Glasgow Letter
I am corresponding to you this week from sunny Albufeira, Portugal. Sunny but also windy – and a chilly 12 degrees!
As I lay on a sun lounger in my shorts and “taps aff ”, as they say in Glasgow, I tried to trick my mind into believing it was about 10 degrees warmer. Then a gust of wind rippled across the pool and I decided to retreat indoors to write my Glasgow Letter and get a heat in me!
Nevertheless, it is good for the soul to swap strolls along the Clyde for strolls along the Atlantic now and again. Life goes on in Glasgow, so I’m told, and this weekend looks to be a great weekend of music in the Park Bar.
Thursday evening will see the regular session, which I noticed recently has been very busy with a great many young student musicians.
John Burns and his band will play on Friday and Deoch ’n’ Dorus on Saturday. Sunday, however, is the day a great many people have been waiting for: the first post-Covid 'Morino Day' – the day in which musicians and enthusiasts from far and wide travel to the Park to play and listen to live Scottish dance music and celebrate the iconic Hohner Morino accordion.
It is always a fantastic and full day. The music begins at 3pm and carries on right through until closing – with the musicians only stopping very briefly for the traditional steak pies served to them as a thank you from the pub. If you happen to be in Glasgow, and you enjoy accordion music, it is well worth popping in for a listen.
In sadder news, after mentioning the passing of the much loved Christine MacNeill in last week’s paper, I was sent this fitting tribute by Duncan Ferguson for his family friend, Mairead MacDonald, who was another great Glasgow Gael and islander and who passed away on March 16, aged 93.
A well-attended funeral service was held in Partick Trinity Parish church on Friday April 1 for Margaret (Mairead) MacDonald (née Maceachern) – a very popular and well known figure in the Glasgow Highland scene who was a native of Islay where her well-known and highly respected family farmed at Ballymeanach, Portnahaven.
She and her late husband Murdo, a native of Staffin, gave great service and support to both the Islay and Skye associations, in addition to being regular ceilidh goers at all the Highland events in the city. She was a most generous and thoughtful hospital visitor, offered renowned hospitality in their home in Lawrence Street, and was an exceptional baker, with her girdle scones an unsurpassed treat.
She was buried in Kilchoman on her native isle and will be mourned by the family to whom she was so dedicated.
She will also be sorely missed by that great circle of islanders and Gaels by whom she was much loved and will be fondly remembered.
Gach beannachd a Mhairead a charaid chòir - every blessing to our dear friend, Mairead.