For the last few years, the Scottish International Storytelling Festival has generously included St Conan’s as a venue in their “Go-Local” programme, which runs alongside the main Festival based in Edinburgh. This year the Festival title is “Lights of the North”. One of our great supporters and volunteers, Kathleen Hannigan, liaises with the Festival each year and arranges the St Conan’s Go-Local event.
This year we were delighted to welcome two young Storytellers, Ailsa Dixon and Neil Sutcliffe, who shone a light on the use of Scots words. Though only a small percentage of the population can speak Scots fluently, many words continue to be commonly used. The audience were invited to offer their favourite Scots words. “Goonie”, “stramash” and “dreich” were volunteered.
Ailsa and Neil went on to tell stories in Scots partly accompanied by music and song. Ailsa, as can be heard in the very short clip below, has a lovely voice and Neil is great on the accordion. The vocal, storytelling and musical talent of both, brought interest, entertainment and cheer to an appreciative audience on a dreich (such a good Scots word) October afternoon.
Afterwards, all enjoyed a cream tea before braving the elements once more.
