Mull and Iona gathering a great success

A great concert and superb, busy dance made for a fantastic night for the Mull and Iona annual gathering last Friday in the Glasgow University Union.

After a few words from association president Ross Wilson, and an introduction from concert chairman Alasdair Whyte, the music got under way with Rachel Walker, who joked that she felt guilty for starting the Mull and Iona off with a Tiree song.

There was no need to apologise because her rendition of Maraiche nan Cuantan and, indeed, all her other songs, went down brilliantly with the Mull and Iona audience.

We were treated to some cracking Scots songs from Fiona Hunter, including the hilarious Jock Hawk’s Adventures in Glasgow in which the protagonist has a night out in Glasgow and discovers the next day he is broke. I would hazard a guess the plot of this song may have rung true for one or two people the following morning.

Emma Deans’s performance of the anthemic Eilean Gorm Mhuile was very powerful indeed and Ian Smith managed to squeeze a quick song in between sets on the box.

Ian also told the timeless story of Muilleach, Dykes MacAllister, who was fighting for the 51st Highland division in Egypt and realised it was the day of the Tobermory Highland Games. Looking up to the clear blue skies in sweltering heat, he commented: ‘Well, they’ve got a lovely day for it!’

One of the highlights of the concert was Shannon MacLean from Tobermory singing Ceud Fàilt’ Air Gach Gleann. It’s one of my favourite songs and everyone enjoyed Shannon’s very natural interpretation.

We look forward now to the next annual gathering - that of the Glasgow Islay Association in the same venue on Friday March 2.