Week-long fèis hits all the right notes with Lochaber youngsters
FÈIS Lochaber has enjoyed one of its ‘ best years ever’ with more than 120 children enjoying events every day.
Classes in accordion, Gaelic song, chanter and step dance were just some of the highlights for youngsters aged up to 18.
The week-long fèis, in the Gaelic school in Caol, got under way on Monday August 1.
Baby sessions were available for the first time this year. Running for an hour in the afternoon, organisers said they were a big success.
Fèis committee member Ann-Marie MacRae told The
Oban Times: ‘We have had a very positive response this year, especially to the baby classes. Previously the fèis was only for nursery children and older. We had around 11 babies a day.’
This was also the first time the fèis had been held in the summer, with other years being held in April. Ms MacRae said the change in the timing of the event had made a ‘huge difference to numbers which were way up on previous years’. Run by a voluntary committee who all take time off from their regular jobs to help during the week, the fèis has encouraged lots of children to take up what they have learned throughout the week on a more permanent basis.
Ms MacRae said: ‘What the children can learn in a week is just amazing. The teenagers this year thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Some of them who had never played fiddle before have now taken up weekly lessons. A lot of people want to continue learning.’
Her own daughter, 18, who has been attending Fèis Lochaber since she was five, taught classes for the first time this year.
Ms MacRae said: ‘It’s great because the tradition has gone full circle in a lot of families.’
On Friday August 5, the final day of the fèis, there was a concert when youngsters who had taken part in the fèis got to perform what they had learned.
Ms MacRae said: ‘It’s amazing what children can learn in only four days – such a short space of time.’
Fèis Lochabair Cèilidh Trail held a ceilidh on Friday night to help raise funds for Mòd 2017.
Made up of 16-18-year- olds from all over Lochaber, the seven-piece band played some tunes for everyone attending the event in the new Caol community centre.
Ms MacRae, who is also the fundraising convener for Mòd 2017, said: ‘We need to raise £10,000 for next year’s Mòd so we will be doing lots of fundraising throughout the year. We are well on our way to reaching that already, with the help of local businesses who have been really supportive.
‘The first of our two big fundraising events is a Trail West gig on Friday October 28. We will have great raffle prizes, including a four-night stay in Aviemore for four people, worth more than £ 500. The other one will be on March 4, 2017, where we are having Mànran and two support bands playing at the Nevis Centre.’
Blas Festival will also be holding a family ceilidh on Saturday September 10 in the Gaelic school in Fort William when all funds raised will go to Fèis Lochabair.
It’s amazing what children can learn in only four days Ann-Marie MacRae Feis committe member