Traditional Scottish Gaelic singer Mairi MacMillan is starting 2024 with the release of new material. Her moving single Fàgail Bhornais is out Friday 19 January.
A profound reflection on Scottish heritage and the bittersweet emotions tied to emigration, the track – which translates to Leaving Bornish – is a stunning rendition of the century-old Gaelic song, originally penned by Donald MacDonald from Bòrnais in South Uist.
The song reflects on island life before the mass emigration which saw over 300 Hebrideans board the SS Marloch, bound for Eastern Canada, in 1923. At a time where Islanders faced famine and widespread unemployment, leaving home was the only option for many.
Mairi’s soul-stirring vocals, supported by Allan Henderson’s beautiful piano accompaniment, shine throughout the track, depicting the heartfelt farewell of a departing friend, regretfully leaving Bòrnais behind in search of a better life in Canada.
Recorded in February 2023 at Cnoc Soilleir in South Uist by Wee Studio sound engineer Keith Morrison, Fàgail Bhornais was captured in a single session, concluding Mairi’s last project entitled Marloch 23 – Gu Fada Dhan lar. This three-song record was created to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the mass emigration from the Western Isles in 1923. Despite not being released as part of the initial collection, this rendition of Fàgail Bhornais stands out as a poignant individual tribute which Mairi was keen to share.
To support her upcoming single, Mairi will also release a podcast, in both Gaelic and English, sharing information on the period of emigration, the original composer of the track, and what life would have looked like in Bòrnish, South Uist in the 1920s 1923.
Mairi MacMillan said: “January 2024 is 100 years on from when Scots would have had their first ever New Year away from home, so I wanted to mark that anniversary with this release. The song has been sung in different melodies over the years, but this is the best known version, and also my favourite, so I wanted to give it its own place.
“Fàgail Bhornais is a tribute to the deep-rooted emotions tied to leaving one’s homeland and the profound connections we hold onto. Being from South Uist myself, I feel a strong connection to the song and its lyrics, which I hope to share through this rendition.
“It is hard to imagine the feeling of leaving home in the early 20th century, when making contact with loved ones was either extremely difficult or impossible. What it must have been like for those emigrating, not knowing what was ahead of them, when or if they would return, it’s hard to comprehend.”
A native fluent Gàidhlig speaker, now based in Glasgow, Màiri has been singing Gaelic songs from an early age and was awarded the Traditional Gold Medal at the 2007 Mòd in Lochaber. Her debut solo album Gu Deas, produced by Mhairi Hall, was released in July 2021, receiving widespread praise.
The artwork for Fàgail Bhornais was created by Alasdair Robertson at The Cad Den. The single will be available on all digital platforms from Friday 19 January 2024.
