A call for assistance is going out the thousands of people who have participated in Fèisean over the years.  It is hoped that they will share their experiences, impressions, and memories as part of a major study to assess the impact and legacy of involvement with Fèisean.  Fèisean are festivals for 8 to 18 years olds in which traditional music and many other art forms are taught and performed, and in which particular prominence is given to Gaelic language and culture.  Today around forty such Fèisean take place annually throughout Scotland, but since 1981, when the Fèis idea was first pioneered in the Isle of Barra, thousands of young people have participated in at least one of the Fèisean.

The study involving former participants is being undertaken at an auspicious moment in the history of Fèisean.  This year, the twenty-fifth anniversary of the establishment in Barra of the first fèis, Fèis Bharraigh, will be celebrated. This was seen as an appropriate time to undertake a Tracking Exercise with a view to mapping out the story of people who have participated in Fèisean, and to ascertain how such participation has influenced their lives, their careers, and crucially, their attitudes to the Gaelic language.

“There is plenty of anecdotal evidence pointing to the favourable impact Fèisean have made”, according to Arthur Cormack, Director of Fèisean nan Gàidheal, the movement’s umbrella body, “but we need to research and gather this evidence more systematically. This exercise will allow us to better inform and shape the future of Fèisean and will be an invaluable tool in  better arguing their corner when it comes to securing necessary resources and support for their continued operation.   The evidence gathered will also feed into the compilation of a book charting the development and evolving role of Fèisean.  This planned publication is another project to coincide with the first twenty-five years of the Fèis movement.  To do all this effectively we need to hear from former participants and we urge them all to get in touch with us.”

People can log on to the Tracking Exercise website at http://www.feisean.org/adult/english/survey.htm and spend the few minutes it takes to fill in the response form. 

All responses will be treated in confidence.  Where any material supplied is needed for reports or articles to be circulated publicly specific permission will be sought from respondents.

Gaelic version

Thathar a’ sireadh cuideachaidh bho dhaoine a bha uair no uaireigin a’ frithealadh Fhèisean ann an diofar cheàrnaidhean dhen dùthaich.  ‘S ann airson am beachdan agus an cuimhneachain air na Fèisean fhaighinn, agus a’ bhuaidh a bh’ aca orra a thuigsinn, a thathar airson cluinntinn bhuapa.  Tha seo mar phàirt de rannsachadh a tha a’ dol air adhart an-dràsta gus dìleab nam Fèisean a thomhas.  Tha an sgrùdadh seo a-measg dhiofar nithean a tha ga dhèanamh gus 25 bliadhna de na Fèisean a’ chomharrachadh.  ‘S e an t-Ionad Rannsachaidh Nàiseanta airson nan Ealain Bheò aig an RSAMD a tha os cionn an rannsachaidh agus tha iad a toirt sùil gu h-àraid air a’ bhuaidh a thug na Fèisean air a’ chloinn a ghabh pàirt annta.  Tha còrr agus dà fhichead Fèis ann an-diugh ach ‘s ann ann am Barraigh ann an 1981 a bha a’ chiad Fhèis air a cumail.  Rè na h-ùine bhon a stèidhicheadh iad, tha na mìltean òganach air ionnsachadh fhaighinn tro Fhèisean.

‘S e fàth an rannsachaidh barrachd a thuigsinn mun bhuaidh a bh’ aca air daoine a tha air pàirt a ghabhail ann am Fèisean, agus co-dhiù a robh buaidh aca air dreuchd neo ionnsachadh a’ roghnaich iad a leantainn; ach gu bunaiteach, air am beachdan air a’ Ghàidhlig.

“Tha sinne a tha an-sàs anns na Fèisean gu math mothachail air a’ bhuaidh a th’ aig na Fèisean air na daoine a tha a’ gabhail pàirt annta,”  thuirt Art MacCarmaig, Stiùiriche Fèisean nan Gàidheal, “ach tha feum againn air dearbhadh tro rannsachadh neo-eisimeileach, a tha air a dhèanamh ann an dòigh rianail.  Tha sinn an dòchas gum bi an aithisg seo gu math feumail ann a bhith a’ cur phlanaichean ri chèile airson barrachd leasachaidh anns na Fèisean, agus gum bi i cuideachail ann a bhith a’ faighinn barrachd taic air an son anns na bliadhnaichean ri teachd.  Thèid na beachdan a tha air an cruinneachadh a cleachdadh cuideachd airson leabhar ùr a bhios a’ nochdadh an ath bhliadhna a’ coimhead air an dòigh anns a bheil na Fèisean air fàs thairis air na còig bliadhna fichead a dh’fhalbh.  Mar sin, bu mhath leinn cluinntinn bho dhuine sam bith a ghabh pàirt ann am Fèis aig àm sam bith thairis air an ùine sin.”

Ma tha duine sam bith airson cuideachadh leis an rannsachadh faodaidh iad ceisteachan a’ lìonadh air an làrach-lìn a leanas http://www.feisean.org/adult/gaidhlig/survey.htm
Bidh freagairtean gu tur dìomhair.