Gaelic choir at Papal open-
A choir from the Western Isles is playing an important role when Pope Benedict XVI visits Scotland this week.
Led by music teacher Pauline Macdonald, the teenagers will be leading the Gaelic
music for the open-
The group of girls from across North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist, Eriskay and Barra will sing a beautiful modern Gaelic hymn, Do Làmh a Chrìosda, composed by the late Donald John Macdonald of South Uist.
In the hymn, the ex-
The youngsters will also take centre stage in a new version of Father Gerry Fitzpatrick’s Alleluia for the Gospel Acclamation.
Thousands in the audience will hear them sing verses of the liturgy in their native Gaelic language.
Tutor Pauline Macdonald who is the music teacher at Castlebay School has been juggling ferry timetables to travel by boat between the different sections of the choir based on the separate islands of Barra and Uist.
Most of the practice sessions took place in the church on the tiny isle of Eriskay with the Barra girls travelling over to meet the Uist group.
The Barra contingent boarded the 7am Cal Mac ferry MV Lord of the Isles from Castlebay. The rest of the choir caught the ferry on her brief stop at Lochboisdale before heading to Oban.
Despite the early start and lengthy journey the choir will take part in the papal visit rehearsals in Glasgow tonight.