Lochaber Gaelic Stalwart Honoured

The Highland Council today (Thursday 6 September) agreed to make Lochaber Gaelic enthusiast Chrissie MacEachen a Freeman of Lochaber.  The ceremony will be performed at the opening night of the Royal National Mod in Fort William on Friday 12 October.

Mrs MacEachen, aged 72, worked in the area as a young girl and returned in 1970 to Caol with her husband Ronald. She competed in her first Mod in Dunoon at the age of 9 in solo singing, duets and dialogue and won a Traditional Gold Medal in 1982 at the Skye Mod.

She has dedicated her later years to Gaelic and set up the Lochaber Schools Choir in 1985.

Since then she has trained the choir as well as solo singers, duettists and those wishing to recite.  Her dedication and hard work has all been done on a voluntary basis.

Provost of Lochaber, Councillor Allan Henderson, said:  “My fellow Councillors and I unanimously feel that Chrissie MacEachen is a worthy Freeman of Lochaber.

"This prestigious title honours all her hard work, enthusiasm, expertise and commitment and recognises the important role she has played in promoting excellence in Gaelic music and song in Lochaber over many years.  It will be very fitting to perform the ceremony during the opening night of the Royal National Mod in Fort William as it was by competing in her first Mod that her love of traditional music and song started.  I would like to congratulate Chrissie and give her and her family all our best wishes.”