Programme / Prògram

Ticket info

Under-16s free/all children’s events are free. Carers free. Standard ticket £5; concessions £3.50 (student; disabled; registered unemployed; over-60s). Season ticket £30; £20 concessions (allows access to all public events across the 3 days unless otherwise specified). Tickets are available on the door or in advance via the booking links. Advance booking is not necessary for most events, although it is required for workshops and advised for events where there are limited spaces. There is no need to book for children’s events.

Donations

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We are a small community charity. All donations in support of our festival are very gratefully received.

Thursday 7th September

4pm

Children’s Event: Anne and Steve Brusatte

Dugie the Dinosaur @ MYFOS, Port Ellen

Friday 8th September Back to top

7:30pm

The Hebridean Baker

Island Stories and Recipes @ Gaelic College, Bowmore

Saturday 9th September Back to top

10:30am

Kapka Kassabova

Elixir @ Gaelic College, Bowmore

12:00pm

Angus Peter Campbell

From Portraying Island Life to Translating George Orwell into Gaelic @ Gaelic College, Bowmore

2:00pm

Gerda Stevenson

Tomorrow’s Feast @ Gaelic College, Bowmore

3:30pm

Jenny Colgan

The Summer Skies @ Gaelic College, Bowmore

6:30pm

Ambrose Parry and Sarah Smith

Historical Tartan Noir @ Gaelic College, Bowmore

Sunday 10th September Back to top

10:30am

Alan Warner

Nothing Left to Fear From Hell @ Gaelic College, Bowmore

12:00pm

Chitra Ramaswamy

Homelands @ Gaelic College, Bowmore

2:00pm

Steve Brusatte

From Dinosaurs to Mammals @ Gaelic College, Bowmore

2:00pm

Poetry Workshop: Gerda Stevenson

Finding the Spark (Pre-booking required) @ Ardbeg Distillery, near Port Ellen

3:30pm

Children’s Event: Philip Reeve

Utterly Dark @ Mactaggert Leisure Centre, Bowmore

Transport info

Bowmore’s Gaelic College is the main home for this year’s events. Car sharing is encouraged where travel to events is necessary. Please do contact us in advance if there is an event you would like to attend but will have difficulty getting to; with the support of the Islay and Jura Community Bus, some additional transport options may be available.

Session info

Each adult session lasts approx 50 minutes, with an extra 10 minutes allowed for Q&A unless otherwise specified. Children’s events usually last up to 45 minutes. Book signings take place at each event, courtesy of our partners at The Celtic House. 

Children’s attendance 

Unfortunately we are unable to offer crèche facilities. Parents/carers must accompany children under 8. Under-16s are allowed access to adult events with parental supervision. 

Venue info

Cafaidh Blasta at the Gaelic College will be open from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 9 September – last orders for lunch will be at 3pm, with drinks and cakes available until 4pm. All venues have parking, and disabled access and facilities, unless otherwise specified. Please contact us in advance if you will need any assistance. 

Filming and photography 

Our festival photographer will be taking pictures for us throughout the festival. Permission will be sought at the ticket-buying stage. Pictures are only used for our own purposes (eg website, social media, reports to funders) and occasionally if we are asked for images by members of the press. However, please inform us if you object to photography at any of the events you attend, and we will do our best to accommodate your wishes.

School programme

Our lively schools programme for children of all ages takes place on 7th and 8th September and includes Lari Don, Anne and Steve Brusatte, Sarah McIntyre, Philip Reeve, Angus Peter Campbell and Alan Warner. School visits are not open to the public.

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