Nòs Ùr Competition Calls For Applications

15th January 2008

A competition has been launched this week which celebrates songs from Celtic and Scots language communities. Singers and song-writers are invited to send entries to Nòs Ùr - the first song contest to be held in Inverness as part of four regional finals held across Europe.

Meaning 'New Style' in Gaelic, the Nòs Ùr competition expects songs to be entered from languages such as Scottish Gaelic, Scots, Ulster Scots, Irish, Manx, Welsh, Cornish and Breton. The winner of the West European competition will be entered into the final of the pan-European Liet Lavlut competition which takes place in Lulea, Sweden this October.

The contest is the only song competition of its kind in Europe and follows a similar format as the Eurovision Song Contest with singers and bands representing a particular country, or in this case a minority language.

By gathering interest from singers from minority languages communities, the competition aims to promote the cultural and musical diversity to a large international audience.

Event organiser and Inverness-based musician Brian Ó headhra is managing the project for goEvents, working closely with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to promote and develops creative arts in the Highlands and Islands.

Brian hopes that the competition will attract both young and more experienced song writers as well as inspire a new generation of Celtic and Scots language composers. He said: "We hope the event will raise awareness of the needs of minority language song writers and we would like to help them realise that there is a huge national and international interest in our indigenous languages and cultures, both traditional and contemporary. Artists have two months from today to send in their application forms and
to be in with a chance of being selected as a finalist in Nòs Ùr in June."

It is proposed that Inverness will host the pan-European final in 2010. The Celtic and Scots regional final would then be held in another part of western Europe, such as Ireland or Wales.

A reception will be hosted by Highland Council at the Town House, June 20 for those who are attending Nòs Ùr at Eden Court, Inverness, June 21 2008. The competition will also coincide with UHI Millennium Institute's "Voices of the West" conference on minority languages, featuring journalist and broadcaster Lesley Riddoch and Derrick McClure from Aberdeen University's department of English.

A website www.nos-ur.eu has been created which includes more information about Nòs Ùr and were application forms can be downloaded or alternatively Brian Ó headhra can be contacted on 01463 241 622. The deadline for applications is March 14.

Support for the event is coming from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), Highland Council, Colmcille, Scottish Arts Council, Gaelic Media Services and UHI Millennium Institute.

Nòs Ùr - Farpais Òrain Roinneil Mhion-chànain ann an Inbhir Nis

Thèid co-fharpais chudromach a chur air bhog an seachdain seo, a' comharrachadh òrain bho choimhearsnachdan mhion-chànain Ceilteach agus Albais.

Tha dà mhìos aig seinneadairean agus sgrìobhadairean-òrain airson na foirmean-iarrtais a chuir a-steach gu Nòs Ùr - a' chiad cho-fharpais stèidhte ann an Inbhir Nis mar pàirt de cheithir fharpaisean dheireannaich anns an Roinn-Eòrpa.

Tha 'Nòs Ùr' an dùil air òrain a chuir a-steach sa Ghàidhlig, Albais, Ulaidh Albais, Gàidhlig Èireannach, Gàidhlig Mhanainneach, Cuimreach, Còrnach agus Breaton. Thèid an neach-buannachaidh troimhe gu farpais dheireannach Liet Lavlut Eòrpach ann an Lulea, An t-Suain san Dàmhair an ath bhliadhna.

'S e an fharpais an aon den seòrsa sa Roinn-Eòrpa, leis an aon chumadh ris a' 'European Song Contest', le seinneadairean agus còmhlain-ciùil seasamh airson dùthaich, no airson mhion-chànain san fharpais seo.

Tha an fharpais ag amas cuir air adhart iomadachd chultarach agus ciùil gu luchd-èisdeachd farsaing eadar-nàiseanta, le bhith cnuasachadh ùidh bho sheinneadairean à coimhearsnachdan mhìon-chànanach.

Tha Brian Ò hEadhra, neach-ciùil agus neach-eagrachaidh airson tachartasan, a' stiùireadh a' phròiseict airson goEvents. Tha e an dòchas gun tog an fharpais mothachadh a measg sgrìobhadairean mhion-chànanach. Thuirt e: "Tha sinn ag iarraidh air luchd-gnìomhachais tuigse gu bheil ùidh mhòr gu ìre nàiseanta agus eadar-nàiseanta anns ar cànain agus ar cultair, an dà chuid traidiseanta agus co-aimsireach.

"Tha sinn cuideachd an dòchas barrachd dhaoine òga a thàladh gu'n tachartais rè bùthan-obrach sgrìobhaidh-òrain agus gum bi ginealach ùr de sgrìobhadairean òrain Ghàidhlig agus Albais air am brosnachadh."

Thathar a' moladh gum bi an fharpais dheireannach Eòrpach ann an Inbhir Nis fhèin ann an 2010, fhad 's a bhios an fharpais roinneil Eòrpach ann an àite eile den Taobh Siar an Roinn-Eòrpa mar Eirinn no A' Chuimrigh.

Bidh Nòs Ùr ann an Cùirt an Aodainn, 21 An t-Og-mhios 2008, aig an aon àm
sa bhios co-labhairt Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd 's nan Eilean, air mion-chànain - "Voices of the West", le neach-naidheachd Lesley Riddoch agus Derrick McClure bho Oilthigh Obar Dheathain.

Bidh cuirm aig Comhairle na Gaidhealtachd aig Talla a' Bhaile, Inbhir Nis, 20mh n t-Òg-mhios airson daoine a bhios an sàs ann an Nòs Ùr.

Tha an làrach-lìn www.nos-ur.eu làn fiosrachaidh air Nòs Ùr agus gheibhear foirmean- iarrtais an seo, no faodaidh sibh fios a chuir gu Brian Ò hEadhra air 01463 241 622. 'S e 14 Màirt and latha mu dheireadh airson iarrtais.

Airson barrachd fiosrachaidh, bheir fios gu Brian Ò hEadhra air 01463 241622, info[AT]anamcommunications.com, no dha Iain Hamilton air 01463 244463, Iain.Hamilton[AT]hient.co.uk.