Glasgow Letter
COP26 got off to an exciting start this week when President Joe Biden’s motorcade drove straight down Argyle Street and past the famous Islay Inn and Park Bar.
As world leaders’ collective willpower to reverse climate change is under the spotlight this week, I must commend President Biden. I have never had the willpower to go past these pubs without popping in!
I wrote last week about some of the interesting events surrounding COP26. This week, at the time of writing, myself and Ali Turner from Tide Lines are getting ready to head to the Renfrew Ferry for a short performance as part of the Extreme Hangout fringe event. I will review this next week.
The cold autumn wind that can be felt channelling up the Clyde is an indication that it is also the time of year for the annual gatherings of the Kindred Associations in the city.
After a two-year hiatus forced on everyone by coronavirus, I have some good news and some bad news on that front.
The good news concerns the Tiree Association which will go ahead with its 121st gathering a full 20 months after its 120th. The concert will take place on Thursday November 18 at 7.30pm in Kingsborough Gardens Sanctuary, 79 Hyndland Road, G12 9JE.
The evening will be chaired by Ian Lamont and there is a fantastic line-up of performances including Mary Ann Kennedy, Jamie MacDonald,
Kaitlin Ross, John Joe MacNeil, and Kathryn Callender.
The following evening, Friday November 19, the Gathering Dance will be held in the Glasgow University Union with music from Gunna Sound.
Due to venue policy, a vaccine passport will be required for all those attending the dance in the GU.
Tickets for each event are £10 and must be pre-booked by contacting the Tiree Association either on Facebook, via email at thetireeassociation@gmail. com, or via text to 07763 126309.
All essential Covid-19 procedures will be followed to ensure a safe event and attendees are encouraged to take a lateral flow test prior to attending.
The bad news, with regards association gatherings, is that the Glasgow Lewis and Harris Association will unfortunately not be going ahead with their annual event this month.
This is particularly bad news for me because I was looking forward to singing at it! However, every association committee knows their own audience better than anyone and the decision to wait one more year before hosting another gathering is, therefore, absolutely correct and understandable.
Rather than Covid concerns, it is instead worries over traffic disruption and potential demonstrations caused by COP26 that has led to the cancellation of the Glasgow Lewis and Harris Association gathering, with major road closures planned only streets away from the proposed venue for the evening.
As a substitute to the main event, the association will be taking a dip into the archives and providing access to a recording of a previous year’s gathering.
Little did President Biden know as he was driven down Argyle Street, the havoc he was causing for the Gaelic community in Glasgow!