Since its inception in 2016 we have supplied the Security Services at Eilean Dorcha Festival (EDF)

Since its inception in 2016 we have supplied the Security Services at Eilean Dorcha Festival (EDF) and it has fast become an event that is very close to our hearts. Director, Mark Thorburn stated: “I have personally worked at EDF every year on the island from the beautiful journey up to the ferry over. Some of our staff enjoy it that much that they take time away from their full-time job to go and work at the festival. The festival has become known as the ‘friendly festival’ and we have not had one incident since it started. The islanders are so friendly and welcome us back each year and I can’t wait until next year to see them all again for the weekend… the only problem is, its all over to quickly!!”

EDF recently released a statement regarding their annual festival:

“Eilean Dorcha Festival, the weekend music festival held in a spectacular beach-side 

setting on the Isle of Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides, continues to go from strength to 

strength, bouncing back from its enforced two-year Covid break with an extra night and a 

£1m boost to the local economy. 

This year’s three-day festival, held in July, was headlined by Scotland’s number one DJ 

GeorgeBowie, performing his acclaimed GBX show; Skerryvore and local favourites, BeinnLee and TrailWest. 

A record crowd attended the event while an economic impact study carried out by MKA Economics of Stirling revealed a 61% boost in visitor spend to £999,845, described by the festival’s Development Manager, Roddy MacKay as “a remarkable result given the challenges faced in the return from Covid. We could see during the weekend that the festival was a big success, but we have been blown away by the economic findings,” said Roddy. 

“The study demonstrates the power communities have when they pull together to organise an event that helps build a positive, ambitious future, and that was particularly relevant this year after a last-minute hitch when the tent suppliers pulled out. Suddenly we had to rearrange the full event from indoor to outdoor at the last minute. A call went out for assistance, and the community came to the rescue in their droves. It meant a change of stage, sound, lighting, a new event safety plan, everything. It effectively meant a completely new event had to be drawn up in a week but, somehow, we managed to pull it off and people clearly enjoyed themselves.”

We would particularly like to thank SUAS, Ceòlas, DJ Buchanan Haulage, MacInnes Bros, MacAulay’s Askernish, Laing Brothers, Nevis Range, TMF, CODA Production Services, Security Scotland and our sponsors MOWI, Ask Car Hire, CalMac and Loganair who all, in the circumstances, went above and beyond to ensure the event was a great success. 

EDF state that it is their ambition to keep building on their success, to enhance the festival experience even further, and to make EDF an unmissable occasion as part of a must-visit destination.