South Uist
CEÒLAS Uibhist is appealing for votes as it strives for nationwide acclaim on BBC One in this year’s National Lottery Awards.
The project beat off competition from more than 600 organisations to reach the public voting stage in this year’s awards which is searching for the UK’s favourite lottery-funded projects.
South Uist-based Ceòlas is competing against six other projects to be crowned the winner of the Heritage category.
The winner of the category receives a £ 3,000 cash prize to spend on their project, as well as a national lottery trophy and the chance to attend a star-studded awards ceremony in London, which is broadcast on BBC One in September.
Ceòlas Uibhist is an annual week-long music and dance school which celebrates Gaelic heritage in South Uist.
Mary Schmoller, from Ceòlas, said: ‘We have applied for the lottery fund several times and haven’t been successful, but this year we hit a positive.
‘If we get the money it would help to improve the quality of what we offer on our summer course. We would like for a professional to run our sound system for the week and have more money to advertise what we do. We are up against serious competition but they are all very different to us, so we are hoping we can win it.’
Iain MacDonald, artistic director of Ceòlas Uibhist, added: ‘ We’re delighted to have reached the finals of the national lottery awards. Lottery money has really helped us to run our summer school each July. It’s easy to vote, so we’re hoping people support us.’
Voting closed yesterday, July 20, and Ms Schmoller said they should hear in August if they have won.
CEÒLAS Uibhist’s annual symposium celebrating significant South Uist people, places, events and traditions will take place at the end of the month. This year’s event, Tìr tha
Taitneach, will run from July 24-26 and will focus on the villages of Howbeg, Howmore and Snishival.
There will be a whole host of activities and events such as walks, talks, concerts and ceilidhs, spinning demonstration and song classes.