Gaelic weekend

5 June 2004

12 Gaelic learners from the Edinburgh area gathered for a weekend hosted by the Comann Eachdraidh Liosmor. After a welcome on Friday evening, they were taught on Saturday morning by Michelle MacDonald from Lewis and Paddy MacNicol from Port Appin, both students at the Gaelic College on Skye, and in the afternoon they were given a tour of the island’s historical sites. A large crowd from Appin and Lismore joined them for a Ceilidh in the evening and afterwards they danced to the music of John MacDonald’s band from Sutherland.

Donald Black chaired the evening which started and ended with Angus Nicholson’s splendid piping.  In between we heard from all those who had taken part in the Mod the day before, as well as wonderful solo singing from Moira Thompson from Appin, and Mary MacDougall and Katie Crossan  from Lismore. After 2  enjoyable items from the Lismore Lighthouse Band, 4 of the visitors also sang, recited, and played the fiddle, Jack Scorgie from Port Appin played the  squeeze box and recited “Times were hard in Barra”, and the Comann Eachdraidh choir sang.

During the evening Donald announced that the fog was down and the ferryman would not be able to return the visitors to the mainland, so accommodation was rapidly arranged and the entertainment continued.