THE REAL WILD WEST
would compete in seven or eight events. I was up against men who could have competed in the Olympics had they been amateurs. I still managed to make enough money to help me through my studies. Music has also played an important part in
my life. When I was younger the radio reception in Mingarry was so poor we could never listen to BBC Scotland but bizarrely we could receive Irish radio perfectly – that’s what got me interested in traditional Irish ceili music. I was also influenced by the music of Jimmy Shand and Bobby MacLeod. I took up the accordion when I was at high school, and when I was about fifteen I formed my own band, which played around the Fort William area. I also formed a band while studying in
Glasgow. My music is from the heart. I can’t read a note and all the music I know was passed down to me. You can’t get the feeling into it if you’re reading it off a piece of paper; you’re just playing notes. But back then ceilidh musicians were seen as third rate; the only way to make a name for yourself was to do Scottish country dance music – and the benchmark was broadcasting for the BBC on a Saturday night. We passed the audition with flying colours but the music was too regimented and monotonous and I was demented after four or five broadcasts. So one night we performed ceilidh music instead and we were immediately dropped by the BBC. I was delighted. We started playing at the
newly opened Highlanders’ Institute in Glasgow, which quickly became a meeting point for all the Gaels in town. It held about 500 people and we played there every Saturday night for five years. During that period I developed ceilidh music – I really put my stamp on it. I recorded an album, and then other bands started playing ceilidh music. Now, of course, it is popular all over the world. In 1995 I was invited back to the BBC to play my music on the same show I’d been thrown off 25 years previously. After graduating I practised physiotherapy
at Lennox Castle Hospital, near Glasgow. I was also helping out the physio at Partick Thistle football club and I was offered a job at Dunfermline Athletic. But I spotted a position as domiciliary physiotherapist in Fort William, which I got. It was a great posting: forty miles from home and all the things I loved to do – fishing, shooting and, of course, music. Later I ran the Clanranald Hotel, which is now the Mingarry Park Guest House. Ardnamurchan has changed a lot over the
years, but if you visit you’ll always be assured of the most stunning scenery and wildlife, a very warm welcome and plenty of good food, drink and music – ceilidh music.
FIELDFACTS ARDNAMURCHAN DIRECTORY
Ardnamurchan Tourist Association
www.ardnamurchan.com
Ardnamurchan Estates 01972 510208
www.west-highlands.co.uk
Kilcamb Lodge 01967 402257
www.kilcamblodge.co.uk
Kilcamb Cottages 01967 402469
highland-holiday-cottages.co.uk
Ariundle Centre 01967 402279
www.ariundlecentre.co.uk
Steading Holidays 01972 510262
www.steading.co.uk
Glenborrodale Castle 01972 500275
www.glenborrodalecastle.com
Kilchoan Hotel 01972 510200
www.kilchoanhousehotel.co.uk
The Cart Barn at Roshven 01866 833292
www.thecartbarnroshven.com
Kingairloch Estate 01967 411242
www.kingairloch.co.uk
The Croft Apartment 01972 510371
pmacphail@btinternet.com
The Strontian Hotel 01967 402029
www.thestrontianhotel.co.uk
Meall Mo Chridhe 01972 510238
www.westcoastscotland.co.uk
Ockle Holidays 01972 510321
www.ockleholidays.co.uk
The Woodland Pottery 01967 402250
www.woodland-pottery.co.uk
Resipole Studios 01967 431506
www.resipolestudios.co.uk
Glenuig Inn 01687 470219
www.glenuig.com
Garmoran Square 01967 431456
www.garmoransquare.com
Glenmore Holidays 01972 500254
www.holidayardnamurchan.co.uk
WWW.SCOTTISHFIELD.CO.UK 47
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