Gaelic culture celebration marks Homecoming Finale in the Highlands
Gaelic culture will be highlighted as part of Scotland’s national St Andrew’s Day celebrations and the official Homecoming Scotland Finale programme in the Highlands.
Ceòl nam Fèis 2009 (literally ‘music of the festivals’) will see up to 100 Fèis Movement stars both past and present descend upon the Highland capital for a unique showcase concert of new and traditional songs, tunes and dances at Inverness’s Eden Court Theatre on Friday 27th November.
Arthur Cormack, Director of Fèisean nan Gaidheal, the organisation which supports the development of community-based Gaelic arts tuition festivals throughout Scotland, explains: “This unique event will feature former Fèis players, who are now professional musicians, coming home to work alongside groups of young people from across Scotland currently involved in the movement. Having begun some 25 years ago in Barra, the Movement now involves 48 groups across the country, from Tiree to Aberdeen, each of which are engaged in tuition and the promotion of Gaelic culture. Rehearsals for this event have been going on for several months so I can guarantee a fantastic evening with several well known faces and some of the country’s best young traditional musicians.”
Marie Christie, Project Director for Homecoming Scotland 2009, adds: “Ceol nam Feis 2009 will be a highlight of the national St Andrew’s Day celebrations and the Homecoming Scotland Finale programme in the Highlands. Scotland’s music has been the soundtrack to many great Homecoming events across the country during 2009, it is therefore very fitting that we see the year out in the Highlands with a fantastic night drawing together the country’s finest talent from the impressive work of the Fèis movement.”
Convener of The Highland Council, Councillor Sandy Park, said: “Ceòl nam Fèis will provide a very rousing conclusion to the Highland Homecoming events and be a true showcase for past, present and new emerging traditional musical talent. I am sure the evening will be a glowing success that recognised the huge contribution the Fèis movement has made to strengthening our links with our cultural past and promoting the talents of our young people.”
Minister for Culture, Michael Russell, said: “St Andrew’s Day is a day to celebrate all that is great about Scotland – including our unique Gaelic culture and music. It is fitting that the Homecoming Year reaches it finale by welcoming home Fèis musicians from around the world to work with our young talent as part of this spectacular event. I’m sure that Ceòl nam Fèis will be a great success and a highlight of the Highland programme.”
The event, organised by Fèisean nan Gaidheal in partnership with The Highland Council, will be held in the Empire Theatre at Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, at 7.30pm, Friday 27th November. For tickets and further information please visit http://www.eden-court.co.uk/whats-on/shows/ceol-nam-feis-2009-st-andrew-s-feis-homecoming# .