St Andrew’s Traditional Cèilidhs across the Highlands
Traditional Family Cèilidhs as part of Scotland’s Winter Festivals

This weekend sees a series of traditional cèilidhs across the Highlands as part of the 2010 Scotland’s Winter Festivals programme for St Andrew’s weekend. Fèisean nan Gàidheal has teamed up with The Highland Council to put on Family Cèilidhs featuring young people from local Fèis Cèilidh Trails and some very special guests. Fèisean nan Gàidheal is the umbrella organisation for the Fèis movement which support tuition for over 13,000 young people annually.

On Friday evening the Fèis Rois Cèilidh Trail will be joined in Poolewe by Rona Lightfoot who recently won the prestigious Balvenie Medal for services to piping. She is also a fine Gaelic singer and a member of the Scots Trad Music Hall of Fame.

Dunvegan Hall, also on Friday 26th, will feature Fèis an Earraich joined by well-known Gaelic singer Kenna Campbell, a much revered Mòd Gold Medallist and also a member of the Trad Music Hall of Fame. Completing the line-up in Dunvegan will be Cherry on the Cream.

Roybridge Village Hall is the venue for the Lochaber Cèilidh. Also taking place on 26 November, Fèis Lochabair will team up with Fèis Latharna from Oban and Gaelic singer Margaret MacLellan Ford, a double Mòd Gold Medallist from Ardnamurchan.

On Saturday 27 November, Farr Hall near Inverness will host its annual St Andrew’s Night celebrations with a bonfire and fireworks from 6.30pm. After that, at 8pm, young Gaelic singing group Canntaireachd from Inverness will join the Caledonian Canal Cèilidh Trail and The Broch Inspectors - Hugh Marwick, Irene Fraser and Malcolm Jones of Runrig - for some fine songs and dancing.

Finally, on Sunday 28 November, the weekend will be completed with Fèis Spè hosting a Cèilidh in Nethybridge Hall. Their Cèilidh Trail group will join up with young Trad in the Park musicians, well-known pianist James Ross and fiddler Sharon Hassan.

Culture Minister Fiona Hyslop said: “St Andrew’s Day is the ideal time to celebrate Scotland’s modern culture and traditions. It is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the best of Scottish music, arts, innovation and food and drink. With a packed programme of events taking place across the country as part of Scotland's Winter Festivals, there will be something for everyone to enjoy to celebrate our national day.”

Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer of EventScotland, who are delivering Scotland’s Winter Festivals said: “We are delighted that Fèis Cèilidh Trails are part of Scotland’s Winter Festivals programme. The Cèilidh Trails are a sensational way to kick off the winter season and a fantastic example of the Highland Council’s contribution to making Scotland the perfect stage for events.”

Convener of The Highland Council, Councillor Sandy Park said: “We are delighted that EventScotland funding has enabled us to be part of this year’s Scotland’s Winter Festival programme. St. Andrew’s night promises to be very special across the Highlands with some of our finest, established musicians cèilidhing alongside our fantastic, emerging young talent.”