Hebridean youngsters are putting aside their x-
Organisers behind a series of Gaelic arts and cultural festivals are surprised to
discover that -
In recent years there has been a downward trend in numbers attending a fèis which is a volunteer organised five day festival.
But the first of the community events in the Western Isles calendar shows a 20% rise in the number of youngsters keen to learn the fiddle, chanter, accordion, guitar, harp, keyboard, dance, drama and art.
At the start of the summer holidays, Sir E Scott school in Harris had nearly 80 children
going back to classes -
Similar numbers attended the Fèis Tìr an Eòrna, in North Uist which held a ceilidh on the machair to celebrate its 25th anniversary while the Barra Fèis, commencing on Monday, is always popular.
Around 6,300 young people are expected to take in the summer fèisan across Scotland
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Fèisan development officer Shona Macmillan says many youngsters are eager to attend.
She says they come back to school to learn traditional musical skills from experience
tutors in a fun setting, topped off by showing off their new-
Ms Macmillan said they’ve just started the holidays yet the “first thing they do is come back to school.”
She added: “Its strange. You would not expect them to want to come back.
“Usually they would be in the house playing the x-
It includes instruction on “a variety of instruments as well as singing while Harris Tweed crafts is very popular this year.
“They learn a whole load of new skills they may not have to the chance to get pick up outside the fèis.”
She pointed out many fèis participants go on to make a career in traditional music.”
Fèisean dates
7 -
14t -
21 -
28 July -