Tea Break: Iain MacIver

In our fortnightly feature, we join a local for a tea break and find out how they spend their time - and their time off. This week, we welcome Iain MacIver, a musician whose teaching has influenced a generation of islanders.

Please introduce yourself…

I am a retired itinerant Gaelic music instructor.

What's your story so far?

I was brought up in Bayble in Lewis. I left school at 17 and started work as an apprentice printer with The Stornoway Gazette. I spent 21 years with the paper before taking up the music post with CNES, which I held for 28 years.

What is your biggest achievement?

That’s a difficult question to answer as there have been many highs. If I had to single one out from my days as a music instructor it would be achieving the best overall choral prize with Sir E Scott Senior Choir at The Pan Celtic Festival in Tralee, Co. Kerry in 2005.

Any favourite musical memories?

I love live performances and especially live TV. I’ve been fortunate to have played on BBC Alba’s Cèilidh Na Bliadhn’ Ùra on a couple of occasions, so that was a real buzz.

What are you looking forward to?

I’ve recently been producing an album for my good friend Donnie “Large” MacDonald and we are going to be playing a couple of concerts together in Lewis and Harris soon. I’ll also be playing the Hebcelt festival with my band in July and I’m hoping to record another album in the not-too-distant future (song suggestions welcome). For the first time in my life, I can say that I’m a full-time musician.

What's your favourite song?

Such a hard question. I guess it changes daily, but if you’re pushing me I’d have to say ‘Eilean Fraoich’. It could be ‘Eilean Na Hearadh’ tomorrow!

What's your favourite Harris place?

I live in Eilean Anabuich. It is such a lovely, peaceful place and I wouldn’t choose to live anywhere else. Definitely my favourite part of Harris.

How do you spend your free time?

Music still takes up quite a lot of my time, but I enjoy pottering in the garden. Since retiring, there are far more opportunities for holidays - which I take full advantage of.

Tea break time: what are you having?

You can’t go wrong with a well-stewed builder’s brew and a chocolate Digestive.

- Find Iain Costello Music on Facebook

or www.seaforth-music.com

Iain is performing at Tarbert Community Centre on Sat April 25th (tickets from Tarbert Post Office) and you can also find him (pictured at the Pan Celtic Festival mentioned above) on this issue’s back page.