15 December 2025 - Christmas Advent
Song: A’ Bhirlinn Bharrach
15th December 2025 – A’ Bhirlinn Bharrach
This song takes me back to 1987 and to the National Mod in Stirling. I was obviously a very young competitor!
This is a song in praising the Clan MacNeil’s boat, which was called ‘An Cuiltheann’. She sailed to the West Indies and back to Barra.
Mairi MacMIllan
Màiri was born and brought up on the island of South Uist in the Western Isles of Scotland. A native fluent Gàidhlig speaker, Màiri has been singing Gàidhlig songs from an early age. Màiri was awarded the Gold Medal for Gàidhlig traditional singing at the 2007 Mod in Lochaber. Her first solo album ‘Gu Deas‘, produced by Mhairi Hall was released in July 2021. In 2023 she released three songs commemorating the 100 year anniversary of the mass emigration of people from the Western Isles to Canada. Màiri composed the lyrics and melody of one of the songs – Gu Fada Dhan Iar.
Mod Gold Medal winner Màiri MacMillan is a South Uist native and celebrated Gaelic singer, weaving the Gaelic language into a stunningly contemporary sound. With airplay on BBC Alba and a nomination for Gaelic Singer of the Year, she delivers captivating performances that are both deeply rooted and boldly innovative.
