This is already the fifth post in the "Nostalgic Islay Guide" series from which the ads are kindly provided by Keith Faulks. I started off with mentioning this lovely guide which was followed by the brilliantly written foreword by Alastair Borthwick. The third post was about the Port Askaig Hotel and the last one showed the similarities between the Abbotsford Hotel in the old days and the new an Taigh-Osda hotel in Bruichladdich. Today I want to show you an ad of a shop most Islay visitors sooner or later will visit, the Celtic House in Shore Street Bowmore.

C & E Roy's Celtic House, as they are officially named, is a family business which was first established in 1959, quite a long time if you think about it and when I'm correct they will soon have, or perhaps already had, their 50th anniversary. As you can read in the ad they still sell more or less the same variety of goods. I have quoted some lines from their website so you can compare the old and new: "Drawing on the culture of the island of Islay, the shop specialises in books on Scottish history and culture, Scottish designer knitwear, Glassware, Tableware and Ceramics. The Celtic House is the place to find that unique and imaginative gift." Now the old ad didn't mention books and perhaps they started with that later but for me this shop is visited by me every time when I'm on Islay. Their collection of books is fantastic and I love to sit on the chair in the wee bookcorner and browse through the hundreds of Islay, Argyll and Scotland books. I always manage to find a new book here and never leave empty handed. An excellent suggestion for a rainy day. Nowadays you can also shop online, for more information check out www.theceltichouse.co.uk

Tag: nostalgic guide ad