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News ... NaidheachdWelcome to our new session 2010 - 2011. 01 September 2010 Click here for some pics of our recent activities. Remember to bookmark this page so that you can return to the News. Seems as if we have never been away! What a busy summer we have had, with our regular spot at Auchindrain and our trip to Mull.
During August we have had two more stints at Auchindrain. 15th August was an eventful day. The drystane dykers were out in force, busy rebuilding Munro’s barn. There were “come and try” shinty sessions throughout the day – old-style shinty with no rules! The Walking Theatre Company performed. Seoras MacPherson, storyteller from Skye, held forth in McNicol’s barn. Sgioba Luaidh waulked vigorously all day.
In the afternoon a historic event took place when His Grace the Duke of Argyll presided over the lotting of the rigs, something which had not taken place since 1847. Up till that time the tenants of Auchindrain ballotted each year for the runrigs, the strips of cultivable land. The children of Inveraray, Furnace and Minard Primary Schools drew lots for plots in the big kailyard, which they will cultivate during the coming year.
The day's events were filmed by BBC Alba, and we featured on the news programme An Là.
During Cowal Games week we performed at Kirn Gala – 15 minutes on stage and the rest of the evening waulking in our stall. There was a lot of interest from passers-by. We stopped slightly early, because there was also a lot of interest from the midges! We adjourned to FRL’s convenient flat for a cuppa before getting the ferry home.
At the end of the month we were back at Auchindrain, for a busy day with visitors from Germany, USA (“You’re the best thing we’ve seen in Scotland!”), Hungary, New Zealand, and even a couple from Dunoon, escaping from the mayhem of the Cowal Games!
As usual Frances hosted a ceilidh in her caravan on the Holy Loch to open our new season. A happy evening, once again blessed with beautiful weather. We look forward to another busy year.
Click here for some pics of recent events. Remember to bookmark this page so that you can return to Sgioba Luaidh. An t-Eilean Muileach 10 August 2010 Click here for pics of our trip to Mull. (Remember to bookmark this page so that you can return to the News.) This year our big trip away was to the Isle of Mull. (Last year we went to Durham; the year before, to Cockermouth.) We spent a day performing at Bunessan Agricultural Show, fortunately in a marquee – it poured the whole day! The table? Five posts hammered into the ground with a board on top! It was certainly steady! We had a great day, waulking and talking, looking at the animals and admiring the exhibits. And the rain just added to the atmosphere - plowtering through the mud in our pinnies and wellies felt very authentic! Highlight of the day was watching the duck herding – what a laugh! And we are very proud of Seumas, our sheep, who got a rosette at the Show! Next day we were at Duart Castle. What a venue - it's everything a castle should be! We spent the day waulking in the courtyard, getting sunburned – quite a contrast to the previous day’s weather! That’s Mull for you. Sir Lachlan MacLean was a gracious host, and kept us well supplied with tea. Flora and Bella the dogs were very attentive also. There was a constant stream of visitors all day - a very cosmopolitan lot. We managed to squeeze in a quick tour of the castle, from the dungeons to the ramparts. Definitely needs another visit at a more leisurely pace. We had an extra two days on Mull to make a wee holiday of it. Had a wonderful time - can't wait to go back! Click here for pics. (Remember to bookmark this page so that you can return to Sgioba Luaidh.) Busy weekend 01 August 2010 Click here for some pics of the weekend. Wow! What a fantastic weekend we had at Auchindrain! On Saturday afternoon our wee house was invaded by the boys of the Mthunzi Culture group from Zambia (huddled round our peat fire – they were frozen!). They are here on a Zamscot exchange programme. The boys sang a Gaelic chorus they had learned from their Barra friends. What a sound! We waulked, but they rocked! Innes gave them a demo of spinning, and as Eleanor sang the verses of “Abu chuibhl” they were suddenly convulsed with peals of laughter. Later we found out that a certain Gaelic word sounds like something quite different in their language! That evening in the Visitor Centre we presented one of our historical programmes with slides: The Devastation of Argyll – not very cheery! But the idea was to show how the people of Auchindrain lived through a tumultuous time in Scotland’s history - the Montrose Wars of the 17th century. Don't think the audience were too depressed - we had some very complimentary feedback.
After a magnificent supper, thanks to Angie and her helpers, we adjourned to MacNicol’s barn for a ceilidh. Eleanor played her clarsach, Frances sang, some volunteers from the audience sang, Fyne Folk played their hearts out – a great old-fashioned night!
We still had a day’s waulking to get through on the Sunday – but hey! Sgioba Luaidh are tireless! Though by the end of the day we were like zombies singing our oran basaidh!
Click here for pics.
Auchindrain in the news. 04 July 2010 Click here for an article about Auchindrain in the online magazine ForArgyll. On 8 July Auchindrain will be visited by Mike Russell MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning. Sgioba Luaidh will be on hand. Hope he is impressed! Woolfest, Benderloch 25 June 2010 Frances, Eleanor, Innes and Frances Rosemary set off merrily for Benderloch for a three day Woolfest. ("You didn't get lost!" said Eleanor to Frances in some surprise. Cheeky!) Innes and Archie arrived early to help set up stalls – the Woolfest was held in conjunction with the fortnightly Farmers’ Market held at Kintaline Farm. Frances Rosemary, who had a week’s holiday, took a somewhat roundabout route, via Aberfeldy, where she sang at the local Mòd, and Thurso (Thurso??), where she met up with our old friend Joanne, the former curator of Auchindrain. Joanne is now manager of Caithness Horizons. We had a great three days. We did waulking demos at the Woolfest, had a morning with P1 and Nursery children at Lochnell School, spent an afternoon with home-educated children and their parents, did an evening performance on the Saturday (Feuds, Fights and Fairies). Innes was in her element leading spinning workshops. Click here to see some of our pics.
Thanks to Jill & Tim of Kintaline, and Jill’s mother Helen for their hospitality. And for organising such brilliant weather! We think Archie would like to move in permanently and get a job as a farmhand! This first Benderloch Woolfest was a great success. We hope it will be an annual event. Exciting news! 14 June 2010 While on holiday in Harris Frances ordered a length of tweed from Donald John MacKay, the weaver in Luskintyre. He will leave it unshrunk, so that next year we will be able to waulk a piece of genuine Harris Tweed. Watch this space! Click here to see some pics. |
 
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