Virtual Reality Gaelic Song: A' chnò Shamhna
Virtual Reality Gaelic Song drop-in event. This free event will showcase a pilot of a first-of-its-kind VR experience of the 17th-century Gaelic song: ‘A’ chnò Shamhna’ (‘the Halloween nut’).
Humanities
Date: Friday 26 June 2026
Time: 14:00 - 19:00
Venue: ARC-XR Lab, Advanced Research Centre, 11 Chapel Lane, Glasgow G11 6EW
Category: Concerts and music, Exhibitions, Community events
Speaker: Dr Alasdair C. Whyte
The song ‘A’ chnò Shamhna’ was composed in 1649 in praise of Sir Lachann MacIllEathain (Sir Lachlan Maclean) of Dubhaird ~ Duart on the island of Muile ~ Mull, chief of Clan Maclean. The song’s composer was the Mull songmaker Eachann Bacach. The song is widely regarded as one of the greatest Gaelic songs of the 17th century.
This VR piece is being produced by Ionad Gàidhlig an t-Sàilein (Salen Gaelic Centre), a University of Glasgow spin-out developing a Gaelic cultural and community centre in An Sàilean ~ Salen on the island of Muile ~ Mull.
The project is led by Dr Alasdair C. Whyte, Founder & Chair of Ionad Gàidhlig an t-Sàilein and University of Glasgow Lecturer. Design is by Conor Fraser and Ben Morris, 3D Technicians at the University of Glasgow.
The project is funded by the Arts & Humanities Research Council Impact Acceleration Account.
Free event. No booking necessary.
Suitable for users aged 10+. Not suitable for people with medical devices or epilepsy.
Ionad Gàidhlig an t-Sàilein C.I.C. was incorporated in March 2026. It was formed to create a flagship Gaelic cultural and community centre for An Sàilean ~ Salen and Muile ~ Mull: a modern, accessible, heritage-led facility that supports Gaelic language revitalisation, community development and sustainable island economic growth.