Diluain 1 gu Dihaoine 5 an t-Iuchar

Monday 1 - Friday 5 July a week-long festival celebrating Tiree’s traditional culture

£1

ar ceòl, ar cànan ’s ar dualchas

our music, our language and our culture

Taic | Contact We want you to have a special week. If you need anything, feel welcome to ask a committee member at the school or An Talla or call Shari MacKinnon on 07810 364 597.

Oideachadh | Classes This year, once again, we have a great line up with lots of new tutors! Classes are being held in Tiree High School in Cornaigmore from Monday to Friday. Come along to sing, play or just listen. What better way to learn the real secrets of traditional culture? Classes this year are: pipes and chanter, fiddle, guitar, drums, Gaelic singing, accordion, keyboard, clarsach, flute and whistle, Gaelic conversation, film making and sports. Children aged 9 and over and adults are very welcome to come to the main Fèis! Once again Fèis Bheag will run for the full Fèis day - 10.30 am to 3.00 pm – and will be open to all kids aged 5-8, whether they are fluent or just keen to learn some Gaelic. For under 5s there is Fèis Bheag Bheag: ‘Bookbug’ sessions every morning from 10.45 – 11.15 with games, songs & rhymes led by Ishbel Campbell. Booking forms for the main Fèis, Fèis Bheag, and Fèis Bheag Bheag are available from our website or by contacting Shari on 07810 364 597. The closing date for returning booking forms is Wednesday 26th June. If you have missed this deadline, please contact Shari to arrange a late booking.

Taic Airgid | Financial Support Fèis Thiriodh gratefully acknowledges a grant from Fèisean nan Gàidheal. We are also very grateful to the Tiree Trust Windfall Fund for a grant to allow this year's Fèis to go ahead. Donations of raffle prizes are always greatly appreciated.

Luchd-teagaisg | Tutors Mairi Innes (Drumaichean | Drums) – Mairi, a fluent Gàidhlig speaker, is a musician from Benbecula, the guitarist and vocalist of the Dùn Mòr Cèilidh band. After completing an HNC in Music at Lews Castle College in Benbecula, Mairi moved to Oban where she studied Marine Science. When in Benbecula, Mairi tutored at the local Fèis and also tutored the Sgoil Lionacleit pipe band, of which she was a member for six years.

Ruairidh Morrison (Bogsa | Accordion) – Ruairidh is originally from Oban but is now living in Glasgow. He plays accordion for Oban band, Ceol an Aire and often fills in for other bands when required. With Ruairidh's mother coming from Tiree and his father from South Uist, he has always had a strong island connection. Having had the pleasure of teaching at various Fèis programmes – big and small – throughout Scotland, Ruairidh is especially looking forward to Fèis Thiriodh as it will be his first island Fèis!

Hamish MacLeod (Giotàr | Guitar) – Since gaining a music degree from Glasgow University, Hamish has been accepted onto the ‘Live Music Now’ scheme and has appeared on nationally broadcast music programmes for the BBC and RTE and he has toured all over Europe, and as far afield as Australia and the UAE.

Finlay Johnston (A’ Phìob-Mhòr agus Feadan | Pipes and Chanter) – With very close connections to Tiree, Finlay is from Glasgow and currently works as a piping instructor at the National Piping Centre. Finlay competes as a solo piper and also has pipe band experience, having played most recently with Inveraray and District pipe band. Last year he won the prestigious Glenfiddich Invitational Solo Piping Championship.

Jamie MacDonald (Fìdheal | Fiddle) – Jamie is a native of the Isle of Tiree and has grown up immersed in the music and culture of the island. He plays with a distinct island style and can often be found at the crux of the cèilidh or helm of the hòro- gheallaidh!

Wilma Kennedy (Seinn | Gaelic Singing) – Wilma, a Gaelic singer and double Mòd Gold medallist has Tiree and Skye roots. She has performed as both a soloist and with her family band Na Caimbeulaich. She loves passing on songs and has a slight addiction to puirt à beul and waulking songs.

Dr John Holliday (Fìdeag & Duiseal | Whistle & Flute) – John, the retired island doctor, was a founder member of Fèis Thiriodh, and has been teaching flute and whistle on Tiree for twenty-five years.

Alasdair Satchel (A’ Deanamh filmichean | Film Making) – Alasdair from Mull works in film and the theatre. He is currently making a documentary about the Isle of Ulva’s quest for self-determination and community buyout.

Iain MacKinnon (Còmhradh | Gaelic Conversation) – A native of Tiree and a fluent Gaelic speaker, Iain is now retired after working in Aberdeen and able to pursue his interests, which include traditional Gaelic music and its culture.

Josie Burgess (Spòrs | Sports) – Originally from South Uist, Josie works in Glasgow as a Gàidhlig secondary teacher at Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu. She is a co-presenter on BBC Radio nan Gàidheal’s Spòrs na Seachdain.

