Caithream na Cruinne

Caithream na Cruinne: Gaelic Songwriting Project

Exploring themes of Nature, Land, Heritage & the Environment

A fully-funded six-month mentoring programme for young Gaelic speakers (aged 14–25) to develop, create and record original Gaelic songs exploring themes of nature, land, heritage and the environment.

Delivered by acclaimed Gaelic singers and composers Gillebrìde MacMillan and Mary Ann Kennedy, Caithream na Cruinne is a unique opportunity to work closely with experienced mentors to develop, record and perform original material. Designed to support and celebrate contemporary Gaelic songwriting, the programme offers creative guidance, industry insight, and a supportive space for participants to grow in confidence as artists.

The programme includes:

  • Online 1:1 mentoring with Mary Ann Kennedy and Gillebrìde MacMillan
  • In-person development and sharing days in Dingwall
  • A professional recording session with a sound engineer
  • Opportunities to meet, connect and collaborate with other Gaelic singers and musicians
  • Creative guidance and industry insight
  • A supportive environment to develop confidence as an artist
  • Performance opportunities

How to Apply

To apply, please email sophie.stephenson@feisrois.org with:

  • A short paragraph about yourself
  • Why you would like to take part in the project
  • What you hope to gain from the experience
  • Please also include examples of your creative work. This could include song lyrics, poetry, or audio/video recordings of performances.

This opportunity is open to Gaelic speakers and learners alike; however, applicants must be confident writing in Gaelic.

The first in-person mentoring day for the project will be on Saturday 5th September, 10am – 4pm, at Cultarlann Inbhir Nis (68 Academy St, Inverness, IV1 1LP).

Deadline for applications: 5pm, 31st August 2026

Mary Ann Kennedy

Mary Ann Kennedy is a Scottish Gael raised in the urban diaspora of Glasgow, with roots in Skye and Tiree. She grew up in the city’s multicultural Southside, where speaking a mother tongue other than English was the norm. Her mother’s family are well-known Gaelic tradition bearers, and she also trained as a classical musician at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Mary Ann began her broadcasting career with BBC News before returning to freelance work combining music, radio and television. She is co-director of the successful production company Watercolour Music in the Scottish West Highlands. Winner of Gaelic Singer of the Year at the 2019 Scottish Traditional Music Awards, she has performed on and produced over 50 albums throughout her career, including the solo albums An Dàn and Glaschu – Hometown Love Song. She is currently Musical Director of the award-winning Lochaber Gaelic Choir.

Gillebrìde MacMillan

Gillebrìde MacMillan has gained a reputation as one of the foremost contemporary Gaelic songwriters. He has composed over 35 songs and released two critically acclaimed albums of original material: Sèimh: State of Calm (2023) and Freumhan Falaichte: Hidden Roots (2018). Gillebrìde was also the driving force behind Òran Ùr, a project promoting new Gaelic songwriting. Originally from South Uist, he now lives in Glasgow, where he works at the University of Glasgow.

Caithream na Cruinne: Digital songbook

We’re delighted to be able to publish our new digital songbook, showcasing Gaelic songs written by young Caithream na Cruinne participants, inspired by the nature and the environment around them.

View the Digital Songbook here!

We recommend downloading this resource on a computer. If you are viewing it on a mobile device or phone, please note that to listen to the embedded audio files you need to:

  1. Click on the two arrows on the bottom right of the screen
  2. Zoom in by clicking the + sign on the bottom left
  3. Move the screen to show the play button (it’s at the top right of the page of each song).
  4. Click this button and wait a few seconds for the playback to start.

The collection features contemporary songs inspired by the hopes and concerns of young people about the natural environment and the impacts of the climate crisis.

The 7 young writers hail from across Scotland and participants all received mentoring from Mary Ann Kennedy and Ewen Henderson while writing and recording the songs.

Explore the songbook and you will find lyrics, sheet music and a recording for every song. We hope you enjoy learning and singing these songs, and perhaps they will inspire you to put pen to paper yourself!

“It was an incredible opportunity to work with somebody as talented as Ewen Henderson to write my Caithream na Cruinne song. It is vital that we raise our voices as young people, especially since the fate of the world’s climate is in our hands.”

Elissa Hunter-Dorans, project participant

Caithream na Cruinne was a collaborative project between Fèis Rois and NatureScot.

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