SPNS SPRING CONFERENCE 2022 – 21st May 2022 – Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Isle of Skye

Christine Primrose

Rugadh agus thogadh Christine Primrose ann an Càrlabhagh ann an Eilean Leòdhais far an robh a’ Ghàidhlig mar chànan làitheil, agus tha i air a bhith a’ seinn bho ’s cuimhne leatha. Tha an t-seinn aice air a toirt air feadh an t-saoghail, gu h-àraid ann an Ameireaga, Canada, Astràilia, Èirinn agus pàirtean dhan an Roinn Eòrpa. Tha i a’ teagasg òrain Ghàidhlig air a’ chùrsa BA (le Urram) Gàidhlig agus Ceòl Traidiseanta aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, a’ Cholaiste Ghàidhlig anns an Eilean Sgitheanach agus cuideachd air na cùrsaichean goirid aig a’ Cholaiste. Tha i air iomadh duais a thogail airson a cuid seinn, nam measg Seinneadair Gàidhlig na Bliadhna aig na ‘Trad Awards’ ann an 2009. Ann an 2017 chaidh àite a thoirt dhith ann an Talla Deagh-chliù Ceòl Traidiseanta na h-Alba agus chaidh urram MBE a bhuileachadh oirre airson an t-seirbheis a thug i, agus a tha i a’ toirt fhathast, do cheòl Gàidhlig, Cultar agus Fòghlam ann an Alba agus gu h-eadar-nàiseanta. 

Christine Primrose was born and brought up in Carloway in a Gaelic speaking community on the Island of Lewis and has been singing for as long as she can remember. She has toured in America, Canada, Australia, Ireland and Europe. She is Head of Gaelic Song at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Scotland’s Gaelic College on the Isle of Skye, where she teaches short courses and full-time classes on the BA (Hons) Gaelic & Traditional Music Programme. She has won many awards for her singing, amongst them ‘Gaelic Singer of the Year’ at the Traditional Music Awards in 2009. She was inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame in 2017 and was awarded an MBE in the Queens Birthday Honours List for “Services to Gaelic Music, Culture and to Education in Scotland and internationally”. 

Peigi Nic a’ Phiocair

’S e oileanach Maighstireachd aig Oilthigh Ghlaschu a th’ annam an-dràsta far a bheil mi a’ dèanamh MLitt Modernities a’ rannsachadh litreachais, teòiridh is cultar an 20mh linn an dèidh ceum a’ choisinn ann an Gàidhlig agus Litreachas na Beurla. ’S ann às an Eilean Sgitheanach a tha mi le ceangalan teaghlaich ri Uibhist a Tuath, dà àite far a bheil mi air òrain a rannsachadh airson pròiseact Fuaran Fèisean nan Gàidheal. Taobh a-muigh na h-oilthighe bidh mi a’ teagasg Gàidhlig ann am bun-sgoiltean tro òrain agus cluich, agus tha mi nam bhall air bòrd Comhairle nan Leabhraichean. 

I am a Masters student at the University of Glasgow studying an MLitt Modernities in the literature, theory and culture of the 20th century after completing an undergraduate degree in Gaelic and English Literature. I’m from Skye with family connections to North Uist, both places I researched Gaelic songs in for the Fuaran project run by Fèisean nan Gàidheal. Outwith my studies I teach Gaelic in primary schools through the medium of song and play, and am a board member of the Gaelic Books Council. 
You can hear Peigi singing Òran Dhòmhnaill Mhogastad here.

Alasdair C. Whyte

Alasdair will be singing some of his favourite songs and discussing his new book, Maim-slè, in an event at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig the evening before the conference at 8pm. Tickets can be purchased here.