05:29 > 0:05:32Well, I wouldn't say I had made a fortune.
0:05:32 > 0:05:37Where do you get your energy from? You're well...
0:05:37 > 0:05:41I don't want to be indelicate, but you are beyond retirement age, aren't you?
0:05:41 > 0:05:45That's a secret. Folk say that to me.
0:05:45 > 0:05:46I don't know.
0:05:46 > 0:05:51Sheila's equipment is probably worth £20,000.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54And she's just had to find a further £2,000 to get it
0:05:54 > 0:05:57up and running for the new season.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00Her future on the island depends on her earning enough
0:06:00 > 0:06:04in the few months of summer to keep her going for the rest of the year,
0:06:04 > 0:06:07so she's desperate for better weather.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17Nearly 100 miles away from Barra,
0:06:17 > 0:06:20across on the mainland of south-west Scotland,
0:06:20 > 0:06:24and this is the Victorian seaside town of Dunoon,
0:06:24 > 0:06:25on the Firth of Clyde.
0:06:25 > 0:06:29For decades, a favourite resort for holiday-makers from Glasgow,
0:06:29 > 0:06:33parts of the town have seen better days.
0:06:34 > 0:06:35In recent years,
0:06:35 > 0:06:39a number of local post offices have been forced to close.
0:06:41 > 0:06:45One of the town's former postmasters is David Connor,
0:06:45 > 0:06:48and he's just embarking on a radical change of career.
0:06:51 > 0:06:56David's decided to become a Roman Catholic priest.
0:06:56 > 0:07:02Well, probably what led to it was after my mother and father died.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04They died within a short space of time,
0:07:04 > 0:07:07about two years, and that was quite a tough time for me.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11After that, you know, I seemed to be drawn more
0:07:11 > 0:07:14to the Church and to God.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16I was always very involved in the Church.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19I played the organ and I sang and different other things
0:07:19 > 0:07:22but I never really thought of being a priest, no.
0:07:25 > 0:07:30What's unusual about David is that he's the only man to become a priest
0:07:30 > 0:07:33in the large Catholic diocese of Argyll and the Isles
0:07:33 > 0:07:37in nearly seven years, and his ordination will be
0:07:37 > 0:07:42such a cause for celebration that every Catholic priest in the diocese
0:07:42 > 0:07:47is hoping to attend, even those in the most far-flung parishes.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51We haven't had a priest ordained for the last six years,
0:07:51 > 0:07:55and it's something that you'd wish and pray that every year
0:07:55 > 0:07:59a priest was being ordained, a man was entering into the full priesthood,
0:07:59 > 0:08:04and that all our parishes and everything would be nice and rosy that way.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07And it's just showing to us that, yeah,
0:08:07 > 0:08:12there's not many vocations, many men thinking about the priesthood.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15And that's why we're all gathering together,
0:08:15 > 0:08:20and uniting together, because it's been so long waiting for.
0:08:21 > 0:08:25Father John Paul's friend and colleague in the next door parish,
0:08:25 > 0:08:29across the water on South Uist, Father Calum MacLellan,
0:08:29 > 0:08:32will also be at the big ordination service.
0:08:32 > 0:08:36In fact, this rare event has set Father Calum in mind
0:08:36 > 0:08:39of the day he became a priest, nearly 60 years ago.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45Well, this one here is the day I was ordained.
0:08:47 > 0:08:491953.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51I was 27.
0:08:51 > 0:08:57In this photograph here, there's my father and my three sisters
0:08:57 > 0:09:02and a first cousin, and my brother.
0:09:02 > 0:09:08I'm told that that is me at a very early age, with my aunt.
0:09:10 > 0:09:12My sister...my mother's sister.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15Father Calum made his decision to become a priest
0:09:15 > 0:09:19after his years of National Service at the end of the war.
0:09:21 > 0:09:27This is me, I think I'd passed some part of my army training
0:09:27 > 0:09:31by this time, and I think, I was awarded
0:09:31 > 0:09:33this lanyard thing.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36You look very handsome!
0:09:37 > 0:09:40Well, very nice of you to say so!
0:09:40 > 0:09:43It's a big, big step.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46It's... People will say it's almost an unnatural step.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49Because you knew you couldn't get married and have children
0:09:49 > 0:09:56of your own, and that is, you know, quite a big thing to contemplate.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59Looking back now, do you regret not having a child of your own?
