John Mackenzie, Lochinver, was scheduled to give a talk on Friday 3 December 2010 but it had to be cancelled due to adverse weather conditions. We are delighted to have rescheduled the talk for tomorrow evening (Friday 4 March 2011) at 19:30 in the usual venue of the Netley Centre. The topic is: “Assynt Crofters : the Mould Breakers”. John will also present some slides which were prepared for a seminar in Norway a few years ago. These essentially focused on a micro hydro-electric project that John managed to bring to completion on the Assynt estate in 2000 after 7 years of battle with the conservation agencies but there are a few that show the kind of landscape that they now possess in community ownership.

From the page about the event:

In commemoration of the centenary of the birth of Sorley MacLean (1911–1996) Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and the Scottish Centre for Island Studies, Faculty of Business and Creative Industries, University of the West of Scotland invite you to join in a celebration of his life, work and legacy.

Further details of the event, including accomodation details and directions, can be found on the event’s page.

The event also has an open call for submission of papers.

We hope you all had an enjoyable and peaceful Christmas and new year. Already it’s the middle of January, and the first gathering of GSI in 2011 is tomorrow night (Friday 21/1/11). Graeme Mackenzie from Inverness will be our guest speaker, and his topic will be ‘Murdoch MacKenzie of Ardross and his account of Clan Chattan’. The talk will be held at the usual venue, the Netley Centre on Bishop’s Road (opposite Eden Court) and will start at 19:30. The talks are always very interesting and it’s good to meet up with friends and acquaintances on an otherwise cold January evening! Please come along to hear the talk if you’re in the area.

Tha an òraid aig 19:30 aig an Ionad Netley, Rathaid an Easbaig ann an Inbhir Nis.

On Friday evening (5th November), Bill Innes will deliver a talk to the Gaelic Society of Inverness. The talk is called “Two Neglected Masterpieces” and deals with two epic poems on similar themes by Donald Sinclair (Domhnall Mac na Ceardaich) and Donald Macintyre (Domhnall Ruadh Phaislig). It will be illustrated with pictures, projected translations and recorded excerpts. Bill will talk in English but read bits from the poems in Gaelic.

The talk is at 19:30 in the Netley Centre, Bishop’s Road, Inverness.

The PDFs can also be accessed through the Transactions page of the website. The Society is grateful to the Honorary Librarian, D.J. MacLeod, for compiling these very useful indexes.

Mairi Campbell is a Scottish singer and musician, born and raised in Edinburgh. Mairi is involved in several musical projects and has been much praised for her singing voice and musical skills. She was named Scots singer of the year at the Scots Trad Music Awards in 2007, and in 2008 she won the Live Ireland Music Award for Best Female Musician of the year, as well as the award for best composition of the year.

Mairi will present an evening of song and talk of her life in music, looking at the bigger picture of the growth in interest in traditional music in the last twenty years in Scotland, with songs and tunes to accompany.

Key responsibilities for Bòrd members are as follows:

• Contributing to the implementation of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 and the National Plan for Gaelic
• Assisting in defining and developing the Bòrd’s strategic direction and in setting challenging objectives
• Ensuring that the Bòrd, in reaching decisions, adheres to agreed corporate governance procedures and takes proper account of guidance provided by the Scottish Ministers and the Scottish Executive Education Department
• Working with key Gaelic groups and public sector bodies to promote the use of the Gaelic language, and identifying new opportunities for working in partnership with organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors as appropriate
• Increasing awareness of and promoting the use of the Gaelic language
• Promoting wider engagement by the public in cultural activity through innovation and partnership

Interested applicants can apply for the position online, or request an application pack, here.

The closing date for applications is Friday, 13th August, 2010.

The following morning, on Saturday 17th April, the Annual Culloden Anniversary Service will be held at 11 am. Please assemble at the Culloden battlefield visitor centre by 10.30 am.

We look forward to hearing Mairi’s talk, entitled “Scottish Traditional Music”, as part of our Syllabus after the summer and will keep you informed of the new date.

