“The Glen of Muses”
Gleann na Ceolraidh
a celebration of the life and work of
Margaret Fay Shaw
'Folksongs and Folklore of South Uist' was published in 1955 and is now in its third edition. Margaret married the Gaelic scholar John Lorne Campbell, who was then working in Barra and soon bought the Isle of Canna, where they went to live in 1938 and remained ever since. Dr Campbell died in 1996 and is buried in Canna. Margaret Fay Shaw died in 2003, aged 101 and is buried at Hallan in South Uist beside the Macrae sisters.
This conference is a celebration of that happy collaboration between Margaret Fay
Shaw, her husband and her many friends in South Uist. It is held around Loch Boisdale
where most of the songs and photographs originated. It includes a visit to her grave
at Hallan and a walk with local guides around North Glendale -
The three day event includes lectures by friends and acquaintances of Miss Shaw, walks, demonstrations and film shows (including her own classic film). An exhibition of Margaret Fay Shaw's photographs is held in Kildonan Museum, where a digitised copy of her archive will be officially lodged by Hugh Cheape, representing the National Trust for Scotland who now own and manage the Isle of Canna and the Campbell legacy.
The event also sees the launch of a new CD of songs from Margaret Fay Shaw's book 'Folksongs and Folklore of South Uist' recorded (according to her wishes) and performed live by her friends Mod Gold medalist Paul McCallum from North Glendale, and the distinguished cellist Vivien Mackie.
Marg Fay Shaw -
Click below to see page from her notebook
Margaret Fay Shaw was born in Pennsylvania USA in 1903. She spent 1921 at school in Helensburgh where she encountered the folk song collector Marjorie Kennedy Fraser. At 21 years of age Margaret first visited the Hebrides where she heard unaccompanied Gaelic song for the first time. She returned to travel the length of the Outer Hebrides two years later.
In 1928 Margaret went to live with Mairi and Peigi Macrae in North Glendale, South Uist where she wrote down words and music of many songs known by the sisters and their neighbours. Margaret also took a store of now classic still photographs and cine film portraying the way of life in Uist in the 1930s.
BACKGROUND
