It is a fanfare of tartan across the pond – and the Hebrides want to play their part.
A Benbecula school pipe band is hoping to be the first from the Western Isles to attend New York Tartan Parade next year.
Sgoil Lionacleit (Lionacleit High School) Pipe Band – the only school pipe band in the Outer Hebrides – launched a £40,000 crowdfunding campaign to make their dream trip a reality – and has received the backing of multi-award winning Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis.
The band, made up of school children aged 12-17 years, hope to join the thousands of participants in the New York City Tartan Parade as they march down 6th Avenue in April.
The parade is the highlight of Tartan Week – celebrating its 20th anniversary next year – which recognises the links that Scotland has with the USA and the contribution Scottish-Americans have made.
Sgoil Lionacleit Pipe Band are the current Freestyle Champions of the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships and have been placed in the top six in their class at the World Pipe Band Championships for two years running.
John Daniel Peteranna, Chairman, Sgoil Lionacleit Pipe Band, said: “To travel to New York would provide a wonderful opportunity for the Sgoil Lionacleit Pipe Band to celebrate and promote the music, dance and Gaelic culture of the Outer Hebrides. These young people will do so with pride. They really enjoy their music and would love to share it with this international audience. It is in their blood, it is close to their hearts, it is who they are.”
Ms Fowlis added: “This is a wonderful opportunity for hard-working, talented young musicians to showcase the best of the Hebrides, and the best of Scotland, at Tartan Week in NYC. I know that this trip will be of huge benefit to the youngsters in this island pipe band. Please support them! Gur math a thèid leotha.”