Hebridean Celtic Festival and a visit to the Island of Tarransay

Just a bit of a preamble. Promise it will be short and comparitively painless.

The Hebrides are a chain of beautiful islands off the north west coast of Scotland. They include the larger islands of Lewis, Harris, the Uists, Benbecula and Barra. In addition, there are clusters of smaller islands like The Shiants, The Flannels, St Kilda and dozens smaller islands placed ramdomly by the hands of antient retreating glaciers.

The people of the islands have deep, proud roots going back well before the Viking invasions. They have been the excellent, if somewhat humble stewarts of the culture and history that graces this remote corner of Scotland. The traditions of music, song, storytelling, art overlap and intertwine with myths and mystery like a well woven tweed.

Every year they have the Gaelic Mod and the Hebridean Celtic Festival attracting some of the best young talent and established artists to Stornoway and WOW - what a ceileidh!

Anyway, I was planning to go the the Saturday night celebration at An Lanntair (http://www.lanntair.com/) to hear a Celtic Rock group called Skerryvore perform.(http://www.skerryvore.bebo.com/). My cousins asked if I would like to go to an island off the Harris coast called Taransay where they were setting up camping facilities for a week long traditional fiddling school. The students spend every waking hour surrounded by music and instruction on one of the most picturesque islands in Scotland. Should be back before tea. Well, I wouldn't miss a trip to Harris for anything so I eagerly joined in.

When we got things loaded and ready for the drive to Harris, one of the fellows said "Would you like to go to Taransay by boat?" You bet I would!!! So I joined Willie MacRea on this beautiful 10 passenger RIB (Rigid Inflatable) Zodiac and headed from Stornoway down the Minch past the Shiants, around the Sound of Harris and into the North Atlantic. The water was uncharacteristically calm and we were doing about 30 kts the whole way there. The boat is powered by 2 4.2l diesels and just flys! Just so I would feel at home, the rain came down in two short bursts as we crossed the south of Harris and entered onto the soft rolling Atlantic waves on the west side of the island.

Willie himself was a real character. He is one of the hardest working guys you are likely to meet. He is a "bricky" who also volunteers with the Stornoway Coast Guard. These are tough waters, particularly in winter and anyone who puts life and limb at risk to rescue others has my respect. He also runs the RIB for tanker ships who use Stornoway Airport for shift changes etc. They anchor in the deep waters of the Minch and the RIB goes out to bring fresh crews out and existing crews back to land.
Anyway, we had an excellent trip down and around Harris and helped with the setup at the Fiddle camp, but we didn't make it home until around 2130 hrs. Still time to hit the HebCeltFest, but I was covered in mud and, being on a motorcycle trip, had very little spare clothing to change into for the festival.
Not to worry, says I to meself... my cousin Alistair Calum and I are about the same size. He is working off-shore right now but I'll ask his wife Morag for a loan of a pair of his jeans and a shirt and off the the festival.
However, three coincidental events converged at just about the same time. First, I had forgotten that I have lost a bunch of weight and now AC's trousers are too big for me. Second, in the rush to get to the ceileidh, I forgot to ask for a belt. Third, Skerryvore plays an outstanding 20 minute long Strip the Willow. The audience was very lively, "spirited" and participative. I had quite a challenge trying to dance to the wildest Strip the Willow I had ever been in while holding up my trews. What a great time!