EVENTS SECTION TWO - Page B4 www.hebevents.com 06/02/20 - 04/03/20 Building our communities

Dìleab: Air a’ Chuan at Celtic Connections

By Katie Macleod audience, saying “The past, place, and culture and signals a new chapter for Dìleab, which singing as Storm rose from the River Clyde and or the young people on stage at the New has provided our young people a unique identity will see young people learning and working on ‘walked’ through the city. FAuditorium, it was a unique experience. and language… Your support and the opportunity different cultural themes each year as part of the Pupils from Castlebay Community School in On January 17, they performed for hundreds you’re giving them tonight, to share their project. Barra also took part in additional events, appearing of people at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, understanding of their past, and their aspiration Willie Campbell, a well-known singer- on the main stage in the Glasgow Royal Concert and another 3000 online, as part of Dìleab: for the future, is a memory that’s going to live with songwriter with bands like Astrid and The Tumbling Hall to open the one-off “Festival in a Day: Air a’ Chuan (Legacy: On the Ocean) at Celtic them forever. Two planes, hours of rehearsal – this Souls, was commissioned to write two new songs Coastal Connections” on January 18, and staying Connections, celebrating the islands’ rich is a special night for them.” for the concert, after he wrote fi ve songs for the to get a taste of the festival themselves, listening connection with the waters which surround The event took place at the 600-person original Dìleab concerts in 2018. He explains that to performances from Capercaillie, Julie Fowlis, them. capacity New Auditorium, and featured local the new songs – Drawn to the Ocean and Calling Daimh, and Skerryvore. musicians Willie Campbell, Ceitlin Lilidh, and Out – were inspired by “islanders being scattered “We had almost 70 young people with us from Dìleab: Air a’ Chuan has now been viewed by Padruig Morrison performing alongside the young to every corner of the globe, our relationship with Lewis right through to Barra and they really rose more than 5000 people online in 22 countries, to the occasion,” says Rhona Johnson, Project people. It was the latest incarnation of Dìleab, the sea, what life is like for children on the island, ranging from Australia to Brazil. “The whole trip Coordinator for Dìleab. “The audience, which the Comhairle’s multigenerational bilingual and our history and place in it… The sea is a strong was a fantastic opportunity for the pupils involved included Deputy First Minister John Swinney, project, which covers a programme of work thread throughout these new songs, from long to take part in such a world class festival and they were treated to a varied and balanced programme undertaken by the young people of the islands, as Atlantic voyages to rough crossings on the Minch all had a great time,” says Rhona, adding that of music including instrumental and choral well as local musicians, all designed to draw on and trips to rigs by helicopter.” “school staff have since reported that the pupils contributions both new and old.” On Twitter, John language, history, and culture as a bridge between The theme of coasts and waters was threaded have been having impromptu get-togethers in the Swinney described the event as “an outstanding generations. throughout the 26th Celtic Connections festival, schools at lunchtimes to play and sing together.” performance” and a “beautiful tribute to our Since its launch in 2018, Dìleab has included in particular with the launch of the sea goddess, “It’s been an unforgettable few days for all the Gaelic culture and a fabulous illustration of the school workshops, themed concerts on the “Storm,” a 10-foot high puppet made entirely from kids involved in Dìleab,” said Willie Campbell strength of Scottish education.” Iolaire, the release of a Dìleab EP, and a headline recycled materials that made its way through the on Twitter after the performance. “They got a As the concert opened, Director of Education, concert with trad band Skipinninsh performing in streets of Glasgow on January 18. The pupils from well-earned standing ovation… The growing Skills and Children’s Services at Comhairle nan Stornoway last November. This year, the theme ties Sir E Scott School – fresh from the Dìleab concert confi dence, pride and ability is something really Eilean Siar, Bernard Chisholm, welcomed the in with Visit Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters, the evening before – also performed at the event, special and it’s what Dìleab is all about.”