02/03/09

Billy's Songs for Lochaber

Billy McIsaac is delighted to announce the release of his first solo CD –
‘SONGS FOR LOCHABER’ on 20 March 2009, with all profits going once again to Lochaber Hydrotherapy. This has been a six-year project for Billy, having written ten tracks on the CD and recorded them with some of Scotland’s finest traditional musicians including Gary Innes, Skerryvore, Ingrid Henderson and the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band.

The initial reaction to the CD has been excellent.
‘It’s an album packed with soaring melodies, heartfelt lyrics and an abundance of  toe-tapping tunes.’(Stuart Taylor, Lochaber News.)

'A fantastic mix of instrumental and song in traditional and modern style including the hauntingly beautiful 'Lochaber'.  The CD is a great listen and tremendous companion in the car'. (Iain Ferguson, Editor, Lochaber Life.)  

‘If you like Scottish Music this CD is one not to be missed.’
(John Carstairs, Head of Music, Nevis Radio.)

‘This will be my last fund raising project for Lochaber Hydrotherapy as the pool is now officially opened. My hope is that ‘SONGS FOR LOCHABER’ will raise another several thousand pounds for the hydrotherapy pool to make it the best facility of its type in the UK.’
I would like to thank all the musicians who played on this CD donating their services free of charge along with many other people who have been involved with my various Lochaber Hydrotherapy fund raising projects over the last six years.’ (Billy McIsaac)

Billy McIsaac who featured in top Scottish pop band Slik with Midge Ure has successfully followed in his colleague’s footsteps by raising thousands of pounds for charity. He has now raised £45,500 for Lochaber Hydrotherapy. In addition March 2005 Billy contacted David Young of Wooden Spoon (a Rugby charity that raises funds for children’s charities) and instigated a process that led to a further £70,000 being given to Lochaber Hydrotherapy
This proved to be a catalyst in terms of the pool being built.

In 2002 Billy made his first contribution to Lochaber Hydrotherapy by climbing the Scottish Munros (284 mountain peaks over 3000 feet). This along with two dances held in Fort William featuring Billy’s band raised just over £2500.

In  2003 Billy set up his own record label (SFF Records) solely to raise money for Lochaber Hydrotherapy a charity based in Fort William (Scottish Charity No 025505) that has built a Hydrotherapy Pool benefiting over 2500 people in the Lochaber area. ‘Song for Shona’ was written by Billy in 2003 and shortly afterwards he met Mary Ann Kennedy who suggested approaching some of Scotland’s top traditional artists including Capercaillie, Phil Cunningham, Aly Bain, Eddi Reader, Donnie Munro, Dougie Maclean along with other top Scottish musicians and asked them to donate one of their already recorded tracks to a compilation CD – ‘Here’s Tae Us / A Celebration of Scottish Music’, that he planned to produce.

The CD has become Scotland’s biggest selling charity CD. In October 2004 Billy presented Lochaber Hydrotherapy with a cheque for £20,000
In April 2004 Billy McIsaac was approached by Douglas Ross to discuss the possibility of co-producing a film with his company Celtic Spirit, to raise more funds for Lochaber Hydrotherapy. A DVD – ‘Here’s Tae Lochaber’ featuring the voice of the late and great Magnus Magnusson, Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain, Duncan Chisholm and Donnie Munro was released March 2006 and raised £10,000.

23 March 2007 saw the release of another CD by Billy titled – ‘The West Highland Way Connection’ that features music(Skipinnish, Skerryvore, Gary Innes, Ingrid Henderson and many more) from each end of the West Highland Way that has raised £5000 so far along with a further £8000 from a sponsored walk of the West Highland Way and a CD Launch party.

‘SONGS FOR LOCHABER’ will be released Saturday 20 March 2009 with a special Launch Night’ at Caol Community Centre, Saturday 11 April 2009 featuring Gary Innes and his band, The Strathclyde Police Pipe Band and Billy McIsaac performing tunes from his CD. Tickets - £10(including buffet) available from Fired Art, Caol Community Centre and Londis

The CD is available in all record stores (£9.99) and on line at www.musicscotland.com/songslochaber. When ordering Billy Mcisaac's new release CD SONGS FOR LOCHABER please indicate the source ie, you are ordering his CD from the web site. This is required because of the discount arrangement for the Keppoch Memorial Fund.

 

Chief's Critique

This CD captures all that is so breathtakingly beautiful in the land of our fathers. Both haunting and poignant. You are soon spirited back to the romantic era of a half-forgotten age, that our own Keppoch Bards  have immortalised in poetry and song, and natives will immediately identify with.While admirers of “God’s own Country”,  will soon come to love it just as much, after listening to the soft melodic themes throughout this inspired album.
I recommend this very special CD to all, and in particular to all of my clansmen at home and overseas. Billy as generous as ever, has decided to donate a percentage of the sales of his CD to the Keppoch Memorial Fund. They will also be on sale at our tent during The Gathering 2009 in Holyrood Park.

Mac Mhic Raonuill

19/01/09

"Who owns Scotland ?"

