Album of the Week – Mairi McGillivray ‘Mo Thìr’
Written by celtic music radio on August 29, 2026
Gaelic singer Mairi McGillivray is from Islay off the west coast of Scotland and uses her heritage and a dynamic range of musical influences to put her own style this debut album.
Mo Thìr – My Land – is a collection of songs that shaped Mairi as a singer and connected her more deeply with the island she calls home, Islay.
Throughout Mo Thìr run themes of love, loss, emigration and belonging. Whether telling of sailors lost at sea, lovers separated by distance, or of people forced to leave their homes, these songs speak of experiences that remain deeply familiar today.
Mairi said: “Many of these songs have been carried through generations, preserving the stories, language and spirit of Islay and the wider Gaelic community.
“Others have found their way to me through my own travels and musical journey. Alongside these songs are two of my own compositions, one born from the words of the Islay bard William Livingstone, the other inspired by a story from my own family.”
You can hear Mairi talk about her music on the Album of the Week Show today with Liz Clark – aka Auntie Liz – at midday today.
• ALBUM OF THE WEEK SHOW – Mairi McGillivray in conversation with Liz Clark – Saturday, August 29, 2026 – noon.
https://www.mairimcgillivray.com/
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