A WOMAN piper who campaigned against men-only competitions and inspired generations of children was honoured for her life’s work at this year’s Gaelic Awards.
Rona Lightfoot, described as a one-woman ceilidh, was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Daily Record and Bòrd na Gàidhlig Gaelic Awards, which pay tribute to all aspects of Gaelic culture, education and language.
Rona, 83, who was born on South Uist, started playing the pipes when she was nine.
After moving to Glasgow to train as a nurse, she married a sailor and would often go to sea with him, taking her pipes so she could teach herself pibroch.
She was the first woman to take part in the Bratach Gorm, the Scottish Piping Society of London’s premier pibroch competition, and her contribution to Gaelic culture as a singer, storyteller and teacher was recognised at the awards, hosted by broad- caster Cathy MacDonald in Glasgow last week.
Other winners included Lucy Hannah, named Young Gaelic Ambassador of the Year for managing a Gaelic- medium childcare facility on Skye, and Alison Richardson and Claire MacDonald, who picked up the Learner Award for producing two online Gaelic resource banks.
Shona MacLennan, CEO, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, said: “All the winners and nominees are to be congratulated on their work to ensure that Gaelic is used more often, in more situations, by more people.
“It’s truly inspiring to see such passion for our language and culture.”
To view pictures from the evening and to find out more about the awards, visit www.scottishgaelicawards.co.uk.
