Big time of year for Glasgow Skye

The Glasgow Skye Association will this Saturday (November 9) host its annual post-Mòd children’s cèilidh where all children are welcome to perform songs, play instruments, or recite poetry.

It is a fantastic opportunity for children to perform in a non-competitive situation and (less than a month after the Mòd) remind them that music is not all about what marks you receive in competitions.

There will be tea, coffee, juice and nibbles at the cèilidh which is held in the Crawford Hall, Beith Street, at 7.30pm.

It has been a big week for the association, which announced the line-up of its biggest event of the year – the annual gathering concert and dance.

This year, breaking with tradition in order to avoid clashing with the Vatersay Boys’ famous cèilidh in the Barrowlands on the Friday night, the event will be held on Saturday December 7 and, as usual, will take place in the Glasgow University Union.

The guest of honour at the gathering is David Ross; and singers for the concert are: Wilma Kennedy, Rachel Walker, James Graham, and Arthur Cormack. The association piper, John A Gillies, will play, as will instrumentalist Robert Nairn, on accordion, and accompanist, Alan Kitchen.

The Glasgow Skye Association Pipe Band will also perform led by pipe major Ewan Henderson.

Tickets for the concert are £10 (or £8 for students) and it begins at 7.30pm.

After the concert, at approximately 10.30pm, the dance will begin to the music of Robert Nairn and his dance band – a popular choice amongst Glasgow Skye regulars, I’m sure, not least because of his appearances each year at the Mòd and the PanCeltic festival in Ireland – otherwise known as the Mòd abroad!

Beinn Lee and the GUU wait in anticipation for the crowds arriving before last weekend’s Lewis and Harris. Rest assured the place was packed by the end of the night.

The dance will go on until 2am and tickets are £10.