Celebrating The Mod 2010 With CD's

11th May 2010

A growing series of CD's will shortly be available to borrow from libraries in both Wick and Thurso.

The project - MusicMemory Store - will feature people with local connections and raise the profile of the value of traditional and Gaelic music within the community and its relationship to the National Mòd 2010 which is being hosted in Caithness for the very first time from 8th to 16th October.

A variety of local people have been asked to select a favourite traditional or Gaelic music track, which has a personal meaning for them and to share the music and the story with us.

Alex Patience, Fringe Convenor with the local organising committee said "We hope that by making these stories and the music CDs available to borrow from the Caithness libraries we will encourage people to develop or showcase their interest in traditional and Gaelic music and to see some direct connections for them with the National Mòd."

Starting from the beginning of May, each week a new person's story will be featured in the newspaper, on the website and their selected CD will be available in the libraries. This will run straight through October until the 2010 Mòd comes to an end.

One of the many volunteers, mechanic for the Thurso Lifeboat, Billy Miller says, "An Ataireachd Ard (The Surge of the Sea) sung by Karen Matheson and Capercaillie is my choice for this clever project. because it relates to the sea and reminds me of the many times we sailed around the beautiful Highlands and Islands of Scotland in the Royal National Lifeboat service and the many friends and hospitality we encountered along the way."

In addition to making these CDs available via the libraries it is hoped to include some of the music and written pieces on the Mòd websites.

Music Memory Store Meg Fraser
Meg was born in Wick in 1970. After graduating from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in 1995 she has been working throughout Britain mainly as a stage actress with occasional appearances on radio, film and television. In 2007 she won the CATS Award (Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland) for best actress, and the TMA Award (Theatre Management Awards) for best supporting performance.

The Song I have chosen has to be "Going Home" by Runrig! When I was little the only music in our house was albums by Elvis Presley, Edith Piaf, Simon and Garfunkel, a Hawaiian Beach Party Album and the Top 40 on Sunday Afternoon Radio. Then as a teenager in the 80's when music made you want to dance (or fancy the band!), the first music I heard that evoked any emotion or feeling was by Runrig. (First discovered at a New Years Party when I was 15). After seeing them in concert 5 times it's hard to pick one that stands out but it's going to have to be 'Going Home'.

In 1986 on a family holiday to Menorca, I fell hopelessly in love with a Spanish waiter called 'Minolo' who was working in our hotel. I was caught snogging him in the hotel disco by my parents who thought it was hilarious. I didn't. I was in love! On the flight back to Scotland at the end of our holiday I continuously played 'Going Home' on my walkman and bawled my eyes out. The first time a song made me feel any real emotion albeit utter devastation! Young love, cheers Minolo!

Is e an t-òran 'Tilleadh Dhachaigh' le Runrig a dh' fheumas mi thaghadh! Nuair a bha mise òg cha robh ri chluinntinn san dachaigh againn ach ceòl Elvis Presley, Edith Piaff, Simon Garfunkel, an Hawaiian Beach Party agus an Top 40 air Ràdio feasgar Didòmhnaich,
Na mo dheugaire anns na 80an nuair a bheireadh ceòl ort dannsa (no ùidh a bhith agad sa chòmhlan!) is e ceòl Runrig a ghluais m' inntinn is m' fhaireachdainn an toiseach. ( Thàinig mi air a' cheòl airson a' chiad uair aig Cuirm Bliadhna Ùire nuair a bha mi còig bliadhna deug a dh'aois). An dèidh dhomh am faicinn còig tursan air àrd-ùrlar, tha e doirbh dhomh aon a thaghadh ach feumaidh mi 'Tilleadh Dhachaigh' ainmeachadh.
Air saor-làithean còmhla ri mo theaghlach an 1986 ann am Menorca, thuit mi an trom-ghaol ri gille-frithealaidh Spàinneach dham b' ainm Minola. Bha e ag obair san taigh-òsta far an robh sinn a' fuireach. Thàinig mo phàrantan oirnn a' pògadh aig disco san taigh-òsta agus shaoil iad gu robh seo fìor èibhinn. Cha do shaoil mise. Bha mi ann an gaol! Air an rathad dhachaigh a dh'Alba san itealan aig deireadh ar làithean-saora chluich mi an ceòl fad na h-ùine, mo shùilean a' sìor shileadh. B' e seo a' chiad òran riamh a dhùisg faireachdainn annam, faireachdainn goirt dha rìribh! Gaol na h-òige, slàinte Minolo!

Going Home by Runrig; Once in a Lifetime [CD] Released 1988 on the Chrysalis label. Catalogue CPD 32 1695 2
"Going Home" is one of the Macdonald brothers original compositions for the group Runrig; pioneering modern Gaelic and Scottish music.

Copies of this CD are available to borrow, at no cost, from the collection of CD's selected as MusicMemory Store, from Wick and Thurso Libraries. It can be heard on Mondays 7-8pm on Caithness FM as a part of the Scottish Show with Hughie Manson and on Radio nan Gàidheal.

MusicMemory Store is a partnership between the Mòd Ghallaibh Fringe and the Highland Libraries - Caithness branches, Wick & Thurso.
Contact The Mòd Ghallaibh Fringe: northtuath[AT]yahoo.co.uk