0:09:59 > 0:10:01No.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04- Absolutely not?- No, because I think
0:10:04 > 0:10:07it's one of the most difficult jobs in life,
0:10:07 > 0:10:09is to bring up children.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11And the longer I live,
0:10:11 > 0:10:15the more difficult it would seem to come, to become.
0:10:15 > 0:10:20And I thank God that, not necessarily from a selfish
0:10:20 > 0:10:24point of view, I don't know whether I'd be able to cope
0:10:24 > 0:10:29and be patient enough with the way children seem to turn out.
0:10:30 > 0:10:34Father Calum is looking forward very much to the new priest's
0:10:34 > 0:10:37imminent ordination on the mainland.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40The service is based on rituals dating back centuries,
0:10:40 > 0:10:44and all the visiting clergy will be expected to participate.
0:10:52 > 0:10:58As the days go by, the terrible weather shows no signs of abating.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01If anything, conditions seem to be getting worse.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06Crofter Angus John is now fearing for the long-term health
0:11:06 > 0:11:07of his herd.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12I'm going away up here to have a wee look at a couple of,
0:11:12 > 0:11:14a few bullocks I've got here.
0:11:17 > 0:11:23And just to see how they're coming on, how they're getting on, you know.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28They're lying down there, there's some of the cows there
0:11:28 > 0:11:31but they're suffering and all, them cows.
0:11:31 > 0:11:35But there's the bullocks there, but they're lying down there,
0:11:35 > 0:11:39they're not thriving the way they should be, you know, they're not putting the beef on.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41They're not thriving?
0:11:41 > 0:11:46No, they're in good grazing but it's cold, you know, it's been
0:11:46 > 0:11:52so cold and they're not coming on the way I would like to see them come on.
0:11:52 > 0:11:56I mean, at this time of the year you should be able to stand outside
0:11:56 > 0:11:59in your T-shirt at 10 o'clock at night.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01Well, if you did that...
0:12:01 > 0:12:03I'm telling you you'd have pneumonia.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06That's the truth, you would have pneumonia.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09You're not tempted to chuck it in, Angus John?
0:12:09 > 0:12:10No, I'll never.
0:12:10 > 0:12:14The day I'll chuck this in is the day they'll bury me,
0:12:14 > 0:12:15because I can't.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18Because it's in me, and I just...
0:12:18 > 0:12:21I couldn't live without having animals around me.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27Things at the campsite aren't exactly helping.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33This is the access to the beach, you see.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36Just a wee sign, it's not...
0:12:38 > 0:12:42Just to show them where to go down to the beach off the campsite.
0:12:42 > 0:12:44This is not the day to go to the beach, though...
0:12:44 > 0:12:49No, certainly not, it's a terrible day today. Terrible altogether.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03The survival of Barra as an economically sustainable island
0:13:03 > 0:13:07is almost totally dependent on this ship -
0:13:07 > 0:13:09the daily ferry from the mainland.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13It sets off with its precious cargo of supplies,
0:13:13 > 0:13:15returning islanders, and, in summer,
0:13:15 > 0:13:20large numbers of holiday-makers, and heads up through the Sound of Mull
0:13:20 > 0:13:25towards the open sea on a five-hour trip to Barra and the Western Isles.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32On the bridge is the skipper, islander Captain Michael MacNeil.
0:13:32 > 0:13:36And in high season, he has to keep his eyes peeled.
0:13:36 > 0:13:40The sound can be a very busy place to manoeuvre such a large vessel.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43You see this yacht crossing there, Innes?
0:13:43 > 0:13:46Yeah, I've got a good visual on him, I'm coming round to starboard.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48That's us well clear of him.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50Yep, that's good stuff. Happy with that.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55You never tire of coming up and down the Sound of Mull.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58And going out throughout to all the islands.
0:13:58 > 0:14:02They've all got their beauties. And every day is different.
0:14:02 > 0:14:06You know, weather conditions, sun conditions, the different times of the year, the snow...
0:14:06 > 0:14:09It's a bit of a privilege for you, isn't it?
0:14:09 > 0:14:12Yeah, well, I suppose it could be regarded as being a privilege
0:14:12 > 0:14:15but we find a lot of the islanders and a lot of the people that
0:14:15 > 0:14:18travel regularly just take it as being the norm.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21And it's only every now and again you actually sit back
0:14:21 > 0:14:24and reflect and you think, actually, it is beautiful.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32But, as his ferry arrives to unload its cargo from the mainland
0:14:32 > 0:14:36in Barra's main harbour at Castlebay, the Captain's thoughts
0:14:36 > 0:14:40are very much on an event taking place in the days to come.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45For months, the Captain and his friends have been working hard
0:14:45 > 0:14:49to resurrect Barra's traditional fishing competition, even though
0:14:49 > 0:14:55he knows this means putting his head well above the parapet.
