Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
FILM STAR KATIE WOWS KIDS IN HER MITHER TONGUE
Features alongside her niece in fun Gaelic children’s movie
An award-winning Gaelic ambassador from Airdrie is the star of a new children’s film in the language which encourages youngsters to have fun and play outdoors.
Katie Macfarlane plays leading character Hub Hab in Cuairt Bheag, which translates as A Wee Walk – and her six-year-old niece, Mara Hughes, also has an additional voice role.
It is currently being used in Gaelicmedium nurseries and primary schools across Scotland, and is reaching a wider audience after being streamed via Facebook.
The video has been made in place of the touring production which would ordinarily be staged each year by Gaelic organisation Feisan nan Gaidheal.
It was written and directed by drama officer Angus Macleod and features the usual elements of the stage show plus three new Gaelic songs.
Calderbank resident Katie, who took her first steps in the language aged seven by singing with choirs in Falkirk and Cumbernauld, performs the musical numbers alongside awardwinning folk musician Pablo Lafuente, who also filmed the scenes.
The story sees Katie’s character find a magical box on her doorstep and go on to showcase the fun of exploring and playing outside.
Meanwhile, her little niece Mara joins the cast with an impromptu role as the voice of Hub Hab’s off-screen friend;
and said: “I enjoyed everything about it. I really liked the songs and the bit with Fitheach the dog!”
Eilidh Mackenzie of Feisgoil, the Gaelic organisation’s arts in education service, said: “Katie and Pablo have done a wonderful job of pulling the songs and filmed scenes together, and we were especially delighted to feature Mara as Hub Hab’s friend.
“The songs were specially written for the film and beautifully performed by Katie and Pablo.
“The words are on our website for sharing with young children and their teachers, classmates and families as the film can be enjoyed by everyone, in school or at home.”
Katie was named young ambassador of the year at the eighth annual Scottish Gaelic awards in December, winning
the category for “the outstanding young Gael who has made a significant contribution to the promotion of the language”.
The 22-year-old, a former pupil of Tollbrae Primary and Airdrie Academy, had her initial interest in the language sparked by relatives in North Uist, especially her late grandfather Colin Maclean, a native speaker.
Now in her final year of studying Gaelic and Spanish at Glasgow University, she is North Lanarkshire’s Gaelic co-ordinator and teaches adult classes in Airdrie which have currently moved online, as well as running language sessions for youngsters attending the area’s school hubs during lockdown.
Visit www.facebook.com/feisean/ live to see the film.
The songs were beautifully performed by Katie and Pablo