The Mull Waulking Group, Cuigeal, won first prize at their first competition with its new group, made up of choir members of Còisir Ghàidhlig an Eilein Mhuilich (Mull Gaelic Choir) – and their “star performer”, baby Peigi.
Waulking songs (Òrain Luaidh) are Scottish folk songs traditionally sung in the Gaelic language by women while fulling (waulking) cloth. Waulking the tweed demands strength, music, and song. A cuigeal is a distaff, a stick used in spinning.
Cuigeal, only founded last year, were competing for the coveted Harris Tweed Authority Trophy against Luadh Le Mire (“Waulking with Merriment”), formed by Lothian Gaelic Choir in 2009, and Còmhan Luadh Bhàideanach (Badenoch Waulking Group), which has won the trophy 11 times since 2007.
The nine singers from Mull Gaelic Choir, helped by little Peigi, performed a selection of waulking and folding songs with a Mull theme, at the Mòd on Friday in Paisley’s Wynd Centre.
“We were thrilled just to take part in the competition and were so surprised to actually win at first time round,” said one member, Professor Mauvis Gore.
“The great thing about this competition is that you can sing more than one song and have an activity, as well as lots of laughing and fun.
“The group began after the last National Mòd. Katharine Elwis and I spoke with one of the waulkers who competed about how to begin. Later several of us spent a day at Auchindrain with the Sgioba Luaidh Inbhirchluaidh (Inverclyde Waulking Song Group) to go through how to waulk tweed from start to finish – they were very welcoming and very helpful.
“Jennifer Jack made bespoke pinnies for us, which the adjudicator appreciated, as well as providing the tweed and basket. We rehearsed each week to practice waulking together. It is a bit like patting your head and rubbing your stomach in working and moving the tweed while singing.
“We practiced by performing at a concert in Salen Church and then at the ceilidh after the Mull Mòd to see how we worked together under a bit of pressure and really enjoyed that.
“Our star performer has been baby Peigi each time, who helped with singing and patting the tweed at the end.
“People did waulk the tweed on Mull some time back. We are thinking of performing for fun again and are looking towards the next Mòd.”
Earlier in the day, Còisir Bheag an Eilein Mhuilich came second in harmony singing groups competition, and took the prize for the highest Gàidhlig marks for their rendition of Iain Ghlinn’ Cuaich. Mealaibh ur naidheachd.