Skerray ceilidh will celebrate Kitty Ann's life
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A CEILIDH is being held at Skerray next month to celebrate the life of the late Kitty Ann MacQueen and her unique link to Eilean nan Ron.
Kitty Ann was the last surviving native of the now uninhabited island off the north coast until she passed away at the age of 100 in February this year.
Local fiddler Karen Steven and a small group of volunteers are hosting the event at Skerray Village Hall on Friday, June 14. It is open to friends, family and the wider public and there will be a mix of singing, dancing and storytelling.
The gathering will raise money for village hall refurbishment and for the charity Save the Children – which Kitty Ann supported, and which fittingly has its centenary this year.
Business owners are being asked to consider offering sponsorship or raffle prizes.
Kitty Ann MacQueen (née Mackay) was Karen's great-aunt, known as Nan, and had been living in the village of Quidenham in Norfolk.
"Auntie Nan loved Gaelic music and song," Karen said. "This ceilidh will be a celebration of her life and an opportunity to share tunes, songs and dances from Highland culture with friends and family of Nan who were unable to attend her funeral service due to the long distance between Skerray and Quidenham where she spent her married life.
"She was a remarkable lady and we expect the village hall to be bursting at the seams on June 14.”
There will be Gaelic and Scots singers, a dance band led by Karen on fiddle, solo instrumental performances, storytelling and Tanya Horne's Highland dancers.
Karen says it will be an evening of sharing good tunes and conversation, while remembering and celebrating the life of Kitty Ann.
“Skerray Village Hall is in much need of refurbishment and proceeds from our ceilidh will be split evenly between the hall and Save the Children. Nan was a supporter of Save the Children over the years – indeed, the collection at her funeral service was in aid of Save the Children.
"This is an event for the community, hosted by the community, delivered by both professional and amateur enthusiasts of Scottish culture and tradition, coming together and sharing music and culture with an appreciative audience.
We would love if business owners in Caithness and Sutherland would consider supporting our event.
"We would love if business owners in Caithness and Sutherland would consider supporting our event by way of sponsorship and/or raffle donation. No amount is too small, to support Skerray Village Hall and Save the Children and to help us to celebrate the life of the last survivor of the now uninhabited Eilean nan Ron – our friend, our neighbour, our family member, Kitty Ann MacQueen."
Entry to the ceilidh is by donation on the evening and it starts at 7.30pm.
Karen, who grew up in Reay, now lives in Aberdeen and has recently been teaching fiddle to intermediate and advanced level fiddle students.
The population of Eilean nan Ron peaked at 73 in 1881, but the last islanders left in 1938.
Kitty Ann returned to Eilean nan Ron when she was 90 and featured in a TV documentary for BBC Alba.
