Gaelic Psalm Singers from the Borders Featured in New Documentary

A Gaelic psalm group from the Borders, formed in memory of poet Aonghas Dubh MacNeacail, is featured in the new documentary Psalms of the People, premiering at the Glasgow Film Festival.

Gaelic Psalm Singers from the Borders Featured in New Documentary

A group of Gaelic psalm singers from the Borders are set to appear on the big screen.

A new documentary following the story of Rob MacNeacail on a musical journey beginning in Carlops is scheduled to premiere at the Glasgow Film Festival on Sunday.

Hopscotch A group of people singing hymns. There are four of them in total and they are seated and reading from a sheet of paper. The man closest to the camera has grey hair and glasses and a grey jumper. Next to him is a grey-haired woman in a black top, then a grey-haired woman with glasses and a striped jumper and finally a man with black hair and a beard. They are in a church setting. — Members of the group will feature in the documentary which will premiere on Sunday

Origins of the Group

The idea to form the group originated from a memorial service for Rob's father, the renowned poet Aonghas Dubh MacNeacail, who passed away in 2022. Rob decided that Gaelic psalms should be included in the proceedings.

Since then, the group has regularly met in the Borders and features in the new documentary Psalms of the People, filmed by Jack Archer.

Hopscotch A man with a beard and a brown beanie hat in a grey hoodie holds a large microphone in the air while out in a rugged Scottish landscape — The documentary follows Rob from the Borders across Scotland and Ireland

Development of the Documentary

Rob has collaborated with Jack in the past, and together they sought to develop ideas for a Gaelic documentary.

Initially, they explored other regions before focusing their attention on the Borders.

"I had set up the Carlops psalm group and it was going from strength to strength," Rob explained.

"Jack came and filmed a couple of times to get a feel for it, then we decided to make something around this."

Rob noted that producing the documentary involved considerable effort, but he is pleased with the final product.

"I'm really delighted with the outcome," he said.

"It was a challenge at times, given the subject matter, but I feel we've told a story that celebrates the Gaelic psalms with the respect they are due, whilst honouring my dad and his relationship with the tradition.

"It was quite an intense way to process the loss of a father, but a very rewarding one, and I feel very privileged to have been able to do so in this way."

Community Impact and Gaelic's Appeal

Rob expressed surprise at the popularity of singing in Gaelic in an area not traditionally associated with the language, though he acknowledged it perhaps should have been expected.

"The psalms themselves are incredibly accessible and inclusive," he explained.

Rob works in a residential community for adults with learning difficulties in the Borders, where residents enjoy participating when he leads the singing at community concerts.

Hopscotch A man in a beard and glasses leads five other people - four women and a man - in song. They look like there is an organ behind them and they are all holding sheets of paper apart from the man leading them who appears to be playing some kind of musical instrument, a wooden box on his knees. — Rob said the psalms were "incredibly accessible and inclusive"

"I also think Gaelic is becoming increasingly appealing all over Scotland, as people learn about the benefits of bilingualism and the abundance of cultural riches the language opens up."

He described the people of Carlops as an "amazing community" and noted that through their songs, they have connected with people from other villages.

Anticipation for the Premiere

Rob admitted feeling somewhat nervous about the film's premiere.

"From my perspective, it's mildly terrifying, as I hadn't necessarily imagined myself in front of the camera before this," he said.

"The film has existed in a relatively safe vacuum up until now, but I'm very proud of what we've done, and that's what's important to me.

"What I'm looking forward to most is seeing the other Carlopians on the big screen – I think you get a really good sense of the people and the place that my family have loved since we moved here 30 years ago."