St Columba travels to Kilmartin

Touring St Columba is now on its third leg of travels in our region, having previously visited Campbeltown Museum and the Islay Gaelic Centre.

Touring St Columba was created by Culture, Heritage and Arts Assembly, Argyll and Isles (www.chartsargyllandisles.org/&source=gmail&ust=1710494675652000&usg=AOvVaw0CFHI3s-R90FHIrxvun7BS">CHARTS), supported by Argyll and Bute Council.

This bold partnership project between Argyll and Ireland was also made possible with joint support from Bòrd na Gàidhlig and Foras na Gaeilge linking up Gaelic speakers in Ireland and Scotland. The project to date has included workshops and events with opportunities for participation by Irish and Scots Gaelic artists and cultural practitioners.

On Saturday March 30, from 6.30pm until 8.30pm, CHARTS will host the exhibition’s opening evening with an  multilingual event in the museum, featuring visual arts from CHARTS Colmcille Awards 2020-22, a welcome and Kilmartin area lore and song with CHARTS gaelic culture officer Àdhamh Ó Broin, performances and talks from Gaelic tradition bearer James MacDonald Reid and music from harpist Aoibheann Devlin and guitarist Déaglán Ó Doibhlin.

Light refreshments will be provided.

This event is free and open to the public but, you need to register here first: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cuairt-chaluim-chille-mhartainn-st-columba-travels-to-kilmartin-tickets-851520389407?aff%3Doddtdtcreator&source=gmail&ust=1710494675652000&usg=AOvVaw2mJu3r-XYzgVeB2ln_HUzq">www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cuairt-chaluim-chille-mhartainn-st-columba-travels-to-kilmartin-tickets-851520389407?aff=oddtdtcreator

Visitors to the St Columba’s exhibition will not have access to the Kilmartin Museum’s Permanent Collection because it is still shut for winter until April 25.

This 12-month tour ends on June 9, the Feast Day of St Columba, on Iona.

CHARTS director Kathleen O’Neill said: "We are delighted to develop this partnership with the joint support of Bòrd na Gàidhlig and  Foras na Gaeilge and look forward to forging ever more links between Ireland and Argyll. The significance of Gaelic culture in Argyll and Bute cannot be underestimated, and we look forward to continued collaboration in the future.’’

The network’s Gaelic cultural officer Àdhamh Ó Broin added: "It will be splendid to share the heritage of Kilmartin Glen in the land to which it belongs. It shall also be a great pleasure to welcome our friends from Ireland on behalf of CHARTS on this latest cross-Straits of Moyle leg of the Touring St Columba exhibition. And all of this will happen in the marvellous new Kilmartin Museum building with stories and fun from James MacDonald Reid as MC.” 

Bòrd na Gàidhlig’s partnerships and development manager Brian Ó hEadhra has also commended CHARTS  for its work strengthening the bonds between Gaelic Ireland and Scotland.