0:14:55 > 0:14:59We spoke about having a fun day and making it a competition as well.
0:14:59 > 0:15:03And then, once the word started spreading around we then found out
0:15:03 > 0:15:06that there used to be one, there was one out of Castlebay.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10But it was before my time, a few years ago now.
0:15:10 > 0:15:12Are you a bit anxious about it at all?
0:15:12 > 0:15:14What are you feeling about it?
0:15:14 > 0:15:16Ah, a little bit anxious about it.
0:15:16 > 0:15:20Apparently in the old competition there was just one, there was a winner.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22Whereas now we've got eight categories.
0:15:22 > 0:15:27Two of which are wooden spoons, so I'm hoping I don't get one of them.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31In previous generations, the annual fishing competition was
0:15:31 > 0:15:33one of the island's biggest events of the year.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39And this revival has reignited those traditional rivalries
0:15:39 > 0:15:41where the men's seafaring skills,
0:15:41 > 0:15:45experience and ingenuity will really be put to the test.
0:15:48 > 0:15:52Nothing would delight the local fishermen more than getting
0:15:52 > 0:15:54one over on the Captain himself.
0:15:55 > 0:15:59The last couple of days now, everyone's started bragging, saying
0:15:59 > 0:16:05they're going to get the biggest and so, it's very competitive.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07This competition is fierce.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09We're not coming back in for any reason,
0:16:09 > 0:16:12except for the fact that we've got the biggest fish.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15The decision to make it a strictly line-fishing competition,
0:16:15 > 0:16:20rather than using nets, will make it easier to assess their real skills.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23There's a ball here which the fish are attracted to.
0:16:23 > 0:16:27You've also got the feather and the big killer hook itself.
0:16:27 > 0:16:32That's the one that will catch the beauty. Hopefully that'll be big enough to win the competition.
0:16:33 > 0:16:37Fishing with a hook is the oldest type of fishing going,
0:16:37 > 0:16:39and it's still the most rewarding.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42When you get that tug on your line and hook
0:16:42 > 0:16:44there's not a feeling like it in the world.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47Winning would be nice.
0:17:05 > 0:17:06A day or two later,
0:17:06 > 0:17:10and, after weeks of almost unrelenting rain and gales,
0:17:10 > 0:17:14the weather, finally, seems to take a turn for the better.
0:17:27 > 0:17:32Today, Sheila the ice cream lady is off to try her luck amongst
0:17:32 > 0:17:35the spectators who are due to be coming out to watch
0:17:35 > 0:17:37the annual hill race in Castlebay.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41Thanks to the sudden sunshine,
0:17:41 > 0:17:44it looks like there could be a good turnout.
0:17:44 > 0:17:46Ready, steady, go!
0:17:46 > 0:17:47CHEERING
0:18:00 > 0:18:04Can I get a plain vanilla one and a double vanilla one?
0:18:04 > 0:18:05A double vanilla? A twin one?
0:18:05 > 0:18:08Yeah, and one just normal.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13What kind of a day are you having here today?
0:18:13 > 0:18:14Oh, it's busy.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17It's a lovely day to have the locals out,
0:18:17 > 0:18:20and there seem to be more in for the race this year.
0:18:20 > 0:18:22Now this is the kind of weather you like?
0:18:22 > 0:18:24Oh, of course.
0:18:24 > 0:18:26It really makes about a 50% difference
0:18:26 > 0:18:29to your taking, you've 50% more than you would otherwise.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31- That's quite big, isn't it? 50%. - Yes.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33But you take the good with the bad.
0:18:33 > 0:18:37- What's the forecast? - I don't know. I don't like looking at forecasts.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39You get all the seasons in one day in Barra.
0:18:41 > 0:18:43What do you get out of doing this?
0:18:43 > 0:18:47I just... It's part of being part of the community.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49And the thing is, the kids appreciate it,
0:18:49 > 0:18:51the mothers appreciate it.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54You know, I was a maths teacher but I'm much more
0:18:54 > 0:18:58a part of the community with what I do now than I ever would have been if I'd been teaching.
0:18:58 > 0:19:02It's a bit hit and miss this business of yours, isn't it?
0:19:02 > 0:19:03Yes!
0:19:03 > 0:19:06- Don't you mind that?- No.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08Well, this is what you do.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11It's the weather, the weather's hit and miss too.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14Sheila's made a bit of money here today, at least.
