It will be 80 years since an American girl called Margaret Fay Shaw first set foot in the Outer Hebrides. Thus began her love affair with South Uist, its people and their Gaelic songs, which was to continue for the rest of her life. She died in December 2005 aged 101.
Margaret’s life and her work in the Uists will be celebrated at the ‘Gleann na Ceolraidh’ conference to be held in South Uist, from Sunday 8th July to Wednesday 11th 2007. In the mornings there will be lectures by friends and acquaintances of Margaret, about her life, work, and the songs she collected. Keynote speakers include Hugh Cheape from the National Museum of Scotland and Vice-President of the National Trust for Scotland, Dr. Margaret MacKay from the School of Scottish Studies, Gaelic music composer and tradition bearer Isobel T. MacDonald, herbal medicine specialist and G.P. Dr. Sarah Marr, Magda Sagarzazu , Canna House Archivist and Companion to Margaret Fay Shaw and all the way from St. Frances Xavier University in Nova Scotia, the eminent scholar Sister Margaret MacDonnell. John Love, retired Scottish Natural Heritage Officer who lives in South Uist and knew the Campbells from his days as officer in Rhum.
Afternoons and evening will enable participants to walk the hills of Glendale in South Uist, participate in a variety of practical workshops and savour the songs and music of South Uist alongside the generous hospitality for which the island is famous.
From 1928 to 1933 she lived with two special friends, Peigi and Mairi MacRae, in their thatched cottage in North Glendale, South Uist. From hosts and neighbours, Margaret was able to record down many Gaelic songs, cures and traditions. She also captured some classic cine film of their way of life, and compiled what was to become an impressive archive of black and white photographs. The culmination of her visit was the publication in 1955 of the book ‘Folksongs and Folklore of South Uist’ which has remained in print ever since.
Margaret always maintained that the book belonged to the folk of South Uist who had given her so much. Now the community are celebrating Margaret Fay Shaw’s legacy in a three-day event held locally and aptly entitled ‘Gleann na Ceòlraidh’, or The Glen of Muses. Fittingly, this follows immediately after Ceòlas, the esteemed Gaelic music, song and dance summer school. Ceòlas organisers are closely involved in the planning of ‘Gleann na Ceòlraidh’.
Hugh Cheape said: “This important conference will bring together many friends of Margaret Fay Shaw – both from the island and from abroad – to remember her life and work in the Uists. There will be an exhibition of her photographs in Kildonan Museum where the National Trust will be presenting a digitised archive of Margaret’s work.”
Central to the occasion will be the launch of a CD by two close friends of Margaret’s – Mod Gold Medallist Paul McCallum from North Glendale, and the distinguished cellist Vivien Mackie. As Margaret had always wished, this accomplished duo have come together to record a wide selection of songs from ‘Folksongs and Folklore in South Uist’.
Paul McCallum said “I am delighted that the songs can be sung just as Margaret first heard them. This will be a wonderful opportunity for the island people to honour Margaret Fay Shaw’s efforts in helping preserve their heritage.”
As the late Fred Gillies, a local bard, wrote - ‘an eibhleag anns an gann bha ‘n deo, sheid i orre,’s thug i beo a rithist’: an ember was dying; she blew on it and rekindled it.
Further information and photographs may be obtained from John Love at the Ceòlas office on 01878 500154 or info@mfayshaw.co.uk or on the event’s website www.mfayshaw.co.uk
