A sell-out concert is being held in Drumnadrochit today (Saturday 14th November) in memory of the much-loved Gaelic singer Maggie Macdonald.
Maggie’s daughter Shona, who is trekking the Great Wall of China over nine days next April in support of Highland Hospice, is paying tribute to her mum on the 10th anniversary year of her passing with ‘A Concert for Maggie.’
Shona, who runs Hearach Memorials, taking over from her dad John Hearach who has now retired, explains, “Since mum passed away in 2016, I’ve done various fundraisers in her memory, including running the New York Marathon. It has always been on my mind to do a concert, and now, 10 years later, it feels like a good time. Mum’s birthday would have been on 17th November, so holding this on the 14th marks that too. The concert will be held in the newly renovated Bairbleg Hall in Drumnadrochit between 2-4pm which is also fitting as mum used to teach in the local school and we are very much a part of the community. I honestly couldn’t get over how quickly the tickets sold, we could have filled the hall twice over!”
There is a range of musical talent performing at the concert, including Arthur Cormack, Ingrid Henderson, Mary Ann Kennedy, Iain MacFarlane, Bruce MacGregor, Wilma Kennedy, Stuart MacKintosh, Eadarainn Gaelic Choir and members of the City of Inverness Youth Pipe Band.
Shona said, “Mary-Anne Kennedy and mum were cousins, and they formed the Gaelic supergroup Cliar along with Arthur, Ingrid, Bruce and others – kind of like the Gaelic ABBA! It’s wonderful to have them all involved on Saturday. Special mention to Ingrid who is the Musical Director of the concert, it’s very much been her baby and she is keeping me right! Thanks also to Fiona Dalgetty from Feis Rois who was amazing at bouncing ideas backwards and forwards.”
Cliar recorded four albums, winning the Album of the Year title for their first release at the Scots Trad Music Awards in 2003, and appeared at festivals and on radio and television at home and abroad. Many of the songs the band performed were sourced from Maggie’s mother and grandfather and being able to delve into the history behind these songs gave their material added depth.
Maggie was also well known as a National Mod Gold Medalist, for her part in re-forming the award-winning Inverness Gaelic Choir and for performing and recording two albums with the family project, the Campbells of Greepe.
As well as singing she was keenly involved in the music teaching organization Feis Rois, teaching Gaelic singing, serving on the board and mentoring teachers who followed in her footsteps.
Shona explained, “Grief is a weird thing, and these ten years have, in many ways, passed so quickly. I’ve found it difficult to listen to recordings of mum’s voice until recently. But I know she’ll be there in spirit with us at the concert, with the room full of people who thought so highly of her. She’ll also be very much with me when I go home to put my jammies on and pour a gin afterwards!”
On top of concert sales, Shona has, incredibly, raised over £2,500 with a lucky squares competition to win a Christmas cake. The cake was beautifully created by Allan Campbell and the squares are being run by “fundraising legend” Seonag Anderson.
Highland Hospice fundraiser Emma Nicol commented, “Shona is an absolute inspiration, and we are so grateful to her for her phenomenal fundraising towards the Great Wall of China Trek – she has raised over £4,300 to date. The concert is going to be such a lovely afternoon, and a fitting tribute to such a special lady, her mum Maggie. As for the Christmas cake, we are blown away by its success – it is honestly unique to see a cake raise such a high figure – again this is testament to how well-loved Maggie, Shona and their friends are. I love that Shona has pledged to dress up as a Christmas cake herself when she is cycling on an exercise bike and fundraising at Tesco on Friday!”
“Thank you so much Shona, you are really doing your mum and Highland Hospice proud.”
To donate to Shona’s fundraising efforts, please visit here:
