The October Update
Once more the winter session is with us, leaving us with memories of many sunny warm days. Already the GIA have had two events from the syllabus.
Firstly a very happy gathering of our Senior Citizen members, at our Dinner and Ceilidh on the 2nd of September. After a refreshment, and a blether with friends, we sat down to a meal, prepared and served by Flora and her staff.
The tables were cleared and the company settled down to enjoy the ceilidh. I tried to have a real ceilidh, where the audience provided the entertainment. Just in case it did not work out, we had two official artists, John McMillan who had our feet tapping with his fiddle music, and Iain McKinnon who delighted us with his selection of songs. From the audience, we enjoyed songs from Dougie Gillespie, Iain Carmichael, Kitty Anderson, Milda Martin and myself. The busiest person was Norma McDougall who provided piano accompaniment for all the performers. Throughout the evening, there was time for catching up with friends, and committee members ensured that the guests had something in their glasses to encourage them.
The 200 club draw for September was made with the following winners: -
1st, Donald McIndeor, 2nd Mary Pollock, 3rd Liz McAulay.
The feedback is that it was a splendid evening.
Our first business, and committee meeting achieved a lot. One of the most important decisions was the choice of Chairman for our Annual Gathering on Friday 9th March 2007. We are pleased to announce that Professor Sir William Stewart has agreed to carry out that duty.
The GIA Opening Concert was held on Friday 6th October in St Columba Hall. An excellent turnout gathered to hear a night of music. The fear an tigh, was Neil Murray, retired teacher and Glasgow Correspondent for The Oban Times.
Pipe Major Andrew McCowan opened the concert, and the second half.
His father Andrew McCowan sang some popular Gaelic songs including his Mod pieces.
The Glasgow Islay Junior Gaelic Choir conducted by Jane McQueen provided most of the varied items. These included their Mod pieces, choral, solo, and clarsach.
‘Neil talking to the Choir’
‘Young American chorister’
‘ Clarsach’
Islay McVean made her debut performance at an Islay concert, entertaining us with a selection of Scots songs and others such as ‘Highland Cathedral’. She was well received and I am sure will be asked back again.
Norma provided the accompaniment for the senior artists.
The GIA committee produced a good spread for the interval Tea.
‘Some of the committee waiting to serve tea’
This was followed by the 200 Club draw for October. The winners were: -
1st Elizabeth Campbell, 2nd Mr and Mrs Gilbert Nicol, 3rd Christine Gillan.
A large raffle draw then took place before the second half got started.
The Mod competitors were wished all success in their competitions, and the Concert closed with the singing of Oidhche mha leibh.
Forth coming events, Dance on 2nd December 06 in the St Vincent Bowling Club, Burns Supper on 20th January 2007 in the same place. Please remember that the Gathering is on the 9th March 07 in Partick Burgh Hall with the Dance in The Oran Mor with music by Fergie MacDonald.
That’s all for now, I hope to meet with many of you at the Mod in Dunoon.
Alasdair.
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