Scrolling down my Facebook feed last Friday morning, I was greeted by a stunning photograph of more than 70 Royal National Mòd Gold Medallists on the same stage in St Aloysius Church proudly displaying their medals and singing their hearts out.
Given how struck I was by the mere sight, I can only imagine the effect the sound must have had on those in attendance.
Having spoken to a number of people both onstage and in the audience, it seems to have been a profoundly memorable night. Medallists spanning 70 years all joined together accompanied by Scotland’s finest young musicians from the Conservatoire in what must surely have been an unprecedented concert.
Obviously there was no way for so many singers to sing solo so they sub divided into region with, for example, medallists from Lewis and Harris giving a few local songs together and similarly medallists from Lochaber and Argyll.
The recurring theme from audience members and performers alike is admiration for the vision and dedication of Ruairidh Gray who, in collaboration with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and An Comunn Gàidhealach, brought this together for his fourth year project.
I didn’t manage to attend because I was back home presenting the trophies for the Lochaber Music Festival where some brilliant young musicians were performing. Who knows: while dozens of past gold medallists sung that night in Glasgow, perhaps I witnessed some future ones in Lochaber.
Readers may be aware that the hit musical Hamilton is running at the moment in the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh. Based on the life of the American founding father, Alexander Hamilton, and his involvement in the 18th century War of Independence, this production has become explosively popular since its premier in 2016.
The hype, however, seems to have passed by one particular Glasgow punter who I overheard on the subway last week. His friend was telling him her granddaughter was “away to Edinburgh to see Hamilton” that weekend.
“Why Edinburgh?” was his reply. “Hamilton are playing Stirling Albion at home this weekend!”
The Clydebank and District Highland Association will hold their next cèilidh on Friday April 12 at 7.30pm in the Clydebank Waterfront Parish Church Hall, Abbotsford Road, Clydebank.
Fear-an-taighe for the evening will be Mòd Gold Medallist from Tiree, DI Brown, who will also sing a few Gaelic songs as the night progresses.
Iain MacLean is the other Gaelic singer on the evening and Colin Fisher and Linda MacCallum will perform songs both in Scots and in Gaelic.
The piper is Robert Wood and accompanist, Kirsteen Grant.
Tickets are £11 at the door, which includes tea, coffee, and home-baking. Accompanied school children can attend for free. All proceeds from the cèilidh will be donated to Erskine Hospital in memory of Katie MacDonald.
Yes! I would like to be sent emails from West Coast Today
I understand that my personal information will not be shared with any third parties, and will only be used to provide me with useful targeted articles as indicated.
I'm also aware that I can un-subscribe at any point either from each email notification or on My Account screen.