Visiting Cape Breton Fiddlers Fill Town House With Music
Inverness Town House was ringing to the tune of fiddle music when 91 visiting musicians from Cape Breton in Nova Scotia took to the stage during an event to promote the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Highlands and their province in Canada.
The group were given an official welcome to the Highlands by Councillor Bob Wynd after which the Council’s Gaelic Committee Chairman, Hamish Fraser gave a brief presentation on the MoU. This document was signed by the Council and the Provincial Government of Nova Scotia in 2002 and is an agreement that builds on the linguistic, kinship and cultural connections between the two areas.
On behalf of the Cape Breton musicians, Burton Macintyre said that the group were delighted to be visiting the Highlands. He went on to thank The Highland Council’s Traditional Music Co-ordinator, Margo Maclennan and Gaelic Development Officer, Morag Anna MacLeod for organising the warm welcome on behalf of the Members and the City of Inverness.
Guests were then treated to a short acoustic performance by young Highland musicians who will be performing throughout the summer under the group name of the Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trailers along with the TMC Folk (Traditional Music Classes). Following this, the 91 fiddlers from Cape Breton took to the stage and filled the Town House with music as they performed several rousing tunes.
Councillor Hamish Fraser said: “We are delighted to welcome these talented musicians to the Highlands and to use the event to promote the MoU which outlines areas of joint interest and strengthen Gaelic and culture on both sides of the ocean. We recognise the unique connection that exists between the Gaelic speaking areas of Scotland and Nova Scotia on the basis of a common language, a common culture, family ties and emigration. Exciting new links are being made for cultural, tourism and economic activities.
Kelly Krawchuck from Cape Breton, who is present here today is an example of this partnership as she has been working with schools in the Lochaber are, integrating her skills in crafts along with Gaelic and also informing the young people she works with about life in Cape Breton. The young people in the community have really benefited from her knowledge and experience.”
The fiddlers have been invited to join the Inverness Fiddlers for a “tune” at the Ness Bank Church Hall this evening at 8pm. They will be touring around the local area before travelling onto Uist in the Western Isles where they will be participating in the Cèolas Festival.”