0:19:14 > 0:19:18The real test, though, is in the days and months to come.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42Across the water, and this is Oban,
0:19:42 > 0:19:45the capital of this part of mainland western Scotland
0:19:45 > 0:19:48and the home of the Roman Catholic cathedral.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57Here, clergy and lay people from every corner of the diocese
0:19:57 > 0:20:00are arriving for probably the most important event
0:20:00 > 0:20:06in nearly seven years, the ordination of a new priest.
0:20:06 > 0:20:08People come by boats, trains, you name it.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11They've all made it here to Oban, and we're just so blessed
0:20:11 > 0:20:14that the weather's on our side
0:20:14 > 0:20:17and it's going to be a wonderful occasion.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20From all the corners of the diocese we'll unite in Oban tonight.
0:20:20 > 0:20:24These don't come every month, don't come every year!
0:20:24 > 0:20:27A man who's going to give his life to God and to the Church,
0:20:27 > 0:20:29that's not somebody's doing every day.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32It's not making the headlines all over the world, but for us,
0:20:32 > 0:20:35it's the best news we've heard in a long time.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37A man giving himself to God, serving the Church
0:20:37 > 0:20:39and I'm here to support him.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43Every prayer, give him a big hug and wish him all the very best
0:20:43 > 0:20:46because, yeah, we need more priests.
0:20:46 > 0:20:48MURMUR OF CONVERSATION
0:20:56 > 0:20:57BELL CHIMES
0:21:02 > 0:21:06This is the culmination of centuries of Roman Catholic tradition.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09Steeped in ancient symbolism and ritual.
0:21:13 > 0:21:18In charge of the proceedings is the Bishop for Argyll and the Isles,
0:21:18 > 0:21:19Joseph Toal.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22My dear people, let us pray
0:21:22 > 0:21:26that the all powerful Father may pour out the gifts of Heaven
0:21:26 > 0:21:30on this servant of his whom he has chosen to be a priest.
0:21:32 > 0:21:37For Catholics, ritual is just second nature, especially in worship.
0:21:37 > 0:21:41It focuses your thoughts and your mind.
0:21:41 > 0:21:46You spend six or seven years preparing for that day,
0:21:46 > 0:21:49and getting used to the fact that, well,
0:21:49 > 0:21:56eventually, you just cannot live like a layman any more.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59Pour out upon this servant of yours
0:21:59 > 0:22:02the blessing of the Holy Spirit, the grace...
0:22:02 > 0:22:07You are down there on the floor because you want to be burying
0:22:07 > 0:22:13yourself in such a way that you're coming up again as a new person.
0:22:13 > 0:22:18We ask this through Christ, our Lord, Amen.
0:22:21 > 0:22:22Let us stand.
0:22:24 > 0:22:26And after that,
0:22:26 > 0:22:30the anointing of hands and all that sort of thing takes place.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35You put your hands on the ordinant's head.
0:22:37 > 0:22:41All the priests present will do that, as well.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44May he be faithful to the ministry that he receives from you,
0:22:44 > 0:22:46Lord God,
0:22:46 > 0:22:49and be to others a model of right conduct.
0:22:49 > 0:22:56Accept, from the holy people of God, the gifts to be offered to him.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59APPLAUSE
0:23:02 > 0:23:04INAUDIBLE
0:23:04 > 0:23:06This is you being embraced.
0:23:06 > 0:23:10You're now a part of the priesthood of the Church.
0:23:11 > 0:23:17Not just the priesthood of the diocese of Argyll and the Isles,
0:23:17 > 0:23:20but the whole wide, universal Church.
0:23:39 > 0:23:43Back on Barra, and it's the day of Captain MacNeil's long-planned
0:23:43 > 0:23:45fishing competition for the local men.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48And, amazingly, the rain still seems to be holding off.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55It's clear. Got a blue sky out there so my wife and my daughter
0:23:55 > 0:23:58I'm pretty sure will be glad to see the back of today
0:23:58 > 0:24:01because they're sick of hearing me talking about it.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04So, are you going to land the big one?
0:24:04 > 0:24:06Of course. Yeah, there's no competition!
0:24:07 > 0:24:09HOOTER BLARES
0:24:13 > 0:24:16Nearly every fisherman on Barra is here today.
0:24:16 > 0:24:20In a community where fishing still means everything,
0:24:20 > 0:24:23it's not only a rare chance to let their hair down, it could mean
0:24:23 > 0:24:28a place in the annuls of island history for the overall winners.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31There's one there! First fish of the day!
