Grannie Island's Ceilidh - Hugh Handy Katie Morag

# Katie Morag

# Fly away across the ocean

# Katie Morag

# Over the sea to Struay

# Katie Morag

# Far away across the ocean

# Katie Morag

# Over the sea to Struay

# Katie Morag. #

LAUGHTER AT PARTY

I love parties, and I reckon

Grannie Island's are the best in the whole wide world.

They go on way past our bedtime.

But as long as we've brushed our teeth and put on our jammies,

we're allowed to stay up.

Grannie Island doesn't call them parties -

she calls them ceilidhs.

BIRDS SCREECH

Right, then, boys and girls, ladies and gentlemen,

let's gather round - who's ready...

tonight for some real entertainment?

Most people think ceilidhs are all about dressing up

in kilts and whirling each other around the room,

but at Grannie Island's ceilidhs, we don't just dance,

we sing songs, play music and tell stories as well.

FOLK-STYLE MUSIC PLAYS IN BACKGROUND

VOICES DROWNED OUT BY MUSIC

Now, whose turn is it to pin the tail on the island?

Me! Me! Me, me, me!

Oh, Agnes, I'm afraid not!

I think it's John's turn!

-APPLAUSE

-Ah, yes.

We always play pin the tail at Grannie Island's ceilidhs.

The children take turns at sticking a wee pin

on the map of Struay,

then one of the grown-ups tells us a tale about that part of the island.

Oh! It's the Port of The Man.

Now, does anyone know a story about the Port of The Man?

I do.

Oh! Now, for those of you who don't know,

this is my very best friend from the mainland,

the lady author!

Come away.

-Well, this is a story

-I

-know about the Port of The Man.

Long ago, there was a famous boat-builder on Struay,

who lived at the Port of The Man.

When he was born, he was given two first names,

just like you, Katie Morag.

He was called Hugh Andy.

But when he grew up, he was called Hugh Handy,

because he was so good at making things -

boats, especially.

They were so well-built, he became the famous

master boat-builder of Struay.

This is also the story of how he got

his final nickname - Hugh Handy, The Man.

And how the bay beside his workshop was named the Port of The Man.

The ruins of the deserted village are nearby.

Everyone on Struay lived there, long ago,

before your village and school and your village hall were built.

Er, wait a minute - have I missed anywhere?

The shop and post office, of course! CHUCKLING

The most important building on Struay -

would you agree, Katie Morag?

Everyone had boats in those times.

The Struachs would often sail over to visit friends

and relatives on the neighbouring islands of Fuay and Coll and Tiree.

Nobody ever went to the island of Bickersay,

because the people that lived there were very argumentative.

On still summer's nights when the sea was silky smooth,

you could hear voices.

"That's them arguing again," some folk on Struay would say.

"No, they're having a party," said others.

"So long as they don't come here," said everyone.

As Hugh Handy's reputation spread, he got lots of orders

to make more boats.

He decided to look for a young apprentice to help him.

Maxie Ina, who was just leaving school, wanted to be the next

boat-builder on Struay.

Girls never made boats.

Her mother was stunned but pleased when Hugh Handy said he would

give Maxie Ina an apprenticeship and see how she got on.

He was a kindly man.

Meanwhile, the Bickersay men got jealous of Hugh Handy's reputation.

They thought THEY built the best boats.

They sent a passing seagull with a message for Hugh Handy to say

that they were coming to challenge him.

When Hugh Handy got the message, he was worried.

He had never boasted about his boats or himself.

Master craftsmen have special clothes to wear on important occasions.

A velvet cloak, a feathered hat and a big gold chain.

Hugh Handy never wore his -

they hung on a hook in the workshop gathering dust.

"This is what we'll do," said Hugh Handy to a wide-eyed Maxie Ina,

as the flotilla of Bickersay boats appeared on the horizon.

He told Maxie Ina that she was to pretend to be the master

and he would pretend to be the apprentice.

He took his cloak, hat and chain off the hook

and told Maxie Ina to put them on.

