As part of Fèis an Eilein / The Skye Festival the Aos Dana Book Festival has gone from strength to strength since its inception in 2005. Held in tandem with the Fèis in July at venues around Sleat, South Skye it is set to build on its fine reputation for showcasing entertaining, engaging and orginal authors in this year when Scotland celebrates Highland Culture.

The five-day event begins with ‘Calum’s Road’ Roger Hutchinson's parable of heroic achievement on Raasay and ends with Alastair McIntosh's ‘Soil & Soul’ and ‘Love and Revolution’ an analysis of how the old ways in Lewis were threatened by global capitalism. These bookends encompass the diversities of Lesley Riddoch's reflections about the big cultural and demographic challenges facing the isles, Anne MacLeod's beautiful novel of love and war, spanning three generations of island families and David Craig's compelling story of Flo Campbell's eviction from the family's island home.

In keeping with the Fèis’ policy of promoting Gaelic, both Gaelic and English speaking audiences will enjoy Rody Gorman's translations of the lyrics of Bob Dylan and Country Blues singers, Myles Campbell's retrospective collection of poetry and Andrew Mitchell’s tribute to Iain Crichton Smith and Derick Thomson.

Aos Dana 2007 sees the return of the innovative 'reading ceilidh', led by Skye-based writer, Alastair Scott. This relaxed informal event includes contributions from invited writers and also gives members of the audience the opportunity to share excerpts either from original work or favourite poetry or prose.

Other highlights include the launch of Angus Peter Campbell’s new collection of Gaelic poetry, with Scots versions, and English-language translations.

Events will take place between the Somerled Rooms (Armadale Castle) and the Talla Mhòr (Sabhal Mòr Ostaig).

‘Aos Dana’ is part of the Skye Festival - music, theatre, visual arts, workshops, family events, sessions, ceilidhs and many other events.

ENDS

Duncan MacInnes 01471 844 207

Fèis an Eilein ~ the Skye Festival - Friday 13 July to Friday 27 July 2007

Venue: Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Scotland’s Gaelic College, and Armadale Castle, Isle of Skye

Information and Tickets from: 01471 844207, feis@cali.co.uk and www.skyefestival.com

Aos Dana Book Festival

Friday 13 July, 4:30 PM: ‘Calum’s Road' - Roger Hutchinson

Friday 13 July, 7:30 PM: ‘Encounters with Gaels’ - Lesley Riddoch

Saturday 14 July, 4:30 PM: ‘The Dark Ship’ - Anne MacLeod

Saturday 14 July, 7:30 PM: ‘The Unbroken Harp’ - David Craig

Sunday 15 July, 7:30 PM: Reading Ceilidh 'Gaelic is the Loving Tongue'

Monday 16 July, 4:30 PM: 'Sean agus Ur' - 'Old and New' - Myles Campbell and Andrew Mitchell

Monday 16 July, 7:30 PM: ‘Gaelic poems in the Scots Tongue’ - Angus Peter Campbell

Tuesday 17 July, 4:30 PM: ‘Soil & Soul' and 'Love and Revolution’ - Alastair McIntosh

Main Festival

Tuesday 17 July, 2:00 PM: 'The Life and Times of John Muir'

Tuesday 17 July, 7:30 PM: Cathie Anne MacPhee and the Kathleen MacInnes Band

Tuesday 17 July, 9:30 PM: 'Sheelanagig'

Wednesday 18 July, 8:00 PM: ‘Daimh’

Wednesday 18 July, 10:00 PM: The Puffer Club

Thursday 19 July, 8:00 PM: ‘Nuala Kennedy’

Friday 20 July, 7:30 PM: 'Rachel Unthank and the Winterset'

Friday 20 July, 9:30 PM: ‘The Fred Morrison Band’ and ‘Injuns’

Saturday 21 July, 10:00 AM: An Tuireann Open Day

Saturday 21 July, 2:00 PM: 'Millions' (u)

Saturday 21 July, 6:00 PM: ‘Buntata ‘s Sgadan’ Herring and Tattie Supper

Saturday 21 July, 8:00 PM: ‘Meantime’

Saturday 21 July, 10:00 PM: ‘Box Club’ and ‘Là Luaine’

Sunday 22 July, 7:30 PM: MacDara Theatre

Sunday 22 July, 9:00 PM: 'Festival' (18)

Monday 23 July, 7:30 PM: Christine Primrose and Friends

Tuesday 24 July, 11:00 AM: Family Day

Tuesday 24 July, 8:00 PM: 'Seikou Susso' Band

Wednesday 25 July, 7:30 PM: 'Shepheard, Spiers and Watts' / 'Vent du Nord'

Wednesday 25 July, 10:00 PM: The Puffer Club

Thursday 26 July, 7:30 PM: Comedy Club - The Stand

Thursday 26 July, 9:30 PM: Fergie MacDonald Band

Friday 27 July, 7:30 PM: ‘Harem Scarem'

Friday 27 July, 9:30 PM: 'Survivors' Ceilidh'

Also Daily workshops for adults and children in singing, drama, yoga, Gaelic and dance.

Daily Charity Cafés with Music session.