The Celtic Connections audience will be invited to follow in the footsteps of Saint Columba on January 31 2025, with a world premiere exploring and reimagining the life of the 6th century saint through music, poetry and visual art.
Iona: In the Footsteps of Columba weaves original and traditional music from fiddle maestro Paul Anderson, with perceptive poetry penned by Francis Devine and striking imagery by artist John Lowrie Morrison – vividly brought together by actor and director John Bett’s magical script.
The musical line-up is completed by some of Scotland’s preeminent traditional musicians, including Steve Byrne, Shona Donaldson, Annie Grace, Ali Napier and Martin O’Neill.
In 563 AD, Columba arrived on the island of Iona from Ireland with 12 companions. Jointly, they would change Scotland’s history forever. Since then, the tiny Hebridean island has borne witness to the burials of Scottish kings, Viking raids and to this day remains central to the spiritual life of the nation – and a global site of pilgrimage.
The new production – brought to Celtic Connections by St Margaret’s Braemar, the thriving Deeside arts, performance and heritage centre – promises to be an enchanting and unforgettable mixed-media experience. Iona
is produced for St Margaret’s by singer and broadcaster Fiona Kennedy OBE and Paula Gibson, former creative director at Aberdeen Arts Centre.
Tickets are on sale now for the performance, which takes place at the Barony Hall, Glasgow on January 31 2025. For more information please visit celticonnnections.com
Director John Bett said: “Centuries after Columba’ visit, three creatives follow in his footsteps on the isle he made famous.
“They are a fiddler and composer from the North-east of Scotland, and Irish poet and a painter from the west coast of Scotland: Paul Anderson, Francis Devine and John Lowrie Morrison.
“It has been my privilege and joy to collate their music, musings and material into an evening’s entertainment celebrating the magical island of Iona and the history, spirituality and beauty it contains.”
Fiddle player Paul Anderson said: “Iona has been a labour of love for me since its first inception in 2018 and, by my own estimation, features some of my finest work.
“I always felt that it would work well on stage, with John’s strikingly beautiful images and Francis’s powerful words.
“Now, with the addition of John Bett’s wonderful script to bring it all together we’re delighted to bring it to Celtic Connections this January.
St Margaret’s co-producer Paula Gibson said: “We are absolutely delighted that St Margaret’s has helped to facilitate and launch this amazing production and we are excited to share it with the Celtic Connections audience later this month, bringing the spirituality of Iona to the heart of Glasgow.”