Glasgow Letter
Fèis Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu starts
There are a number of very interesting Gaelic events in Glasgow next week as part of Fèis Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu.
If you are based in Glasgow and want to begin learning Gaelic (or perhaps expand your existing knowledge of the language), the fèis are hosting free Gaelic conversation classes from Monday April 9 to Thursday April 12 in Hutchesons’ Grammar Junior School, at 44 Kingarth Street.
The classes will be mainly conversational and led by Sine from Bòrd na Gàidhlig. Booking is not required and those attending are welcome either to freestyle or to bring questions or texts with them.
Also in Hutchesons’ Grammar Junior School that week is Fèis Bheag, which is a selection of morning activities aimed at children aged up to five and will include reading sessions with Linda MacLeod.
The fèis family ceilidh will take place in Hutchesons’ on Wednesday April 11 at 7pm. Tickets are £5 for adults and children can enter for free.
There are masterclasses in Gaelic song throughout the week with some of the very best Gaelic singers. The classes are designed for adults and teenagers aged 14 and over and all start at 1.15pm: Kathleen MacInnes on Tuesday 10; Anne Lorne Gillies on Wednesday 11; and Mairi MacInnes on Thursday 12. Tickets for those events are £8. For full information on all the above events and more, visit www.anlochran.com.
Tide Lines in the Garage
We finished our Scottish tour with a show in The Garage on Sauchiehall Street on Saturday night.
The venue is better known as a nightclub and I remember making a visit there when I was at university (shortly after I turned 18) and finding a bouncy castle in the middle of the dancefloor which was quite a baffling sight for a boy from Lochaber!
Despite this, The Garage turned out to be a great place to end our 13-night tour and the audience were in great voice.
What’s on
Saturday April 14: Ceilidh dance in the Partick Burgh Hall at 8pm. Friday April 20: Clydebank and District Highland Association ceilidh at 7.30pm in the Napier Hall, Old Kilpatrick. Friday April 27: Helensburgh and District Highland Association dance in the Commodore Hotel at 8pm.
Friday April 27: Glasgow Uist and Barra Association ceilidh dance in the Crawford Hall at 9pm.
Saturday April 28: Glasgow Skye Association annual spring concert (Wee Skye) at 7.30pm in the Crawford Hall. Tuesday May 8: Glasgow Lewis and Harris Association annual general meeting at 7pm in An Lèanag on Mansfield Square. Thursday May 10: Comunn an Taobh-an- iar annual general meeting at 7.30pm in the Ellangowan Social Club. Thursday May 17: Comunn Gàidhlig Ghlaschu annual general meeting at 7.30pm in the Glasgow Gaelic School.
Friday May 25: Helensburgh and District Highland Association annual general meeting and dance in the Commodore Hotel at 8pm
Pub scene
Friday April 6: Crooked Reel Saturday April 7: Parting Glass Sunday April 8: Jonathan Gillespie