23rd Sept. Special Guest Celebrity

Mairi Macinnes

Mairi was born in Baghasdail A Tuath, a small township on the beautiful and remote Hebridean island of South Uist. Gaelic was spoken exclusively at the home she shared with six siblings and it was not until Mairi went to school that she learned English. Her love for Gaelic is instinctive and enduring; her desire to share the beauty of her mother tongue has been a theme throughout her career.

Her enjoyment of singing was similarly instinctive and began at a very young age. In 1982 she became one of the youngest winners of the prestigious Gold Medal at the Royal National Mod, Scotland’s premier festival for the celebration and advancement of Gaelic culture. This historic win occurred on her first attempt and was followed the next year with winning the Pan-Celtic Festival in Killarney, Ireland.

Prior to releasing her first album, Mairi recorded and performed with the legendary band Runrig. Her debut Causeway was released in 1989 to widespread acclaim. Her growing profile led to her being approached by Gaelic dance group Mouth Music and to tours in the United States and Canada. She recorded the EP Blue Door Green Sea with Mouth Music before choosing to return to her solor career.

Mairi’s most famous work is This Feeling Inside (Is Gadheal Mi). It was translated into both Gaelic and Welsh to be recorded with the Llangwm Male Voice Choir on their album Ysbyrd Y Gael. She performed with the choir and the BBC Welsh Philharmonic Orchestra in St David’s Hall Cardiff for a special St Valentine’s Day broadcast for BBC television and radio. It was recorded once more with the Glasgow Gaelic Choir for the Gaelic Women – Ar Canan’s Ar Ceol album. The song was named by Robbie Shepherd as his Song of the Year for BBC Radio Scotland’s Reel Blend.