Adult Fèis Rois Weekend

If it’s the May weekend, then all roads lead to Fèis Rois Inbhich, or the Adult Fèis Rois, held in Ullapool. This year’s 14th annual event attracted over 310 participants and was seen proudly flying “the best weekend of the year” banner.  

Open to everyone over eight years old, the three-day Fèis offered high quality tuition in a wide range of instruments from the cello to the mandolin.

Other classes included:

• Gaelic language
• Gaelic song
• Group work
• Harmony singing
• Piano accompaniment
• Scots song and harmony
• Step dancing and rells
• Songwriting

Other special classes were ‘The Scope of Traditional Music and Gaelic Song’ led by Allan MacDonald and explored the culture more deeply. A class in Donegal fiddle was led by this year’s guest tutor Liz Doherty while a complete beginners’ class was run by Carol-Anne MacKay.

One of the weekend’s many highlights was a special visit from Frank McAveety, the then Minister for Tourism, Culture & Sport. The Minister’s interest in traditional culture shone through in this enthusiastic participation in classes and sessions. The daily tuition programme was led by a team of 39 experienced tutors who inspired participants to really progress in skill

The daytime programme closed with a whole Fèis Gaelic song.

This is a famous Fèis Rois tradition which gathers all participants once a day. This year the song was “Is Truagh Nach D’Rugadh Dall Mi” and was led by Mary Ann Kennedy.

Evenings saw a wonderful line-up of sessions and ceilidhs. Newly-created for the Saturday session tutors led themed session and gave everyone a chance to sing, dance and play at their various levels.

Sunday evening’s Tutor Ceilidh was summed up by one participant who said, “it was a fabulous ceilidh with many special memories, and it was very hard to go home.”

It was a Fèis of many highlights

More information can be found on Fèis Rois website.