The event has been organised by Melvich Gaelic Choir following their success at the Royal National Mod in Falkirk in October. The full choir, as well as the Male Voice Choir, will be singing at the ceilidh in the Weigh Inn Hotel in Thurso.
Other
singers will include this year's Mod Gold Medallists Lyle Kennedy from Edinburgh and Kerrie Finlay McCartney from Dingwall; Stuart Jackson, who now resides in Skye; members of the Tanya Horne School of Dancing; as well as the Caithness Junior Pipe Band.
Conductor of Lochs Gaelic Choir, Ronnie Murray will also be taking part. Ronnie, a National Mod Gold Medallist, conducted Lochs Choir to win the Lorne Shield last year and were runners-up to Melvich Choir in this year's competition.
Conductor of Melvich Gaelic Choir, Raymond Bremner, also a National Mod Gold Medallist said: "We are especially delighted to have representatives of the choirs from the Isle of Lewis - Lochs and Back Gaelic Choirs. I have been visiting and staying with friends from the Lochs area for nearly 20 years now and they have been a great inspiration to me and others in our choir.
"We have always had a great regard and admiration for the standard within the Rural Choirs section at the National Mod and often the performances of these choirs match and at times better that than some choirs in the Lovat and Tullibardine Competition."
Murdo MacLeod (Cloudy) will be representing Back Gaelic Choir and is no stranger to the ceilidh, taking part with the Lewis Male Voice Quartet - Fir an t-Sruth - in previous years. Members of Tong Gaelic Choir have also been in attendance in previous years with Catherine Rose Murray and Joanne Murray from Gress taking part.
Joy Dunlop, conductor of the Argyll Male Voice Choir, will also be present. Coisir Ghaidhlig Ceann an Tuirc won the competition for Male Voice choirs at the National Mod this year and one of their members, David Paterson from Taynuilt is making the trek north to join them. Celia MacDougall from Shebster, Caithness, who won the Kennedy Fraser Cup this year will also perform.
Guest of Honour will be the Viscountess Margaret Thurso who has been a long time supporter of the choir. Margaret will be opening the ceilidh and. along with An Comunn Gaidhealach Board Member Norma Young from Skye. will be formally presenting the trophies won by Melvich Gaelic Choir at the Mod.
Fear an Taigh for the evening will be former head of Bord na Gaidhlig Allan Campbell from Inverness. Manson and his band will provide the music for the dance.
An added event taking place also is the promotion in the county of the new Gaelic Digital Channel, MG ALBA. An informal information session will take place in the Weigh Inn Hotel on Saturday with people being encouraged to sign up for the new channel to be made available on Freeview.
Murdo Morrison, Marketing Manager for MG ALBA and a frequent visitor to the county, will be supporting the ceilidh.
The ceilidh kicks off at 7.30 pm prompt. Tickets are £5 and £3.50 concession and are available from the Caithness Courier Office in Thurso, Caithness; from members of the Melvich Gaelic Choir and also at the door. Refreshments will be available and a raffle will be drawn during the evening.
