Glasgow Letter

Cèilidh dance

This year is, of course, a huge year for Gaelic in Glasgow as the Royal National Mòd comes to the city in the autumn.

After a very successful launch in the City Halls at Celtic Connections, the build-up to the event continues apace this weekend with a cèilidh dance this Thursday evening (February 28), with Glasgow’s current most popular Hebridean cèilidh band, Beinn Lee.

The Uist band will be supported by an up-and-coming outfit called Dlù who I have yet to hear live but who I gather have a great future ahead of them.

The four-piece band, former students of the Glasgow Gaelic school, is made up of Moilidh NicGriogair (on fiddle and piano), Zach Ronan (on accordion), Andrew Grossart (on drums), and Aidan Spiers (on guitar and bass).

The cèilidh will take place in the basement of the Òran Mòr at the top of Byers Road and doors open at 7.30pm. Tickets are £13 and this is an over-14s event where under-16s must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets are available online from www.ticketweb.co.uk if you search for Mod Ghlaschu with Beinn Lee and Dlù.

Glasgow Islay Association

The 157th annual gathering of the Glasgow Islay Association will take place this Saturday March 2 in the Glasgow University Union and, as usual, the association has a fine line up in store.

The concert will be chaired by John Campbell, manager of Laphroaig Distillery, and artistes include: Libby Morris, Pipe Major Andrew MacCowan, Fiona Hunter, Ruairidh Cormack, The Glasgow Islay Gaelic Choir, Kirsteen Grant and the Islay Pipe Band.

Doors for the concert open at 7.30pm for a prompt 7.45pm start.

The gathering dance will be played by none other than Beinn Lee who are kept extremely busy with all the big dances round Glasgow at the moment. If you missed them at the Mull and Iona the other weekend, or can’t make it to the Glasgow Mòd dance, then be sure to head along to the Glasgow Islay dance which starts at 10.30pm.

Tickets are available on the door on the night or can be purchased in advance through the Glasgow Islay Association’s facebook page.

What's on

Thursday February 28: Mòd Ghlaschu Cèilidh at 7.30pm in the Oran Mòr. Saturday March 02: The Glasgow Islay Association Annual Gathering Concert at 7.30pm in the GUU and dance thereafter at 10.30pm. Saturday March 09: Gaelictronica in the CCA, Sauchiehall Street, at 7.30pm

Friday March 15: Glasgow Skye Association Cothrom na h-Oigridh (Youth Concert) in the Crawford Hall, Beith Street, at 7pm.