The Gillie Mor: A Celebration of Hamish Henderson & the Folk Tradition in Caithness & Sutherland

If I was back in my old stamping grounds of Caithness this weekend this is where I’d want to be: at the celebration of Hamish Henderson and the folk traditions of the far north.

Henderson was one of the giants of 20th century Scottish culture who, along with the likes of MacDiarmid and Gray, helped redraw the internal maps of Scotland. He followed in the footsteps of Burns, Scott and Hogg as he collated and recorded the oral and folk traditions of Scotland. His life’s work was essential to help understand this multifarious country and the people who have lived here. Central is the importance given to the voices and languages that exist outside the official or academic narratives.

With participants like George Gunn, Timothy Neat and Nancy Nicholson this promises to be something special. Begins tomorrow (Thursday) in Wick and continues to a Saturday finale in Thurso’s Royal Hotel. And good to see that the pupils at Wick High School will be treated to a hands on folk tradition workshop too.

The full programme is reproduced below:

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  1. ewan morrison says:

    Brilliant. He was fine man, full of courage and purpose. Good luck to you all. I wonder, is there any chance you could play some of Hamish’s archive recordings?

    All the best

    Ewan

  2. Tocasaid says:

    Math fhèin. Gaisgeach ar cultair. The Summer Walkers by Timothy Neat is a good place to start for an insight into this man’s valuable work.

    Just don’t let the bigoted Caithness councillors get wind of it.

  3. Ray Bell says:

    Just don’t tell them Caithness cooncillors that Gaidhlig was being spoken in their county into the 20th century!!!

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