This year Dùthchas will take place over two weeks, from Saturday 7th - Friday 20th September. With over 25 events, we will celebrate the heritage of Galson Estate with a range from events, with something for everyone! Whether you enjoy learning about a community's history or listening to local musicians, whether you're a foodie or keen to learn some local Gaelic phrases, Dùthchas has an event for you.
This year Dùthchas, which is a Gaelic word to describe a place, land or country one was born in/feels akin to or a custom which has been passed down through generations, will feature events including guided historical walks through Galson and Borve, daily Gaelic classes, ceilidhs, films, poetry workshops, discussions with authors, cookery demos and more. The festival, which first took place in 2018, aims to highlight the heritage of the area, bringing awareness to local traditions and cultures, whilst also proving to be a great opportunity for visitors to learn about Galson.
2024 programme
We have a varied programme this year so hopefully there is something for you!
The majority of events require booking, even if they are free, due to limited numbers due to venue capacity.
You can soon book through the links below as you peruse the programme at your leisure, or you can head straight to our booking site which will go live later today.
Saturday 7th September
CnaG @ 40 Family Ceilidh, in partnership with Blas Festival / Music from Jane Hepburn Macmillan / Clan MacQuarrie Community Centre / 5.30 - 8pm / With a buffet by OnBoard Hebrides / Free
Music Session / Barvas & Brue Community Centre / Bring an instrument or head along to listen, everyone welcome / Free, donations welcome. No booking required.
Monday 9th September
Gaelic classes / Comunn Eachdraidh Nis / 11.30am - 12pm / Learn some Gaelic phrases with Donna / All welcome / Free, donations welcome / No booking required.
Afternoon film - Feasgar le Fiolmaichean / Comunn Eachdraidh Nis / 2pm / Suggested donation of £2 /A Gaelic film featuring local archive footage from the last 20 years
Tuesday 10th September
Gaelic classes / Comunn Eachdraidh Nis / 11.30am - 12pm / Learn some Gaelic phrases with Donna / All welcome / Free, donations welcome / No booking required.
Walk & Talk / Meet at UOG Business Centre car park / 2pm / A walk through Galson with Roddy Martin and Frank Rennie to look at the history and natural environment of the village.
Talk with Joni Buchanan / UOG Business Centre / 7-9pm /
Join author and Uig native Joni Buchanan for an opportunity to hear about her latest book 'Women of the Hebrides' | 'Ban-eileanaich Innse Gall': Stories of Strength and Courage, which showcases Hebridean women's stories - the memories, achievements and challenges of Hebridean women, from Ness to Barra, in their own words / Donations welcome.
Wednesday 11th September
Gaelic classes / Comunn Eachdraidh Nis / 11.30am - 12pm / Learn some Gaelic phrases with Donna/ Free, donations welcome / No booking required.
Ceòl sa chafaidh / Comunn Eachdraidh Nis / 1pm / £20/ Enjoy a lunch while you listen to the voice and musical talent of Robert John MacInnes. *Please note the time change - now a 1pm start*
Tasting demo / Clan MacQuarrie Community Centre / 7pm / £18 / "The Niseach Chef At Boiling Point: A tasting demonstration created with brains and brawn, a wanda about fish and pios math Duff" The Niseach Chef - Allan MacRtichie will show you simple dishes that are cooked with the same method, that can easily be prepared at home, along with his usual storytelling and flair!
Thursday 12th September
Gaelic classes / Comunn Eachdraidh Nis / 11.30am - 12pm / Learn some Gaelic phrases with Donna / All welcome/ Free, donations welcome / No booking required
Tweed workshop / UOG Business Centre / 10am-12.30 / 1.30 - 4pm / £40 / Learn to make a professional standard, 20cm Drum, tweed lampshade. Choose your tweed from a selection of Adabrock Weaving Company’s Contemporary Hebridean Tweed.
Talk - Làithean m’òige anns a’ Phort / Comunn Eachdraidh Nis / 2pm / Join us for an afternoon of photo's and memories in Port with local man Aonghas a' Ghaisein. This event will be in Gaelic.
