Keeping Gaelic music and culture alive on Eigg.
Feis Eige was established in 1995 to deliver a music festival for the community of Eigg in the Inner Hebrides. The group’s name literally translates as Festival of Eigg and they work to promote interest, education and participation in traditional music and Gaelic culture for people on Eigg and the Small Isles. They have a particular interest in engaging young people, therefore ensuring the musical traditions of the area are kept alive.
The project
In 2018, the group successfully applied to the Mary Janet King Fund for a grant of £1,628 to deliver a three-day music event, Feis Eige. Although idyllic, people living in Eigg and the surrounding small isles are extremely isolated and lack access to services, therefore this three-day event not only provides access to music but also brings the community together.
As part of the event, music tuition was offered to 27 young people. Each young person was able to choose three instruments and was given ten lessons with them. The participants were also given the opportunity to take part in art, shinty, Gaelic singing and Gaelic games. In addition, the group ran an evening class in traditional music for adults in the community. Participants were given the opportunity to showcase what they had learnt by performing at a concert. The whole event culminated in a traditional ceilidh open to everyone in the community.
On top of the three-day event, Feis Eige has also introduced weekly traditional music lessons for the primary children of the Island. The sessions are delivered in school by local tutors. The group also trialled a mini-event aimed at under 12s. This proved highly successful with nine children attending from Eigg and an additional seven children from the neighbouring island of Muck. The group hope to build on the success of this event, as it not only provides the children with access to traditional music but also allows them to socialise with children from a neighbouring community.
The outcome
In total 176 people from Eigg and the surrounding areas attended the three-day music event and additional music lessons, ensuring that Gaelic music and culture is very much alive.
More information on the festival can be found on the Feis Eigg website here.