Oban Gaelic choir delights ceilidh audience

Oban Gaelic Choir, one of the oldest competition choirs in Gaeldom, entertained a packed Old New Year’s Night Ceilidh in Oban Commercial Lodge No. 80 on Saturday January 14. The choir’s beautiful and eclectic song programme featured fiddler Joanie Garvin playing a Barra tune, Loch na h-òb and a Mull piece called Tug Argen Gap (Maids of Kintail), while Mòd gold medallist Mary Catherine MacLean sang a lullaby, Dean Cadalan Sàmhach. Other choir members took to the floor, including Fumiko Miller, who sang the Sound

of Music classic Do-Re-Mi in Japanese. Sìleas Sinclair, who entertained the hall with her accordion, also conducted the choir’s harmonic songs, which included their Stornoway Mòd set piece, the love song Tionndaidh am Bàt (Turn round the boat), and Cholla mo Rùn: the Piper's Warning to his Master.

‘Although the National Mòd is often the focus for our weekly practices, we sing primarily for enjoyment and for the friendship and fun we have together,’ the choir says on its website.

Sìleas is currently researching a songlist by mainland Argyllshire bards for their summer concert.

Fumiko Miller sang The Sound of Music classic Do-Re-Mi in Japanese Right: Alastair MacLean Above: Gaelic choir Oban Gaelic Choir and conductor Sìleas Sinclair, after singing Colla mo rùn Mary Catherine MacLean singing the lullaby Dean Cadalan Sàmhach...