Fèisean nan Gàidheal delivers in communities (Fèisean) and school settings (Fèisgoil) and a round-up of some of our current and upcoming music-based activity follows:
Fèisean: Summer 2022
Tha sàmhradh trang air fàire agus na Fèisean ag ullachadh airson na prìomh thachartasan aca, a’ mhor-chuid airson a’ chiad uair bho 2019. Bidh cothroman aig òigridh oideachadh fhaighinn ann an taghadh farsaing de dh’ionnsramaidean, ‘s bidh òrain Ghàidhlig, dràma, dannsa ‘s obair ealain mar phàirt dha na cothroman sònraichte a gheibh com-pàirtichean.
Fèisean are gearing up for a busy summer with events taking place throughout the country. Young people will have the opportunity to receive tuition in a range of instruments, as well as Gaelic song, Gaelic drama, dancing and art.
Fèis Tìr an Eòrna (North Uist)
4 – 8 Iuchar 4-8 July
Fèis Eilean na Hearadh (Harris)
4 – 8 Iuchar 4-8 July
Fèis na h-Òige (Inverness)
4 – 8 Iuchar 4-8 July
Fèis Thiriodh (Tiree)
4-8 Iuchar 4-8 July
Fèis Eige (Isle of Eigg)
6-8 Iuchar 6-8 July
Fèis Bharraigh (Barra)
12-14 Iuchar 12-14 July
Fèis nan Garbh Chrìochan (Acharacle)
13-15 Iuchar 13-15 July
Fèis Tìr a’ Mhurain (South Uist)
Rèis na Fèis agus Cèilidh 10 Iuchar Fèis Race and Cèilidh 10 July
Fèis air an Oir (Farr, Sutherland)
18-22 Iuchar 18-22 July
Fèis Phàislig (Paisley)
19-22 Iuchar 19-22 July
Fèis Eilean an Fhraoich (Stornoway, Lewis)
25 – 29 Iuchar 25-29 July
Fèis Arainn (Isle of Arran)
26-29 Iuchar 26-29 July
Fèis an Rubha (Point, Lewis)
1 – 5 Lùnastal 1-5 August
Fèis Lochabair (Lochaber)
1-5 Lùnastal 1-5 August
Here is a more detailed look at some of the Fèisean we are looking forward to welcoming back in person.
Fèis Phàislig – 19-22 an t-Iuchar 2022
Tha comataidh Fèis Phàislig air an dòigh glan gu bheil tachartas aghaidh ri aghaidh gu bhith aca a-rithist am-bliadhna an dèidh dà bhliadhna far nach robh Fèis àbhaisteach a’ dol air sgàth a’ Chorònabhìorais. Ged a rinn Fèis Phàislig oidhirp fìor mhath tachartasan a chumail a’ dol tron ghlasadh-sluaigh le Fèis agus clasaichean seachdaineil air-loidhne, tha iad a’ dèanamh fiughair a bhith air ais còmhla airson seachdain na Fèise, aig Àrd-sgoil Gleniffer ann am Pàislig, eadar an 19mh agus 22mh den Iuchair. ’S e ceithir làithean de bhùithtean-obrach ciùil airson luchd-tòisichidh 8-18 bliadhnaichean a dh’aois a th’ anns an Fhèis agus gheibh com-pàirtichean cothroman ceòl traidiseanta, dràma, òrain Ghàidhlig agus ealain ionnsachadh bho luchd-teagaisg a tha air leth tàlantach. Bidh clasaichean anns na cuspairean a leanas; bogsa-ciùil, ealain, feadan agus pìobaireachd, clàrsach, dannsa, dràma, drumaireachd, fìdheall, filmeadh, giotàr, seinn agus feadan. Am measg na bhios a’ teagasg am-bliadhna bidh Josie Duncan, Steve Fyvie, Becky Hill agus Joe Peach.
Fèis Phàislig –19th – 22nd July 2022
Fèis Phàislig is delighted to announce that the annual Fèis will return face to face in July 2022 after two years off due to Coronavirus. Although working hard to keep an online programme of events running throughout the lockdowns, with an online Fèis and online weekly classes, the Fèis is looking forward to having everyone back together in the classrooms at Gleniffer High School between the 19th and 22nd of July. The Fèis is four days of music lessons for beginners aged between eight and 18 and the participants will get the opportunity to learn traditional music, drama, Gaelic song and art from some very talented tutors. Participants can take classes in the following subjects; accordion, art, chanter and piping, clarsach, dance, drama, percussion, fiddle, film-making, guitar, singing and whistle. Included in this years teaching line up are Josie Duncan, Steve Fyvie, Becky Hill and Joe Peach.
