Far North Triumph At Pan Celtic Festival In Eire

17th April 2013

Far North Representation Celebrate major success in Carlow, Co. Carlow, Eire after receiving multiple awards.

A number of organisations representing the far north counties of Caithness and Sutherland had cause to celebrate in style in Carlow, Eire recently after their performances picked up awards in international competitions during their week long participation.

Thurso Pipe Band, Melvich Gaelic Choir, Coilich a’ Chinn a’ Tuath and Ceòl Bho Thuath were the organisations representing the far north of Scotland with a number of their soloists also taking part.

As well as representing Scotland in the International Choral Competitions, all the organisations were involved in a heavy programme of participation in the festival programme and area representation in the public arena for the week of the festival.

On Tuesday of the festival, Thurso Pipe Band marched to the Opening Evening under the saltire-flag bearers provided by Melvich Gaelic Choir. After a medley performance in front of the festival dignitaries including Irish Government Minister for the Gaeltacht, Donnchadh Mac Fhionnlaoich T.D.,they provided the finale performance on stage in the evening darkness with a most impressive colourful display of light provided by the backdrop of the College of Carlow.

The contingent from the north were delighted to hear during the evening that Christine Stone of Castletown, who won the Traditional Gold Medal at the Royal National Mod in Dunoon last year, was to participate in the ceremony finale. Christine Stone and Thurso Pipe Band were the closing acts on the opening night with the far north representation presence already well noted by the international crowd.

Christine Stone represented Scotland the following evening singing solo in the International Traditional Solo competition. Christine sang an emotional and heart-rending performance of the sinking of the Iolaire – the troop ship that went aground on the Beasts of Holm at the entrance of Stornoway Harbour at the end of the first world-war.

Christine Stone also took part in the folk group from Caithness – Ceòl Bho Thuath one of the folk groups representing Scotland in the International Folk Group Competition. The result was very close and the group were highly delighted in the face of tough competition to be runner-up to one of the entries from Wales. The results during the week were a prelude to the greater success that was to come later in the festival.

Thurso Pipe Band, all the choirs and all the soloists took part in street performances and activities promoting the far north of Scotland throughout the week both during the day and in the evening, creating a magnificent and colourful spectacle.

On the penultimate day, Thurso Pipe Band had been expected to participate in the International March, when breaking with tradition, the Scottish representation, with Thurso Pipe Band and the far north representation, were invited to lead all the countries, with Ireland following. Thurso Pipe Band led the march through the town culminating in a reception by the Provost of Carlow on the steps of Carlow Town Hall.

In the evening all the choirs took to the stage in the majestic setting of Carlow Cathedral. The massed choirs of the far north were joined by award winning Atomaig Piseag, the Argyll Ladies Centennial Gaelic Choir, in their 10th Anniversary year under the baton of former National Mod Gold Medallist Raymond Bremner. The far north representation were delighted when an invitation was given to Thurso Pipe Band Pipe Major Andrew Harvey of Thrumster to close the gala evening – playing a fitting performance of Highland Cathedral.

Saturday provided the biggest day of the week for the far north contingent with pipers, drummers and choristers all participating in international competitions.

18 international choirs participated in all the choral events from all of the six celtic nations of Scotland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Wales, Cornwall and Brittany in France.

Melvich Gaelic Choir won the International Mixed Rural Choirs Competition. Soon after Coilich a’ Chinn a’ Tuath, the joint male voice choir of Melvich and Lairg Gaelic Choirs, won the International Male Voice competition. Later that day the group heard of the success of Heather Bain of Thurso Pipe Band, who won the International Drumming Medley Competition and Ryan Jamieson, Thurso, who was runner-up in the International Solo Dance Competition.

The choirs were presented their trophies by members of the International Festival Committee whilst Heather Bain was presented her trophy by Con O’Conaill, Chairman of the International Festival Committee at the International Scots Evening held later.

Raymond Bremner had further personal success, as the conductor of Atomaig Piseag, when they won the International Ladies Choirs competition and went on to lift the Supreme Choral Award for best choir over all competitions at the festival.

The Scots Evening is traditionally the final evening of the festival and, given the success of the far north contingent’s participation, became a big celebration with all participants taking part and performing including a number of performances by Thurso Pipe Band.

The far north representation became the subject of the main television channel, RTE 1, on their news and current affairs bulletin, Nationwide. They have also been widely praised on BBC Alba television and numerous radio programmes here in Scotland immediately on their learning of their achievements. The group’s achievements were also widely promoted through social media outlets and bloggers.

BBC Radio Alba presenter, Morag Dhomhnallach was particularly vocal in her praise on both her morning radio programme and raising a special request mention on the prime spot Dùrachdan programme last Friday evening.

Raymond Bremner, one of the group organisers said “Our main aim was to raise the profile of our area at this major international event and to allow an international audience to see the great quality of cultural representation that we have in our own local area and to encourage others on an international level to take notice of what our area has to offer. We have undertaken this promotion many times in our local area and we felt it was time to spread the news of our area to a greater audience and to expand the appeal of our far north culture and heritage. I think that we not only achieved this but that we exceeded this in a much greater way than any of us had anticipated“.

“We need to acknowledge again, and sincerely thank, everyone who believed in what we were doing and what we looked to achieve including all those who financially supported us in our venture. It wasn’t easy taking nearly 80 people on an international project like this but the support of the contributing organisations has been tremendous, as well as local organisations. This includes the Caithness and North Sutherland Fund and the wards of Highland council of the far north counties of Caithness and Sutherland who financially supported us.

The coverage that we have had in the press, on international television and radio and through social media has been enormous, very much helped by the achievements of the group throughout the week of the festival and we trust that our achievements have, in some way, justified the support we received. We would like to offer our congratulations to everyone who participated and especially to Thurso Pipe Band in their 100th Anniversary Year – it was some kick start to their anniversary promotions and celebrations”.

Con O’Conaill, Chairman of the International Festival Committee, speaking on behalf of the International Council said “On behalf of the International Council of the Pan Celtic, we want to thank the far north delegation from the north of Scotland for the wonderful contribution they made to this years festival, and also to congratulate all the members for their success, particularly the success of the choirs in the choral competitions”. He
went on, “The Thurso Pipe Band was a great attraction and were very popular and their public appearances made a big impact in the town. They were also well featured on the main Irish Television Channel, RTE1, in the Nationwide Programme broadcast last Friday at 7pm after the main evening news bulletin. They made a big impact at the festival and in the town of Carlow, and certainly did Caithness and Sutherland proud”.

The group are now planning a public joint celebration of all the groups who represented the far north here in the county in the next few weeks where their silverware will be on show and the local public will have the ability to enjoy once more the feast of talent that was on display during the week of the festival.

VIDEO
Coisir Ghaidhlig Mhealbhaich - Melvich Gaelic Choir - winners of the International Mixed Rural Choirs Competitioin - singing in Carlow Cathedral.