Fèis Tìr an Eòrna

Big turnout for Fèis Tìr an Eòrna 13/7/11

Fèis Tìr an Eòrna has been a resounding success according to the tutors, the organisers and most importantly, the children.

Eighty children attended the week-long event held in Sgoil Phaibil, North Uist. Youngsters selected three subjects from a choice of 14 and Fèis participants experienced tuition of the highest level in their chosen area.

The tutors this year included Seumas Graham, (Mod Medallist), for singing and drama; Iain ‘Corky’ MacCorquodale, straight from the World Island Games, for traditional sport and Gemma Steele, who has just returned from Kenya and was a highly popular Highland dance tutor.

This was the 22nd Fèis in Paible School and one of the piping instructors, Donald Bàn MacDonald must hold the record for attending every Fèis concert since it began in 1989.

Many local children from throughout the Uists attended, with others coming ‘home’ from as far away as New York and Singapore, with regular holiday weeks now arranged around Fèis week for parents!

There was a great atmosphere from the beginning and this really shone through at the Tutor’s Cèilidh on Wednesday evening. The school hall was packed out with standing room only and the audience were treated to a great evening’s entertainment from the tutors – Iain Ruairidh Finlayson, from Kyle and Donald Bàn began and ended the evening in true piping style with a terrific set of tunes. Lauren Tait, our Clarsach tutor from Fort William, played a stunning selection on the clarsach and began her set with a jazz number, showcasing her dexterity and the instruments’ versatility.

Tom Callister hails from the Isle of Man and played some great fiddle tunes for the audience and also joined Lea MacLeod from Kyle with his foot-stomping set on whistle and pipes. Both have just completed a year at Lews Castle College, Benbecula campus, studying music and Gaelic. Local girl, former Fèis pupil and Plockton School of Music pupil Anna Black was fiddle tutor this Feis week, also played a great set of tunes.

Danny McGuinness from Glasgow was a maestro on the accordion and whistle and really got the audience clapping and toe-tapping with his tunes.

John-Jo MacNeil from Barra, teaching keyboard at the Fèis, was the excellent Fear-an-Taighe along with Fèis chair, Nanac Skivington and he also joined Seumas Graham in singing in the all-tutor finale at the end of evening.

Other tutors during the week, all local to Uist, included Steven Morrison and Eoghainn MacIsaac who worked very hard with the shinty classes and Fiona MacIsaac along with Ana-Maia MacLellan were the Art tutors. Gemma Beaton and Corky also had pupils working well in Traditional Sports. Nearly all the local tutors have been pupils at the Fèis and it’s great to see them back as tutors.

Tutors also popped down to Fèis Bheag, organised by Saoghal Beag nursery, at Carinish Hall and let the children there experience live music.

Thursday evening saw both a junior shinty match and a senior shinty match between pupils and tutors with the tutors just coming out the winners. This was a closely fought game and the late sunshine made it a great evening.

The final Friday cèilidh was again another packed out hall and was a fantastic evening with all the Fèis participants showing off their new and improved skills. Mairi MacInnes was the first pupil of Donald Bàn to play ceòl mòr on the pipes at the Fèis, a truly memorable performance.

The Fèis committee commissioned a new logo this year from local company Hebridean Graphics and the brisk tee-shirt sales have shown it to be a winner. Newly established Roddy MacKay, Benbecula, produced the t-shirts for the Fèis.

Organising the event is an exhausting volunteer effort which depends on hard fundraising and help from local businesses . Salmon farmers Loch Duart has relieved some of the financial pressure with a deal to sponsor the Fèis over the next three years.