Fèis Arainn – 26-29 an t-Iuchar 2022
Tha comataidh Fèis Arainn gu math toilichte gu bheil tachartas àbhaisteach, aghaidh ri aghaidh, gu bhith aca eadar an 26mh agus an 29mh den Iuchair aig Àrd-sgoil Arainn. Thairis air ceithir làithean, gheibh com-pàirtichean cothrom sgilean ùra ionnsachadh le ceòl, seinn, dràma, ealain agus iomain nam measg. Gheibh a h-uile com-pàirtiche cothrom barrachd Gàidhlig ionnsachadh cuideachd. Bidh fàilte bhlàth a’ feitheamh air luchd-ionnsachaidh nach eil air a bhith ann roimhe idir agus cuideachd air òigridh a tha air a bhith aig an Fhèis gu tric. Bidh rudeigin ann airson a h-uile duine, bho luchd-tòiseachaidh suas gu luchd-ionnsachaidh a tha gu math comasach. Chan fheum eòlas a bhith aig com-pàirtichean air mar a leughas iad ceòl agus chan fheum eòlas a bhith aca air ceòl traidiseanta nas motha airson pàirt a ghabhail. Am-bliadhna, tha Fèis Arainn cuideachd a’ tabhainn sheiseanan do dheugairean. Gheibh iad an cothrom clasaichean ciùil, obair-buidhne agus filmeadh a dhèanamh.
Fèis Arainn – 26th – 19th July 2022
The Fèis Arainn committee is very happy to be running a normal, face-to-face Fèis this year between the 26th and 29thof July at Arran High School. Over four days, participants will get the chance to learn lot of new skills including music, singing, drama, shinty and art. All participants will also get the opportunity to learn some Gaelic. Young people who have never attended the Fèis before will be very welcome alongside children who have been to the Fèis a few times before. There will be something at the Fèis for everyone, from complete beginners to skilled and experienced musicians. No previous knowledge of how to read music or previous experience of traditional music is required to attend. This year Fèis Arainn is also offering afternoon sessions for secondary school pupils. They can choose from a masterclass in their preferred instrument, group work sessions or film-making workshops.
Fèis air an Oir 2022 18-22 Iuchar
Tron ghlasadh, chùm Fèis air an Oir a’ dol le leasanan ciùil agus tachartasan air-loidhne dha na com-pàirtichean aca. Às dèidh dhaibh tilleadh gu leasanan aghaidh ri aghaidh na bu thràithe air a’ bhliadhna seo, tha a’ chomataidh a’ dèanamh fiughar ri fàilte a chur air clann ionadail agus luchd-ciùil òga bho sgìrean eile. Bidh an Fhèis a’ tachairt ann an Sgoil Farr ann an ceann a tuath Chataibh bho 18 – 22 an t-Iuchar. Bidh clasaichean ann airson gach aois, a bharrachd air grunn thachartasan agus cèilidhean anns a’ choimhearsnachd. Airson barrachd fiosrachaidh, cuiribh sùil air www.facebook.com/feisairanoir
Fèis air an Oir 2022 18-22 July
Throughout the covid pandemic, Fèis air an Oir kept their participants engaged through online music lessons, workshops and events and having made a return to in-person weekly classes earlier in the year, the committee can’t wait to welcome locals and visitors to their Fèis Week which will take place at Farr High School in the far North of Sutherland, from 18th – 22nd July. The Fèis will include classes for all ages as well as a number of community events and ceilidhs. For more information including their amazing line up of tutors, find them at www.facebook.com/feisairanoir
Cèilidhean air chuairt : Cèilidh Trails
Cèilidhean air Chuairt 2022
Tha Fèisean nan Gàidheal air leth toilichte gum bi na Cèilidhean air Chuairt air ais air an rathad as t-samhradh. Bidh iad a’ tadhal air diofar àiteachan air feadh Earra-Ghàidheal, Lochabair, Sruighlea agus na Tròiseachan, Siorrachd Rinn Friù agus Siorrachd Rois tron Iuchar agus an Lùnastal. Airson a’ chiad turas bho 2019 bidh com-pàirtichean a’ cruinneachadh aig Sgoil Chiùil na Gàidhealtachd anns a’ Phloc san Iuchar airson seachdain trèanaidh mus tèid iad air chuairt anns na sgìrean ionadail aca fhèin. Chaidh na Cèilidhean air Chuairt a leasachadh mar chothrom trèanaidh airson daoine òga eadar sia-deug agus fichead ’s a còig bliadhna a dh’aois gus cothrom a thoirt dhaibh na sgilean ciùil aca a leasachadh. Airson barrachd fiosrachaidh, tadhalaibh air www.feisean.org/ceilidhean-air-chuairt/
Fèis Cèilidh Trails 2022
Fèisean nan Gàidheal is delighted that a number of Cèilidh Trails will make a return this summer, touring across Argyll, Lochaber, Stirling and the Trossachs, Renfrewshire and Ross-shire throughout July and August. For the first time since 2019 the Cèilidh Trail participants will meet up at the Traditional Music Centre of Excellence at Plockton High School Pupil Residence in July for a week of high quality training before they head out on tour in their respective areas. The Cèilidh Trails were developed as a training opportunity for young people aged sixteen to twenty-five to give them the chance to further develop their playing and performance skills. For more information visitwww.feisean.org/ceilidh-trails/
Fèisgoil: Seirbheis Foghlaim Foirmeil – Formal education service, Fèisean nan Gàidheal
A bharrachd air pròiseactan leantainneach stèidhte air ceòl traidiseanta, bha sgioba Fèisgoil gu math trang le pròiseactan ùra an teirm-sa chaidh leis an dùil gum bi cuid aca fhathast a’ ruith thairis bliadhna-sgoile 2022-2023.
