There will be a rare opportunity on Lewis and Harris for locals and visitors alike to hear about the wonderful hymns, psalms and spiritual songs of the Gaelic-speaking Hebrides and to hear live singing from the tradition.
Dr Frances Wilkins, senior lecturer in Ethnomusicology at the Elphinstone Institute, University of Aberdeen, will be on the islands from 18-20 June 2025. Dr Wilkins will be giving a series of public talks about the research she has been carrying out since 2018, documenting the spiritual song traditions of the Hebrides. The events are free of charge and she will be joined by singers from the local area including contributors to the project, who will bring the talks to life with their singing.
The dates for the talks are as follows:
Wednesday 18th June - An Taigh Cèilidh, Stornoway. 4:00pm (talk with singing)
Thursday 19th June - Comunn Eachdraidh Nis, North Dell, Ness. 11:15 (talk) and 19:15 (presentation and singing)
Friday 20th June - Carloway Hall, Carloway. 12:30pm (lunchtime talk with singing)
Friday 20th June - Leverburgh Community Association, Leverburgh, Harris. 19:30 (talk with singing)
The talks coincide with the touring exhibition, ‘Seinn Spioradail: Sacred Soundscapes of the Highlands and Islands’, which Dr Wilkins co-curated with Ronan Martin, a heritage designer from the Isle of Skye. Seinn Spioradail is currently on display at Comunn Eachdraidh Nis until the end of October 2025. In the exhibition, visitors can learn more about sacred song traditions of the region and explore sound recordings, film, objects, and a digital archive, soundmap and interactive virtual tour.
Dr Wilkins says, “I am delighted to be returning to Lewis and Harris to present the research I have been doing on the sacred song traditions of the Islands. The psalms, hymns and spiritual songs are such an integral part of the heritage of the Hebrides and it has been a privilege to have the opportunity to learn more about the tradition.”
She continues, ‘It will be wonderful to see some of the contributors to the project again and hear their singing. I hope that the events will be of interest to both residents of the Islands and visitors.’
Dr Wilkins will be accompanied by Mary Stratman, a research assistant on the project, and there will be opportunities to ask questions at each of the events.
Also present at some of the events will be photographer Oliver Wilkins who will be taking portrait photographs using the historic tin-type photographic method. He will be running a free pop-up studio at Comunn Eachdraidh Nis during the afternoon of Thursday 19th June where anyone can come along and have their photographs made using this historic method.