0:24:34 > 0:24:38There are categories for the biggest fish, the largest haul,
0:24:38 > 0:24:40the most unusual catch.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43And for the man chosen to give out the prizes,
0:24:43 > 0:24:46Father John Paul seems to be entering into the spirit of the occasion.
0:24:47 > 0:24:51Today was all about having fun, enjoying it,
0:24:51 > 0:24:53the camaraderie and winding each other up,
0:24:53 > 0:24:55who's got the biggest fish, the most fish.
0:24:55 > 0:25:00That's what's been lovely, hearing the fishermen say they've had fun and enjoyed it
0:25:00 > 0:25:04because sometimes in life we can forget to have fun, and today's all about having that.
0:25:06 > 0:25:10Well, fun, but they've spent months raising
0:25:10 > 0:25:14a lot of money for some pretty impressive-looking awards.
0:25:17 > 0:25:21Losing face in such a close-knit place is something they'll
0:25:21 > 0:25:23never let you forget.
0:25:25 > 0:25:29Today's been a great day for fishermen and for their families
0:25:29 > 0:25:32and friends, just for everyone to come together and to have
0:25:32 > 0:25:36a competition today where there's nothing serious about today.
0:25:36 > 0:25:37So I've been told, anyway!
0:25:39 > 0:25:43Well, now we have awards up there and I'm sure a few of you
0:25:43 > 0:25:46will be dreading because there's a wooden spoon up there.
0:25:47 > 0:25:52And, I don't envy the poor person who's going to get that.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58Round of applause, come on!
0:25:58 > 0:25:59CHEERING
0:25:59 > 0:26:02There we are, well done.
0:26:02 > 0:26:03APPLAUSE
0:26:05 > 0:26:06Oh, go on!
0:26:08 > 0:26:14From his next-door parish, Father Calum is pleased to see
0:26:14 > 0:26:18the young priest now playing such a big role in island life.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21You're ordained, not for yourself,
0:26:21 > 0:26:24you're ordained to give a service to the people.
0:26:24 > 0:26:25APPLAUSE
0:26:28 > 0:26:32There are so many different ways of being a spiritual leader
0:26:32 > 0:26:34in a parish.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38The great thing about being a part of the community as a priest
0:26:38 > 0:26:42is that you are near the people.
0:26:42 > 0:26:43You understand their needs.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48So it is the wooden spoon.
0:26:49 > 0:26:53There's big letters on it - LOSER.
0:26:53 > 0:26:57Lo... Loser!
0:26:59 > 0:27:01Just engraved specially for...
0:27:01 > 0:27:03Mary C.
0:27:03 > 0:27:05So, does anybody know who's on the Mary C?
0:27:05 > 0:27:07LAUGHTER
0:27:07 > 0:27:08Well!
0:27:08 > 0:27:10CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:27:12 > 0:27:14Well done you, Captain.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18Wave it now, show everyone now!
0:27:23 > 0:27:26Have you ever regretted being ordained?
0:27:27 > 0:27:29I've had some very lonely moments.
0:27:29 > 0:27:36I've had occasionally difficult times personally in my own life,
0:27:36 > 0:27:39and, uh... but I've never regretted it.
0:27:41 > 0:27:43It's been a fantastic life.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52In the days to come, as the biggest crowd-puller
0:27:52 > 0:27:56of the year on Barra draws near, Fisherman's Mass,
0:27:56 > 0:27:59it's not looking too good for Sheila, the ice cream lady.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05I got up this morning and it was really awful.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08It's cold as well as damp. Are you ever tempted not to bother?
0:28:08 > 0:28:09No!
0:28:10 > 0:28:17No, I have gone out with ice cream in absolutely horrendous conditions
0:28:17 > 0:28:18because it's their day out.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21- So you're going to go down there, come what may?- Yes!
0:28:21 > 0:28:26And Father John Paul has fears about the long-term future of
0:28:26 > 0:28:29his parish as he sees for the first time
0:28:29 > 0:28:32a now-deserted, neighbouring island.
0:28:32 > 0:28:35It fills you with sadness that you see these buildings that
0:28:35 > 0:28:37people lived in, and making that huge,
0:28:37 > 0:28:40huge sacrifice of leaving a church,
0:28:40 > 0:28:42a school, the buildings.
0:28:42 > 0:28:44They had a lovely community.
0:28:44 > 0:28:47Let's hope and pray that we don't have to go through this here
0:28:47 > 0:28:49on any of the islands again.