Friday 13th September
Gaelic classes / Comunn Eachdraidh Nis / 11.30am - 12pm / Learn some Gaelic phrases with Donna / All welcome / Free, donations welcome / No booking required.
Walk & Talk / Meet at High Borve bus stop / 2pm / A walk through Melbost with Roddy Martin and Frank Rennie to look at the history and natural environment of the village.
Saturday 14th September
Talk with Frank Rennie / Comunn Eachdraidh Nis / 7-8.30pm / Join local author Frank Rennie as he discusses his latest book, Among the Layers of The Land as well as hearing about his previous work / Donations welcome.
Monday 16th September
Gaelic classes / Comunn Eachdraidh Nis / 11.30am - 12pm / Learn some Gaelic phrases with Donna / All welcome / Free, donations welcome / No booking required.
Film night - Oidhche le Fiolmaichean / Comunn Eachdraidh Nis / 7-9pm / Suggested donation of £2 / A Gaelic film featuring local footage from the last 40 years
Tuesday 17th September
Gaelic classes / Comunn Eachdraidh Nis / 11.30am - 12pm / Learn some Gaelic phrases with Donna / All welcome/ Free, donations welcome / No booking required.
Poetry workshop / UOG Business Centre / 10am - 12.30pm / Join us for a Land & Language poetry workshop led by poet and researcher Helena Fornells Nadal. The workshop will explore individual and collective experiences of land, place, social and natural environment through creative expression. Helena will invite participants to contribute fragments of the poems they develop during the workshop to a collaborative poetry sequence she is writing as part of an interdisciplinary PhD. This workshop is part of the research project ‘Changing Experiences of Land on the Isle of Lewis’, led by researchers from the James Hutton Institute in collaboration with PhD researcher Helena Fornells Nadal from the University of Glasgow. More information about the research project will be provided to participants before the start of the workshop. / Donations welcome.
Wednesday 18th September
Gaelic classes / Comunn Eachdraidh Nis / 11.30am - 12pm / Learn some Gaelic phrases with Donna / All welcome / Free, donations welcome / No booking required.
Ceòl sa chafaidh / Comunn Eachdraidh Nis / 1pm / £20 / Enjoy a lunch while you listen to music from DB & Murdigan/ Booking essential. *Please note the time change - now a 1pm start*
Thursday 19th September
Gaelic classes / Comunn Eachdraidh Nis / 11.30am - 12pm / Learn some Gaelic phrases with Donna / All welcome / Free, donations welcome / No booking required.
Cookery demo & tasting showcase / Back in Time for Dinner with The Niseach Chef / Clan MacQuarrie Community Centre / £49 / Join Allan Macritchie, The Niseach Chef, for a cookery demo and tasting showcase featuring some Hebridean favourites!
Friday 20th September
Gaelic classes / Comunn Eachdraidh Nis / 11.30am - 12pm / Learn some Gaelic phrases with Donna / All welcome / Free, donations welcome / No booking required.
Community Land Scotland talk / Clan MacQuarrie Community Centre / 7-9pm / Join Brian Wilson & Community Land Scotland for 'Why Land Reform Matters: The power of people and place', the next instalment of the Simon Fraser Memorial series. Joining will be Maggie Mackay to reflect on Simon's influence on her. / Donations welcome
Gaelic Service / Comunn Eachdraidh Nis / 7.30-9pm / Join Rev Roddy John Campbell for a Gaelic service, all welcome / Donations to Bethesda welcome
Comunn Eachdraidh Nis is also running an exhibition throughout Dùthchas, called "Is e an duine an t-aodach!", displaying clothing and uniforms donated to Comunn Eachdraidh Nis over the years. The exhibition will be open Monday - Friday, from 10am - 4.30pm.
There will be services at St Moluag’s Church throughout - please check the noticeboard at the church for further information
2024 partners
Every year Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn partners with organisations and groups within the community to highlight events and workshops that are already running with additional talks and workshops added that further emphasise the wealth of heritage Galson Estate is home to.
We are grateful to all our 2024 partners for working with us to produce such an interesting festival programme this year and thankful to those who will be sharing their wealth of knowledge with our audiences throughout the festival.
