Medieval Kintyre Project Sub-group
Minutes of Meeting 07-04-26
Held by Teams
Present: M McDonald (Chair), V Nimmo (Minutes), E McTaggart, K Pytasz, G Lawson, M Peacock
Welcome: M McDonald welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Apologies J Nimmo, T Murphy N Lowden, M MacKaveney, Rory Colville, Antonia Baird
Minutes 03-02-26 – Agreed correct.
Council Update
No Council officers present.
MMcD has been invited to meet with TM on 29-05-26 at Burnett Building.
Priority issues – removal of Heras fencing at Killean and removal of padlock at Kilchenzie.
Still awaiting legal document/Heads of Terms from A&BC. David Allan, Estates & Property Manager for A&BC is in correspondence with Steven Scott HES and their legal representatives Morton Fraser.
KP – our group should only be responsible for the medieval slabs and the scheduled monuments with an area 2m from the building to allow for scaffolding etc.
Treasurer’s Report
Today 07-04-26, the group’s available balance stood at £24,787.11 (Twenty four thousand, seven hundred eighty seven pounds eleven pence).
Funds boosted by recent grants.
£1000 from MOWI and £600 from Balure Trust.
Invoice received from Nic Boyes for £1200 for next 3 month’s storage of Kilkivan graveslabs. Since Council has caused the delay in grant funding, it was agreed that this invoice should be forwarded to them.
MMcD to send copy of invoice to Tom Murphy, Susan Mair and David Allan.
Chairperson’s report
MMcD has applied to West Kintyre Windfarm Trust for £4800 to cover the cost of removal of some of the ivy at Killean.
MMcD has also given talk to C3 group at Chleit Church on our project. Tarbert minister would be happy to conduct an outdoor service at Killean or Kilchenzie, if requested.
Update from K Pytasz
HES Tender – only awaiting the HoTs for a decision to be made regarding the funding.
KP has managed to admit MMcD to a Sharepoint page.
Update from V Nimmo
VN met with CMcL to discuss the GoFundMe page. CMcL explained that he could only provide the information, the layout was in the hands of GoFundMe. He has now placed the collage of Kintyre’s Forgotten Heritage as the title page.
CMcL had provided information that Microsoft 365 would set up a Sharepoint free of charge for a registered charity. It was agreed that this would be better as it would permit all members to have access to the documents. KP stated that it would require substantial storage as there were some very large documents.
VN to action.
GL concerned that GoFundMe held onto our money until initial target had been reached. CMcL had explained that the initial target is set by GoFundMe based on our fundraising target. £250,000 was the figure used as our target and GoFundMe set the initial target at £14,000, which all thought excessive, especially as they were keeping our money until it was reached.
Agreed to ask CMcL to alter the fundraising target to £50,000, if possible.
VN to action.
EMcT questioned whether the video of Killean & Kilchenzie had been completed, as Antiquarians had agreed to fund this.
VN to check with Jason. Hopefully weather will improve to allow him to video the sites.
AOCB
Storage of Slabs, GL to check exactly how much of our funds are not ringfenced for restoration of the slabs. LOAF may be able to provide some funding.
VN to apply to the Architectural Heritage Fund for funding for 9 month’s storage.
MMcD to ask lawyer, possibly, Stephen McSporran to check the Heads of Term when they become available.
Date of Next Meetings
Technical In-person meeting 24-04-26 cancelled, rescheduled for 01-05-26 in meeting room at the library. EMcT to book.
Sub-group meeting on 05-05-26 unnecessary and is cancelled.
Future meeting Tuesday 2nd June 2026 at 10.30am via Teams.
