ISLAY GATHERING 2005

A host of Islay talent is lined up for the Islay Gathering early next year, and Islay born, Alastair Carmichael, the Lib/Dem Member of Parliament for the Orkney and Shetland Isles since 2001, will be the guest chairman. The Glasgow Islay Association’s annual gathering is in the Caremont Street, Henry Wood Hall and RSNO Centre on Friday 4th March 2005.
One of the party’s spokesmen on Northern Ireland and a member of the Select Committee on Scottish Affairs, Alastair was born and brought up in the Oa, where his parents are well-known members of the local farming community.
Travelling from Islay to take part is the National Mod victorious Port Ellen Gaelic Choir, under he baton of Jean Campbell. The island choristers, to the delight of all, won the Sheriff MacMaster Campbell Memorial Quaich in the rural choir’s competition at Perth in October. They also secured for their conductor, the Grace Robertson Memorial Baton for the highest marks in music as well as the Selma Shield for the highest Gaeic marks in the competition, and attested to the sterling efforts and dedication of Gaelic reader Robert Forrest.
Also travelling from Islay are 13 year old piper Sandy MacLellan from Bunnahabhain and 17 year old Bowmore piper, Lynsey MacArthur. They will be joining Pipe-majors, Andrew McCowan and Duncan Heads, the assocation pipers, in the opening selections.
Also featured will be Mod Gold Medallist, Iseabail MacTaggart, winner of the ladies’ medal at this year’s national Mod, and a daughter of Margaret Ann and Hamish MacTaggart, Kintra. Iseabail is currently in charge of Public Relations for Morrison Bowmore Distillers Ltd and was previously a member of and Gaelic reader for the London Gaelic Choir.
Making a return visit to the Islay platform is the veteran Mod Gold Medallist Ian A Carmichael, who now lives in the city’s Garrowhill district but whose roots are firmly embedded in the Keills area of the island. He struck gold at Stirling in 1961 and for over four decades he has remained one of Gaeldom’s most poular and sought after performers.
Also making her gathering debut is Fiona Hunter, traditional music graduate from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. A former member of the Glasgow Islay Junior Gaelic choir, she now teaches traditional music in a number of city primary schools under the aegis of the National Youth Choir of Scotland (NYCOS). She also teaches her art to first year students at her RSAMD alma mater, and has taken over as lead singer from Karine Polwat in the group ‘Malinky’. She will also be making her Celtic Connections debut with the group in January.
This will be Alastair MacDougall’s first gathering as association president and his pianist/composer wife, Norma, will accompany the vocalists.
The gathering dance will follow immediately in the same venue and for the second year in succession the dance music will be the domain of Alastair MacCuish and the Black Rose ceilidh band.