Gusts of 82mph were recorded at Kirkwall on Orkney and at South Uist in the Outer Hebrides.

Islay is already one of Scotland's major whisky attractions with distilleries including Laphroaig, Ardbeg and Lagavulin.

The festival is Scotland's biggest celebration of Gaelic culture and language.

The Scottish and UK administrations had each committed £25m to projects in the area, including housing developments.

MV Hebridean Isles serves Islay, but has also been used on other routes across CalMac's network.

Margart Duncan won some of Gaelic's biggest song prizes and was a key member of London Gaelic Choir.

The second ferry built in Turkey for Scotland's west coast routes has officially been launched.

MV Loch Indaal is the second of four ferries being built at Cemre Marin Endustri shipyard in Yalova.