The Tarskavaig Fèis ~ Aos Dana 2009 - is an initiative of local people to develop the literary side which became part of Fèis an Eilein in 2005.
Tarskavaig Communities Hall was bought and modernised by three local communities. The Hall, sited on a stunning location, has established a reputation as a successful venue for cèilidh and the enjoyment of the living culture of the Gàidhealtachd. The Communities invite you to join them in celebrating the Year of Homecoming in music, song, bàrdachd, biographic stories and pictures
Admission
is by donation - suggested as £5, and concessions £3!
There is no booking for these events and admission is on a first come, first serve basis.
Organisers
David Macfadyen ~ 01471 855260 ~ dm8610875@googlemail.com Donald Mackenzie 01471 855368
Peter Piddock - 01471 855245
The Programme
Monday 3 August, 8:00 pm
Skye poets Sorley MacLean and Màiri Mhòr, celebrated in painting, songs and poetry
Donald Mackenzie (Artist), Lindsay Mitchell (Singer) & Skye Poets Meg Bateman, Aonghas Phàdraig Caimbeul, Maoilios Caimbeul and Rob Kerr. This event will be in Gaelic and English. The Fèis opens with tributes, in pictures, songs and poetry, to Màiri Mhòr nan Òran (1821-1898), native of Skye and writer of songs of exile, praise, hope and protest; and to Sorley MacLean (1911-1996), foremost poet and father of the Gaelic renaissance.
The Performers Donald Mackenzie is an internationally known Skye artist, who runs the Blue Studio in Tarskavaig. Portraits of Sorley MacLean and Màiri Mhòr, painted by Donald, form the basis of this event of songs and poetry. Lindsay Mitchell, a talented singer, is from the Isle of Lewis, and studies traditional music at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. Meg Bateman's poems have appeared in numerous anthologies.She lectures at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and lives in Tarskavaig. Her third book of poetry, Soirbheas/Fair Wind, published by Birlinn, was launched recently to great acclaim in Tarskavaig Hall. Aonghas Phàdraig Caimbeul, a native of South Uist, is a prominent writer and broadcaster. He was introduced to literature by the late Ian Crichton Smith and received encouragement from the late Sorley MacLean. Aonghas Phàdraig, a longtime Skye resident, had an impressive debut in 2007 as lead actor in Seachd, the first-ever Gaelic-language feature film. Maoilios Caimbeul, a poet from Staffin, is internationally acclaimed and represented in An Tuil, Ronald Black’s Anthology of 20th Century Scottish Gaelic Verse. He is a former writer-in-residence at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. Rob Kerr is a Skye-based poet, who has also held the post of writer-in-residence at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. His Gaelic translations of the poetry of other languages include those of the River Indians of Washington State.
Wednesday 5 August, 8:00 pm
The poetry, songs and collections of Ealasaid Ross of Raasay, 1789-1875: A World Première
David Macfadyen (Narrator), Meg Bateman (Bàrdachd), Hugh Cheape (Piping Heritage), Decker Forrest & Iain MacInnes (Pipers), Donald Mackenzie (Fiddler) and Christine Primrose (Singer).
This engages the audience in a journey in Raasay from 1773 to 1843, a period of cultural transition, via two neglected publications of Ealasaid (Eliza) Ross, Bantighearna d’Oyly (1789-1875), Original Highland Airs collected in Raasay in 1812 and Orain Ghaidhlig (1875).
David Macfadyen, who founded Aos Dana in 2005, lives in Tarskavaig. David speaks on Ealasaid’s childhood and on her mother, Isabella Macleod of Raasay, friend of Robert Burns. Meg Bateman introduces us to Ealasaid, the bard, and to the historic setting of her work. Hugh Cheape presents new material on John Mackay, piper of Raasay, and on Ealasaid’s links to Sir John Macra of Ardintoul. Hugh is a prominent historian, and leads the graduate course in Material Culture at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. He recently published a prize-winning book on ‘Bagpipes: a National Collection of a National Instrument’. Decker Forrest, a fine piper, plays the fiadan sialeasda (reed pipe). He directs the course in Traditional Music, Language & Culture at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. Iain MacInnes is a music producer at BBC Scotland, and completed a thesis in 1988 exploring Scottish piping traditions in the 19th century, in particular the role played by the Highland Societies of London and Scotland.His CD Tryst is the first to feature music that Ealasaid Ross collected in 1812. Iain will play some of the airs, reels and jigs from the collection and discuss her influence on piping. Donald Mackenzie, a fiddler as well as an artist, plays on an instrument that he made himself. Christine Primrose, an internationally renowned traditional singer from Lewis, has toured in North America, Australia and Europe. She frequently appears on television and radio. Christine teaches Gaelic song at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and will sing songs composed by Ealasaid relating to Raasay.
Thursday 6 August, 8:00 pm
Seeds of Blood and Beauty: Scottish Plant Explorers
Ann Lindsay, Author. Seeds of Blood and Beauty, a book that encompasses biography, history and horticulture, tells the story of 18th- and 19th-century Indiana Joneses of the plant world. Their quest for botanical specimens took them far from the Highlands to some of the world’s most exotic places, where they risked life and limb to bring us trees and plants which grace beautiful West Coast gardens, such as those of ArmadaleCastle.
Ann Lindsay gives lively illustrated readings of her work. She has authored several books on Scottish traditions. Here, she recounts stories of adventure, endurance in harsh conditions and derring-do. Ann lives in Perthshire, close to the tallest Douglas fir in the country.
Friday 7 August, 10:30 am
Tour of CastleGardens at Clan Donald Centre, Armadale
over 200 years ago, a shelter of trees was planted to create ArmadaleGardens, 40 acres of exotic trees, shrubs and flowers that are remarkable for their beauty and for their very existence.
Louise Pinkney is Head Gardener at ArmadaleCastleGardens, part of an estate and visitor centre which Clan Donald Lands Trust restored and maintains on behalf of clan members from around the world. One of the Trust’s aims is to stimulate interest in the history and culture of the Highlands.
Friday 7 August, 8:00 pm
Gaelic bards and Nordic rigs: tracing the birlinn, the galleys built for Hebridean seaways
Highland galleys – birlinn – were the power-base of the clans. The fleets were reduced under the provisions of the 1609 Statutes of Iona and the birlinn gradually disappeared. All that is left are the evocative lines of Gaelic bards, place names and carved stones. However, boats designed to sail in Hebridean waters, ten centuries ago, continue to be built in Nordic countries. Gavin's illustrated talk tells the exciting story of tracing these vessels.
Gavin Parsons, a member of the faculty at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, is currently engaged in research during sabbatical leave.
Saturday 8 August, 8:00 pm
Fiddle Strings and Vocal Cords: A Fusion of Music and Poetry
Music composed by Pete Clark played in conjunction with the poetry of Kenneth Steven.
Pete Clark is not only a superb fiddler, but an excellent composer and an interpreter of the music of 18th Century legend, Neil Gow. Kenneth Steven is a poet and writer of fiction, short stories and children’s books. He lives in Perthshire and reads his work to musical accompaniment.
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