Celtic Media Festival to return to Western Isles
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar today (23 April) welcomed the news that the 2011 Celtic Media Festival will be held in the Western Isles.
Following a successful bid by the Comhairle to host the Festival in 2011, the announcement was made on the closing day of this year’s Festival in Newry, Northern Ireland.
The Celtic Media Festival exists to promote the cultures and languages of the Celtic countries in film, on television, radio and new media. The first Festival, which was established by Michael Russell, currently Minister for Education in the Scottish Government, took place in Uist in 1980 and has grown enormously in size, influence and importance and is now a high profile, multi-media international event.
The 2011 Festival will take place from the 13th to the 15th April 2011, and will be the first time in thirty years that the Festival returns to its roots. Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Angus Campbell, said: ‘I am delighted that the Celtic Media Festival is returning to the Western Isles in 2011 and it will bring many economic, linguistic and cultural benefits. 2011 is already gearing up to be a culturally rich year for the Western Isles with the return of the Chessmen in April 2011 and the Royal National Mod in October 2011. The Festival will raise the profile of Gaelic in the Western Isles and showcase the facilities, venues and broadcasting infrastructure available in the Islands. In 2011 the Comhairle will support Scotland’s Islands 2011/12 and the Celtic Media Festival will be one of the key events which will showcase our island culture.’
Jude MacLaverty, Producer of the Celtic Media Festival commented: ‘We are delighted to be taking the 32nd Festival ‘home’ to the Western Isles. The event, which has grown substantially over the years, now offers opportunities to media students alongside awarding and showcasing the best in production from the Celtic nations. We were very impressed by all the new and growing facilities the Western Isles has to offer alongside the beautiful scenery, history and culture. I have no doubt our delegates will love their trip to Stornoway in the spring of 2011.’
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