Màrtainn Skene (Meur-chlàr | Keyboard ) – Màrtainn is from North Lochaber, brought up amongst a mix of trad and classical music and dance. He plays accordion, piano and cello full time with the Màrtainn Skene Highland Dance Band and the Donald Black Band. He is part of the thriving dance scene in Glasgow during the winter, and can be heard up west during the summer months: Tiree being the highlight this year! Anna MacDonald (Clàrsach | Clarsach) - Anna is from Ruaig on the island and graduated with an Applied Music degree through UHI in 2017, focusing on clarsach, Gàidhlig song and traditional music. She was lucky to grow up in such a musically encouraging community, attending Fèis Thiriodh since she was wee.

Ishbel Campbell (Fèis Bheag & Fèis Bheag Bheag) – Ishbel works as a Gaelic Primary teacher on Tiree and is the Gaelic Development Officer on the island.

Beth MacArthur (Fèis Bheag) – Originally from Oban but having spent many holidays with family on Tiree, Beth is currently working as a Primary teacher at the Glasgow Gaelic School. Eilish Brown (Fèis Bheag) – Eilish is a fluent Gaelic speaker from Glasgow and grew up surrounded by music and Gaelic. Having attended Fèis Thiriodh every year as a child, Eilish is delighted to be back at the Fèis this year, this time teaching. Kathleen MacKinnon (Fèis Bheag) – Raised in Tiree and having attended Fèis Thiriodh for many years while growing up, Kathleen has helped out at Fèis Bheag in the past. A fluent Gàidhlig speaker she has recently graduated from Sabhal Mòr Ostaig with a degree in Gaelic and Development. Kathleen helped run Sradagan in Tiree, and while on Skye she worked in the Gaelic nursery at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. She recently moved to Glasgow to become a Gaelic Development Officer.

Tachartasan an Fheasgair | Evening events

Diluain | Monday 1 July | 7 - 9pm Dannsa na Cloinne | Children’s Dance Music from Ruairidh Morrison & The Fèis Band An Talla | Crossapol Children and adults are all welcome to the first dance of the week. Dance along to the great music, and if you don’t like dancing you can always join in with the games. If you want a table, don’t be late! Raffle. Juice and crisps will be on sale. ADMISSION £5 ADULTS | £2.50 CHILDREN | BABIES IN ARMS – FREE

Dimàirt | Tuesday 2 July | 7.30pm Leabhar Air Bhog | Donald Meek Book Launch An Talla | Crossapol A double book launch with Donald Meek, hosted by Acair and Clàr publishers. ‘Shore Lines’ a book of English verse, provides ‘word-pictures’ of Tiree from the early 1950s to the present day, including Donald’s early years, his regular travels and his relationship with the Tiree community today. ‘Sèol Mo Bheatha’ an autobiography in Gaelic, is Donald’s life story in his own words. Flòraidh NicPhail and Dr John Holliday will also be speaking, and there will be songs and music. Refreshments will be available. FREE ADMISSION

Diciadain | Wednesday 3 July | 7.30pm Cèilidh an Luchd-Teagaisg | Tutors’ Concert An Talla | Crossapol With a fantastic line-up of musicians tutoring at this year’s Fèis, this concert is certainly not one to be missed. There will be plenty of songs, tunes and probably a few jokes! Under 18s must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Licensed. Raffle. ADMISSION £10 ADULTS | £5 UNDER 16s | FREE FOR UNDER 16s FÈIS PARTICIPANTS

Diardaoin | Thursday 4 July | 8.00pm Ceòl agus Craic | Pub Session Lodge Hotel | Gott An informal session led by the Fèis tutors. Bring your instrument and join in! (Please note 18+ only from 10pm onwards.) FREE ADMISSION

Dihaoine | Friday 5 July | 9.00pm

Dannsa na Fèise | Finale Dance Music from Ruairidh Morrison & The Fèis Band An Talla | Crossapol What better way to end Fèis week than dancing the night away to music by some of this year’s tutors. This dance is always a highlight of the local events calendar. 14 years old and over. Under 18s must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Licensed. Raffle. ADMISSION £10

*AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE AT SPECIAL PRICE £8 AT FÈIS EVENTS *

The island of Tiree is known for many things – its sunshine, its barley and its windsurfing. But an increasingly forgotten part of its heritage is the island’s traditional poetry and songs. This book is an attempt to re-invigorate our tradition by producing twenty Tiree songs in a modern notation with translations, notes and music.

During the summer of 2011 Fèis Thiriodh asked islanders and visitors to list their favourite songs written by Tiree people. A ‘chart’ resulted in a ‘Top Twenty’ and the songs are listed in the order of their popularity.