Congratulations to Kilmuir Hall who has been nominated in Venue of the Year Award in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2025. Vote now!. It’s going to be another great night at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards on Saturday 6th December in Aberdeen Music Hall. Why not join us for a brilliant night of music and awards. Buy a ticket here.
We asked Eilidh of Kilmuir Hall the following questions.
Tell us about yourself
Talla Chille Mhoire – aig cridhe na coimhearsnachd. Our village hall is hub of activity, home to yoga classes, soup and pudding fundraisers, film nights, book festivals, drama performances, and after school clubs – as well as being a natural home for traditional music ever since its days as a Highland Home Industries Factory where working and waulking songs as well as evening cèilidhs would have been part of everyday life. As part of her role, Urras Chille Mhoire's Gaelic Development Officer, has worked to celebrate this in our event programming.
Why are you involved in Scottish music?
It's hard to imagine why we wouldn't be involved in Scottish music. Music, and Gaelic song and psalm signing in particular, are part of the fabric of our community, and it's almost impossible to imagine it not being part of our cultural offering to the wider community. Where our community is changing, with fewer permanent residents and second homes on the rise, it's a hugely significant part of communicating with people the importance of our culture and our language.
Any particular career highlights?
We have in 2025 so far had 22 live music gigs! Highlights have included a showcase of Skye's piping and Highland dancing talent with the Skye Youth Pipe Band and Dannsairean an Eilein Sgitheanaich and Kilmuir Historical Society weaving in elements of our local piping history, to a Gael-Rave with MAL and Rònan White, to a night of classical compositions with a traditional twist inspired by our Highland landscape with Riccardo Pes, and the finale of our Book Festival Celebrating Scotland's Languages which encompassed a celebration of International Women's Day with a stellar line-up of Skye women, Eilidh MacKenzie, Ceitidh Douglas, Kathleen MacDonald, and MairidhAnne MacKenzie, playing for an old-fashioned Kilmuir Hall hò-rò gheallaidh, and Gaelic song, as well poetry in Scots, Gaelic and English.
While not a 'performance', we have been so buoyed by the success of community project, Còmhla mar Choimhearsnachd, established in partnership with members of the community and local churches, where Gaelic Psalm singing has been somewhat safeguarded. For some, it is an opportunity for worship, for others a celebration of tradition and language, and for many, all of the above. At a time where Gaelic-speaking communities can feel such a sense of loss, it's so special to be marking and passing on this tradition.
What are your plans for the future?
It's especially encouraging to have young musicians getting in touch to arrange gigs in the hall. We want the next generation in our community to have the same exposure to Gàidhlig a' chidsin and rich and varied musical performances as those who have gone before them, and we want to continue to extend a traditional Highland welcome to musicians, singers, bards and storytellers from our own patch, other parts of Skye, and all over the world. In many ways, more of the same!
Kilmuir Hall Social Media
Website: https://www.kilmuircommunitytrust.co.uk/
Facebook: @kilmuirhall
Instagram: @kilmuirhall
YouTube:
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The 2025 MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards are on the 6th December 2025 in Aberdeen Music Hall! You will be able to watch it live in person (buy a ticket here). Watch it live in the UK at 9pm (GMT) on BBC ALBA and and around the world here. Hosted by Scottish personalities Alistair Heather and Mary Ann Kennedy, the night in the Granite City will also welcome live performances from some of the brightest lights on the thriving trad scene today including beloved singer Hannah Rarity, UK folk legends The Poozies, trad pop band Mec Lir and BBC Radio scotland Young Traditional Musician and Scots Performer o the Year Ellie Beaton and many more!
If you would like to support Hands Up for Trad in their work with Scottish trad music and musicians why not become a friend of Hands Up for Trad. In addition to our high profile events like the Scots Trad Music Awards, we also deliver a less well known, education programme for young people from 8yrs right through to young adults at the start of their careers. Read more here.