A PROJECT which aims to inspire young Gaelic speakers to engage with Gaelic culture in their local communities has resulted in a free online resource of more than 100 Gaelic songs.
Fuaran is a heritage initiative established by Gaelic arts organisation Feisean nan Gaidheal. Sung by young Gaelic singers from across Scotland, the latest songs were researched and recorded during the pandemic.
The project aims to encourage a new generation of Gaelic speakers and singers to engage in the research and collection of Gaelic songs in their local area.
Over the last seven years, more than 50 young people aged 16-25 have taken part in research, training and song workshops, led by a host of leading Gaelic song and research experts.
Last year another 18 young Gaels joined Fuaran, and 12 have now recorded some of the songs they collected from communities across the country. The project participants first met online in May last year, taking part in online workshops and receiving one-to-one support from Gaelic singers via video calls.
Earlier this year, the singers were recorded in various locations across the country – from Lews Castle in Stornoway to the National Piping Centre in Glasgow. All recordings in the resource are accompanied by translations, background information and videos of the recording process.
Participants include Alice MacMillan, Calum Ross, Donald and Peigi Barker, Eoin Cumming, Evie Waddell, Fergus Munro, Finlay MacLennan, Peigi MacVicar, Rona Macleod, Rory Cormack and Sophie Macdonald.
Feisean nan Gaidheal development officer and project co-ordinator, Karen Oakley, said: “It’s with great delight that we can showcase the youngsters’ songs online.
“When the Fuaran participants first sung some of them for a live online concert as part of Blas Festival, it was very heart-warming to read the comments of audience members watching at home. Many wrote of the songs reminding them fondly of particular times or places and people in their lives.
“It shows how powerful and uplifting projects like this are to, not just the participants, but those with a keen interest in our Gaelic songs and culture.
“The songs feature on the newly developed Fuaran website that allows users to search for songs pertaining to a particular area of Scotland.
“We hope that it will be a great resource for people wanting to discover more about the people, places and stories and songs in their area and across Scotland.”
For more information about Fuaran, and to use the resource, visit www.feisean.org/fuaran
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