The answer to this important question can be found on the Scotlsman web site at

www.scotsman.com/latestnews/so-who-owns-scotland.4829521.jp

The Gathering

Coinneach Odhar Fiosaiche - Kenneth MacKenzie the famous Highland Brahan Seer, born in the Black Isle,in the Western Highlands of Scotland in 1624 was gifted with the 'Fey' or 'Second sight'.

Amongst his many predictions, he predicted that when the "sheep had been reduced in numbers, the Highlanders would return to Scotland to claim the lands of their ancestors". According to a recent report in the Scotsman Newspaper, the sheep population in the Highlands has decresed by 25%. It is clear that he was referring to those Highlanders who were forced to leave their beloved homeland during the criminal clearances after the "45" Jacobite Rising and were dispersed throughout the diaspora. The question is. Is it a coincidence that they are returning in very large numbers from throughout the diaspora this year 2009?

The Gathering 2009 is without doubt the first part of the Brahan Seer's prediction. He has been proved accurate on all of his uncanny predictions up till now.

Our Chief will prize the door open a little further in his forthcoming talk on the Clann Duthchas, that he will deliver this year, not just to his fellow clansmen and guests in the Keppoch Clan Tent in Holyrood Park, but during the Convention of Scottish Chiefs in the Scottish Parliament on Friday 24 July 2009.

Suas Alba!

Our reporter in residence.

WATCH THIS SPACE

30/12/08

Billy Mcisaac a clansman of Clan Donald,professional musician and composer has dedicated his DVD "Here's tae Lochaber" to raise funds for the building up a Hydrotherapy Centre in Fort William. Full details of this project can be sourced via his web site http://sffrecords.com. He has also dedicated his CD "The West Highland Way Collection" A Celebration of Scottish Music.

He has also agreed to share the profits of the sale of these two recordings on a 50% basis with the Keppoch Memorial Appeal Fund.

As Chief of Keppoch and on behalf of all our clansmen, I  wish to record our sincere thanks to Billy for his generosity on both counts, as Fort William is the capital of our clann duthchas of Lochaber. We recommend that those who read this news,respond with the same generous spirit as Billy Mcisaac and order at least one of his recordings.

Mac Mhic Raonuill

30/12/08

We are delighted to announce the arrival of a new addition to the Clann Raghnall Lochbhair. A son  has been born today St. Andrew's Day 30 November 2008, to a son of Keppoch our Chief.

We Wish Andrew all the very best that life can offer him, and when he reaches manhood,he will take his rightful place in our clann with his brother Calum and sister Kirsty MacDonald. We are confident that Andrew will make a fine young Chieftain of Keppoch, and will in time. contribute his own special contribution to our clann's stature and continued progress and development.

"Dia's Naomh Aindrea!"

30/12/08

Bill Mcisaac is mounting a 60th Birthday challenge. He is attempting to scale Mountain Everest to reach Base Camp above 18,000 feet and is doing so to raise funds to help children who suffer from Cystic Fibrosis. All expense are being undertaken by Billy. He has asked us for help to raise extra funds for the children suffering from Cystic Fibrosis and is seeking sponsors to do so.

I highly commend this sppeal for sponsorship to all my clansmen, friends and supporters throughout the diaspora.

Details on his website below :-

Hi All

Please sponsor me and help me raise £5000 to benefit children in Scotland suffering from Cystic Fibrosis http://www.justgiving.com/billymcisaac Best Wishes Billy

19/9/08

Homecoming Scotland 2009

Go to homecomingscotland2009.com for latest news.

27/06/08

Locbaber Geopark

For clansmen and friends interested in how our duthchas of Lochaber was created, please have a look at the information on the Lochaber Geopark web site.

www.lochabergeopark.org.uk

27/06/08

Profile of a Young Keppoch Chieftain

Young Jordon McNeilage, great-newphew of our Chief Mac
Mhic Raonuill, is showing clear signs already, that he has the making of a staunch and loyal Chieftain for the future. His father George McNeilage is presently a Chieftain of Keppoch.

He wears his Keppoch kilt with great pride, at every opportunity that he can get, complete with kilt pin and sgian-dubh.

He keeps an close eye on our clann web site daily, to keep up to date with developments within our clann, and he spreads the news to his friends at school, about our clann "coming alive" after 156 years dormant. He loves all things Scottish and Highland, particularly our history and culture. Because he has lived in Australia for such a long time, he has missed the opportunity to learn his Gaelic native language at a young age, but I hear that he is considering trying to learn Gaelic before he is much older. I hope so! That is the making of our young Scots in Scotland today. Especially for the future! A nation that loses it native language will eventually lose its way!

I am sure that all of us wish young Jordon well, and hope trust that he continues to make good progress in his scholastic studies, now, and in the future

08/04/08

The Gathering & Home Coming 2009

The follow donations have been received with thanks
from our clansmen and supporters, towards the provison
of our tent, and expenses involved. Any surplus will
be added to the Keppoch Memorial Appeal.

Dr Jon G MacLennan $300
Bill Boath £50
Archibald MacPherson £30
Professor Robert Phillips $500
Chieftain John McNeilage £100

www.homecomingscotland.com