Tha Treòir | Voar | Virr gus a bhith deiseil le 80 sgoil is barrachd na 60 neach-ealain cruthachail an sàs thairis air na mìosan a dh’fhalbh. Tha an sgeulachd aca ri fhaotainn air làrach-lìn FnG.
Gach bliadhna ann an co-obrachadh le ùghdarras ionadail agus An Comunn Gàidhealach, bidh Fèisgoil a’ cur seiseanan seinn air doigh do chlann sa sgìre le ùidh anns na farpaisean co-cheangailte ris na mòdan ionadail agus a’ Mhòd Nàiseanta. Bha sgioba de cheathrar againn am bliadhna le 10 sgoiltean an sàs agus tha sinn airson an seirbheis seo a leasachadh an ath-theirm le cothrom do bharrachd sgoiltean ann an siorrachd Pheairt.
Ged a tha FnG air seiseanan Iomairt Chiùil na h-Òigridh a lìbhrigeadh air a’ Ghàidhealtachd fad 20 bliadhna, anns a’ Chèitean thòisich sinn air seiseanan a lìbhrigeadh anns na h-Eileanan an Iar le seiseanan seinn aghaidh ri aghaidh ann an Uibhist. Tha oide às an Eilean Sgitheanach ach le ceangal do sgìre Uibhist ag obair le clann ann am bun-sgoiltean Uibhist air fad. Thuirt Peigi Nic a’ Phiocair:
“Tha Seinn air cothrom a thoirt do sgoilearan ann an Uibhist a bhith ag ionnsachadh am measg seinn is cluich, an dà chuid do luchd-ionnsachaidh a tha a’ leasachadh an cuid sgilean cànain agus do dh’fhileantaich a fhuair an cothrom a bhith ag ionnsachadh mun cuid dualchas tro òrain. Tha e na thlachd a bhith a’ faicinn mar a tha an cuid misneachd a’ tighinn air adhart agus mar a tha iad a’ cur iogngadh orra fhèin anns an dòigh sa bheil iad an sàs.”
Fèisgoil staff who look after the formal education service run by Fèisean nan Gàidheal (FnG) have been busy this term completing existing projects while also engaging in brand new activity, much of it music related.
This term sees the completion of Treòir | Voar |Virr an ambitious multi-arts project straddling the six local authorities where island schools are based. 80 schools and over 60 creative artists in those island communities took part. You can see the outline of their story through the final showcase video available to watch on the FnG website.
Every year FnG works alongside the organisation who run the National Mòd, the premier competitive festival for Gaelic singing, An Comunn Gàidhealach as well as the local authority in which the National Mòd is due to take place that year. Fèisgoil contracted a team of tutors to deliver online support sessions to 10 schools in Perth & Kinross with the opportunity extended to more schools for the coming term as the Fair City prepares to host the National Mòd in October of this year.
Although FnG has been providing YMI sessions in schools in Highland since its inception 20 years ago, 2022 has seen the first foray into YMI in the Western Isles for the organisation with Gaelic song at the heart of the sessions in Uist primaries delivered in collaboration with CnES. Peigi Macvicar, originally form Skye but with family ties to Uist leads these song sessions. As she explains:
“Seinn has provided an opportunity for pupils in Uist to learn through song and play in two parts to strengthen language skills for learners and to understand more of their local tradition. It’s great to see how pupils surprise themselves in their willingness to engage through song and how their confidence has improved through the weeks”.
Tuilleadh fiosrachaidh | More information: www.feisean.org neo eilidh@feisean.scot