The Festival
An Dà Shealladh Second Sight
Children in Halloween costume, South Uist c. 1933: Margaret Fay Shaw
This year, as the clocks go back and the nights draw in, Faclan: The Hebridean Book Festival explores the phenomenon and tradition of Second Sight and the supernatural.
Featuring storytellers, artists, writers, poets, historians, tradition-bearers, theatre, film and music; topics and events include Buisneachd (witchcraft; enchantment; sorcery), Haunted Wings (Iain Morrison and Daibhidh Martin), classic M.R. James’ Ghost Stories, the dark spirit uisge-beatha, religious conversion, silent film with live piano accompaniment and – on super(natural) Saturday – premonition, mystery and the Gaelic Otherworld explored and channeled by Dr Margaret Bennett, Sheila Stewart, Dr John Macinnes, Norman Maclean, Calum Ferguson and Dolina Maclennan. The finale is Oidhche Shamhna a late night Halloween Masked Ball.
We are delighted that former Chancellor Alistair Darling will headline on Friday night introducing his compelling book Back from the Brink; a major publishing event that documents 1,000 days of the world financial crisis. To many of us, the workings of the financial markets can seem otherworldly and mysterious. This will show it was frightening too.
The schools programme – Sradagan: Sparks – will introduce children, to authors of the mysterious and uncanny. Sessions will be held at an Lanntair and school libraries to encourage imaginative development and creative writing. There will be a focus on oral family history (strange or ghostly stories that have been experienced or handed-down, and shared aloud with peers in groups or classes).
Roddy Murray
Director
