Pope’s Gaelic choir sings to one billion audience 16/9/10
A global TV audience of about one billion people saw a youth Gaelic choir from Uist
and Barra sing to Pope Benedict XVI as he led an historic open-air mass in Glasgow
this evening.
The timetable for the Mass seemed to have been shortened at the last minute with
a number of hymns changed around.
But the Pope got to hear the all-girl group, with one member from each parish in
the Southern Isles, perfectly sing a beautiful modern Gaelic hymn, Do Làmh a Chrìosda,
which was composed by the late Donald John Macdonald of South Uist.
The girls got the edge on Susan Boyle as the Pope had left the massive stage and
was departing the park before her performance.
To their delight, the excited girls also unexpectedly got an amazing close-up view
of the pontiff as his popemobile slowly drove past them as it went through the colourful
flag waving crowd in Bellahousten Park. They quickly whipped out cameras and mobile
phones to capture a flurry of historic snaps.
For choir member Fiona Maclennan of Benbecula it was an extra special day when the
assembled choirs, conducted by Father Michael Hutson, a music directors of the Papal
Mass, warmed up by singing her Happy Birthday to mark her becoming 16 years of age.
Music tutor Pauline Macdonald of Castlebay School said: “It was quite a nerve wracking
occasion. But what a day! It has been absolutely fabulous.”
She added: “The running order was changed around but thank goodness they kept us
in. It was great to see the Pope and the girls did so well. It has been a great day.
Meanwhile, retired hydro board employee Donald Archie Mackinnon from Uachdar in Benbecula
offered a bidding prayer in Gaelic during the Mass.