Hugh Handy told her to politely welcome the Bickersay men.

They would think she was the master, of course,

and then told her what to say if they challenged her.

The Bickersay men were soon surfing ashore, colliding

and barging into each other, the port became littered

with broken boats and oars. Maxie Ina walked regally towards them.

"Welcome," she said.

The biggest Bickersay man rudely ignored her politeness

and shouted, "We have come to challenge you

"for the title of the Best Boat-builder in the Western Isles."

"As you say," replied Maxie Ina.

"But I suggest you have a competition with my apprentice first."

"Easy, peasey," scoffed the big bully,

looking at Hugh Handy and seeing how shabby he was in his work clothes.

"Show them, apprentice, how you will put the legs on that stool

"you are making," said Maxie Ina in a very superior voice.

She was enjoying herself.

Hugh Handy carefully balanced the carved wooden seat which had

four holes at each corner, on top of four separate wooden legs.

He then took four wooden pegs which normally would be hammered

into the seat and join together everything.

He put them in his pocket.

The Bickersay men burst out laughing.

"Anybody can put a stool together!"

Hugh Handy left the work table

and walked to the far end of the workshop.

He flung one of the wooden pegs the length of the room.

It curved up in the air

and flew directly down into one of the seat holes firmly joining up

with the leg underneath without having to be hammered in.

"Ha, ha, bet you can't do that again,"

guffawed one of the Bickersay men.

Hugh Handy took another peg from his pocket.

He twirled round ten times and at the last giddy turn,

he let the peg fly into the air, and the same thing happened.

The Bickersay men were amazed.

"Two more pegs to go, apprentice," ordered Maxie Ina.

The third time, Hugh Handy flung the peg up

and over the high rafters with the same result.

The fourth time, he turned his back on the stool

and bent down and threw the peg backwards through his legs.

The last peg again flew perfectly into place.

If the apprentice is as skilful as that, then the master must be

doubly skilled, the Bickersay men muttered.

"I think we should go home," said the biggest Bickersay man,

feeling rather small.

"But our boats are all smashed up,"

said the second-biggest Bickersay man.

But kindly Hugh Handy had an idea.

"Why don't we build one big boat all together,

"and that will take you home?"

And so it was decided.

"What a man Hugh Handy is," all the Struay islanders whispered.

But everyone knew they had to keep the secret

until the Bickersay men left.

Maxie Ina had a grand time ordering everyone about,

but it was Hugh Handy who showed

and shared his skills with the Bickersay men.

They learned a lot.

When the magnificent boat, with a beautiful mermaid

carved on the bow was launched, the Bickersay men thanked

the master and the apprentice and said they would be back next year.

Not for a challenge, but for a ceilidh!

"We've heard that the best ceilidhs are on Struay.

"We'll bring our wives and our children."

Hugh Handy and Maxie Ina

and all the islanders heaved a big sigh of relief when the boat

full of happily waving Bickersay men disappeared round the headland.

Although Maxie Ina had enjoyed being the master,

she was glad to take off the heavy cloak, the hat and the chain.

"But I'll have to wear them next year when they come back, won't I?"

she said cheekily to Hugh Handy.

"Aye, but you have a bit more to learn before then,"

smiled Hugh Handy, The Man.

APPLAUSE

Well, that was a great story, Lady Author, thank you.

Now, Alasdair and Jane, how's about a tune?

We loved the Ceilidh stories and always want to hear more,

but Granny Island says the same thing - "Time for another tune."

But the thing I really love is when it's my turn to sing

and I sing my favourite song.

# Step we gaily on we go Heel for heel and toe for toe

# Arm in arm and row on row All for Mairi's wedding

# Up the hillways, up and down Myrtle green and bracken brown

# Past the shieling through the town, all for sake of Mairi

# Step me gaily on we go Heel for heel and toe for toe

# Arm in arm and row on row All for Mairi's wedding

# Past the shielings up and down Myrtle green and bracken brown

# Past the shielings through the town, all for sake of Mairi. #

APPLAUSE

Granny Island's ceilidhs were just perfect.