Use: Immediate                                                                             Issue Date: Monday 7 March 2005

A group of young performers representing the Royal National Mod are to visit Cork this month to take part in the European Capital of Culture 2005 celebrations in the city.

The group, who perform under the name of "Fionnar", features singers and musicians from Glasgow, Argyll, Fort William, Oban, Ullapool and Dingwall and is led by Fiona Mackenzie, Gaelic Song Fellowship Officer with The Highland Council.

"Fionnar" will be in Cork for four days and will be taking part in Celtfest 2005 which takes place at the University College Cork from 14 to 18 March. The trip is being supported by Iomairt Cholm Cille and the event will also feature groups from a number of Celtic nations including Galicia, Brittany and Wales.

Murdo Morrison, Promotion Manager for the Royal National Mod will also be attending the event and is confident that the group will prove to be superb ambassadors for the Mod and for Scotland.

Mr Morrison said "Groups such as Fionnar represent the future of the Gaelic language and Scottish traditional music. All the members are either fluent in, or are learning Gaelic and all have a wide range of musical skills including fiddle, accordion, Gaelic song, piping and clarsach. All the girls are regular participants on the Provincial Mod circuit or at the Royal National Mod and many have been successful over the years. We are all looking forward very much to the trip which I am sure will be an enjoyable one and which will help to strengthen the links between Scotland and Ireland."

Chairman of The Highland Council’s Education Culture and Sport Committee, Andy Anderson said: "I’m proud to see talented young people from the Highlands taking pride in the language and culture especially when they are informal ambassadors of our area whilst they are performing alongside representatives from other Celtic nations"

In addition to their involvement in Celtfest, the group will also be taking part in the celebrations to mark St. Patrick’s Day and will be staying in Ballyvourney, County Cork in the Irish Gaeltacht.

ENDS

Celtfest is now in its seventh year and will take place in Áras na MacLéinn (The Student Centre) at University College which has on average 11000 students passing through its doors daily.

Date Last updated : 09/03/05