Donegal fiddlers head for the Highlands after offer of a drink and a tune with ex-Blazing Fiddles man proves too much to resist – with Capercaillie member and Duncan Chisholm also set to pop in

A dozen fiddlers from Donegal will blaze a trail to the Highlands this weekend in a unique cultural exchange.

The talented tunesmiths will have a small corner of Inverness resonating to the traditional sounds of the Emerald Isle after forging ‘Celtic connections’ with local musician, composer and bar owner Bruce MacGregor.

The former Blazing Fiddles frontman hit it off with his Donegal counterparts after an invite to attend a weekend festival in the north-west Irish town last year.

The return visit chimes with Bruce’s ambitions to lure Celtic-influenced musicians from all over the world to the Academy Street venue.

Their visit to Inverness has also persuaded a clutch of other folk musicians from Glenfinnan and Glasgow to come to MacGregor’s Bar this weekend.

“I was over in October at the Glenties Fiddle festival which has been running for 40 years, I understand,” Bruce said.

“It was a great weekend and their passion for fiddle music was infectious.

“When some of them heard we had a pub in Inverness, that was it - they said ‘we’re coming over on a bus for the craic!’

“There’s about 12 of them coming over, bringing fiddles, flutes and all sorts.”

For centuries the links between Scotland and Ireland, particularly Donegal, were forged through migration and seasonal work patterns.

That resulted in a cross-pollination of culture and music, with the fiddle music of Donegal and the Highlands intrinsically linked with a shared repertoire, albeit with distinct regional variations.

“The welcome I received in Glenties was incredible. I was given history tours, taken to musical hotspots and introduced to some of the region's finest players and characters.

“I couldn’t believe how passionate everyone was about the fiddle.

“We really want to do the same for our visitors, so in addition to hosting music sessions in the pub, we plan on taking them to the places that have inspired so much of our music – Culloden, Loch Ness and maybe even the odd distillery!”

Discussions have been held with musicians in other countries to see if MacGregor’s can replicate this cultural exchange.

“We’re looking at Bergen in Norway and Seville in southern Spain. The mixture of pub, music and a cultural exchange make it a very exciting proposition,” Bruce said.

“We’ve already taken the bar (MacGregor’s Gathering) show to Celtic Connections Festival in January so the idea of taking the crew internationally is totally achievable.

“We’ve always said we are ‘more than a bar’.”

The weekend has attracted a lot of excitement amongst local musicians including award-winning fiddler Duncan Chisholm and Capercaillie’s Charlie McKerron along with pianist Hamish Napier who are keen to meet with them and exchange music and stories.

It coincides with Inverness Fiddlers Society welcoming over 100 fiddlers to Eden Court Theatre.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.