We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

Ràithean is Fuinn promises an exceptional evening of Gaelic entertainment and the programme will feature soloists Kathleen MacInnes; Maggie MacDonald; Arthur Cormack; and Paul MacCallum. They will be joined by acclaimed youth group Canntaireachd, and the talented Michael MacMillan with his Monach Isles Ceilidh Band. The Gaelic Society’s honorary piper Doctor Angus MacDonald completes what all fans of Gaelic music will recognise as a sensational line-up.

Featuring leading Gaelic performers, and with a particular focus on youth, these annual events organised by the Gaelic Society of Inverness have become increasingly popular, with people travelling from across Scotland to enjoy high quality themed programmes which, while celebrating Gaelic, also enable full appreciation and enjoyment by non-speakers. The concerts are presented in Gaelic with simultaneous English language interpretive Power Point presentation against a stunning backdrop of complementary photography by Cailean MacLean.

Society Chairman Allan Campbell, who will also present the concert, said, “The Gaelic Society of Inverness is proud to promote Gaelic by presenting a display of such outstanding Gaelic musical ability. We are immensely grateful and encouraged by the support of Bòrd na Gàidhlig, recognising our contribution to Gaelic development. It is particularly pleasing to acknowledge the support of the UBC Group to this event, as it recognises with pride its own roots in the Gaelic community.”

Tickets for Ràithean is Fuinn are £12 / £10 and available from Eden Court (01463) 234234.

Further Information:

Allan Campbell, Chairman, Gaelic Society of Inverness (GSI), 01463 23060
Shona Campbell, Honorary Secretary, GSI, 01463 792318

Thig cuspair na cuirme bhliadhnail aig Comunn Gàidhlig Inbhir Nis, ann an Talla na h-Ìmpireachd aig Taigh-cluiche Eden Court, Dihaoine 12 Màrt 2010, beò tro cheòl agus òrain Ghàidhlig a thaisbeanas lèirsinn a’ Ghàidheil air ràithean na bliadhna.

Tha Ràithean is Fuinn a’ gealltainn sàr fheasgar an cuideachd nan seinneadairean Caitlin NicAonghais; Magaidh NicDhòmhnaill; Art MacCarmaig; agus Pòl MacCaluim. Còmhla riutha sin bidh an còmhlan òg ainmeil Canntaireachd, agus an ceòladair tàlantach Mìcheal MacMhaoilean le Còmhlan Cèilidh Eilean Mhònach. Cuiridh pìobaire urramach a’ Chomuinn bàrr air clàr a dh’ aithnicheas feadhainn le meas air cèol Gàidhlig, a tha na chruinneachadh sònraichte.

Daonnan a’ nochdadh cuid de phrìomh luchd-ciùil na Gàidhlig, agus le aithne àraid air feadhainn as òige, tha na cuirmean seo air cliù a chosnadh thar nam bliadhnaichean is cuid a’ siubhal far feadh Alba gus sàr phrògraman a chluinntinn. Ged a tha na cuirmean air an lìbhrigeadh gu tur ann an Gàidhlig tha cothrom èisteachd is tuigse cuideachd dhan fheadhainn aig nach eil an cànan, le eadar-theangachadh mar-aon air Power Point, agus an luib sin taisbeanadh barraichte dhealbh bho Chailean MacIllEathain.

Thuirt Cathraiche a’ Chomuinn, Ailean Caimbeul, a bhios na Fhear an Taighe air a’ chuirm, “Tha Comunn Gàidhlig Inbhir Nis moiteil a bhith a’ lìbhrigeadh leithid seo de thaisbeanadh de shàr cheòl Gàidhlig. Tha sinn fada an comain Bòrd na Gàidhlig airson a chuid taice agus aithne air mar a tha sinn a’ cur ri leasachadh na Gàidhlig. Tha sinn gu sònraichte toilichte taing a thoirt dha Buidheann UBC airson an cuid taice, is a’ Bhuidheann a’ gabhail ealla mhoiteil ri a freumhan Gàidhealach fhèin.”

Gheibhear tiocaidean airson Ràithean is Fuinn aig £12 neo £10 bho Eden Court (01463) 234234.

Tuilleadh fiosrachaidh:

Ailean Caimbeul, Cathraiche, Comunn Gàidhlig Inbhir Nis (CGI), 01463 23060
Shona Chaimbeul, Rùnaire Urramach, CGI, 01463 792318