Bard’s music trophy goes to ‘fantastic’ school band

A SMALL primary school in Lewis proved it was top of the class when it comes to Gaelic folk music, after dominating their competition and winning a new prize in memory of one of Gaeldom’s greatest bards.

At the Royal National Mod in Stornoway yesterday, Barvas Primary School, which has a total pupil roll of less than 30, won the Murdo MacFarlane Trophy, named after the Lewis poet who died in 1982 and who penned many songs still performed regularly today.

The memorial prize was donated to Mod organisers An Comunn Gaidhealach this year by a cousin of MacFarlane, Mairi, who lives in Canada. It was previously awarded at the Mod in Vancouver, before the event there was disbanded.

It was a fitting tribute for the winning band, and especially for their head teacher Alice MacLeod, who is also in charge of Airidhantuim Primary School, which came second in the competition.

Mrs MacLeod said: “The kids all did well, they were fantastic. I’m especially pleased for their music teacher, Elfi Rank.”

The four-strong band from Barvas were Alex John Morrison, Katie Finlayson, Lauren Matheson and Eilidh Morrison.

Competition adjudicator Andrew Dunlop told the audience in the An Lanntair arts centre: “I can honestly say that the talent we have got in this part of Scotland is incredible.”

Gaelic judge Jayne MacLeod was similarly impressed. “I thought their Gaelic throughout was clear and very clean,” she said.

Yesterday also saw the announcement of a new project to promote the cultural links between Scotland and Ireland.

Sli Cholmcille (the St Columba Trail) is a web-based initiative that enables users to follow in the footsteps of Saint Columba, the Irish monk who is largely credited with bringing the Gaelic language to Scotland.

Minister for Gaelic Alasdair Allan said: “This is an exciting development which links up the heritage of the west coast of Scotland with that of the north coast of Ireland, and will bring economic benefits to these areas.”

The new website will offer trails, maps, images and information on St Columba and his travels all down the west coast, in the hope of inspiring modern-day pilgrimages to follow in his footsteps.

Funding has come from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the national Gaelic development agency Bord na Gaidhlig and its Irish counterpart, Foras na Gaeilge.

Malcolm MacLean, from the Gaelic arts agency Proiseact nan Ealan, who helped devise the 72-stop tour, said: “It has been a privilege for our team to create the first visitor trail linking Scotland and Ireland.

“New digital media offer exciting new ways for people to understand their history and access it on location.

“The ‘Sli’ can be a personal, family or guided group experience and we look forward to developing it and extending it in the years to come.”