Fèis an Eilein/The Skye Festival, Skye’s longest running festival is back for its 16th appearance on the summer festivals’ circuit this July. Billed as  “the biggest small festival in Scotland”  it means that, once again, Skye is the place to spend the last fortnight of July in this year that Scotland celebrates Highland Culture.

And culture, in abundance and quality, is exactly what you’ll find in a programme of events as diverse as ever. From theatre, traditional music, world music, dance, film and visual arts to comedy, family events, workshops and even exercise classes there really is an event to suit all tastes, all ages.

This year’s highlights are sure to include the eagerly anticipated first collaboration between highly acclaimed Gaelic singers Cathie Ann MacPhee (Barra) and Kathleen MacInnes (South Uist) on Tuesday 17th July and the closing night’s events led by a concert from Harem Scarem followed by the Fèis ”Survivor’s Ceilidh”.

The Aos Dana Book Festival provides the literary limb to the Fèis and promises to build on the fine reputation it has earned since its debut in 2005. This year the Aos Dana Book Festival welcomes Skye-based writer Roger Hutchinson as well as journalist and broadcaster Lesley Riddoch, Highland Clearances expert David Craig and novelist Anne MacLeod.

Add to this mix the ceilidhs and the opportunity to hear Gaelic used in its natural environment (and even learn a few words at our taster sessions) and you really do have a unique event.

And, oh, did we mention the location? Only one of the most stunning island locations on offer... scenic Sleat in South Skye. The Fèis is based at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Scotland’s Gaelic College, near Armadale and uses several satellite venues including the nearby historic Armadale Castle.

The Skye Festival runs from 13 - 27 July in several venues, and is based at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, near Armadale in south Skye.

Praise for Fèis an Eilein/The Skye Festival 2006: “Excellent as always. Really well organised – great venue – excellent events. Thanks!!”   “I would come a long way for a concert like this.”   “Excellent venue. Great to get a mixture of young and old talent.”   “Sàr mhath!”
ENDS

Duncan MacInnes 01471 844 207

NOTES TO EDITORSFèis an Eilein ~ the Skye Festival from 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
Fèis an Eilein ~ the Skye Festival from Friday 13 July to Friday 27 July 2007

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.