FOR FIVE DAYS in early August 2001 a five-man and three-woman crew of
musicians, poets and dancers toured the Western Scottish Isles from the harbour
town of Troon to the pilgrimage island of Iona, aboard the good ship, Winefreda,
aka “The Winny” – a superb wooden yacht launched around 1892.
The Unity Feast in Nigel’s barn
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It started with a night passage under a
starry full moon in which the waters
that separate Ulster and Scotland were
traversed. It ended with a wondrous
unity feast on the Ross of Mull. The
in-between was levels upon levels of
spiritual blessing as we repeatedly
were taken to “a place of nearness” in
the realm on high.
Garry Villiers-Stuart is the owner of
one of Ireland’s oldest (and most
special) sailing boats, the Winny. It
was launched, around the Holy Year of
1892. This August it made a very
special journey. On board was a group
of musicians, Steve Day from Telford,
Richard Leigh from Northants, Jody
Koomen from Oxford, Poppy and
Rosie Villiers-Stuart, Tim Rubidge
from Northumberland, and Katrina
from Malta (via Ireland). The purpose
of this journey was to celebrate in
music the Ancient Beauty and to make
a song line between the many holy
islands that exist in this sublimely
beautiful part of the planet.
Our first stop was Holy Island (off
Aran) where many of the Buddhists
broke the routine of their retreat to
come on board. Some were old friends
of the Winny, and after the joy of our
initial meeting, the sound of our
gathering was sung, and sweet was
that sound. Reluctantly we said
goodbye to those beautiful souls and
made passage for the Crinnan Canal.
The Crinnan canal cuts through the top
of the Mull of Kintyre, the spit of land
that effectively separates the lowlands
from the highlands. Going through the
canal, working the locks, pulling the
ropes, was the occasions for many
improvised sea shanties and impromptu
drumming. The three other
boats that shared that passage with us
also got into the spirit of celebration.
That night Poppy and Jody got into
long and deep discussion with some
Christians who were staying on a boat
near by. The next day, as we sailed
passed we sang a song praising all
religions, and in response they danced
on the fore deck.
The Winny’s next port of call was one
of the Garvollich Islands, the site of a
deserted monastery founded by St
Columba. In a seventh century cell we
chanted the Greatest Name to the
spirits of the place, and later again
Alleluia. The sun shone and the
fragrant aroma of the island perfumed
the inner and outer atmosphere.
Our next stop was Irraid, an island
used by Findhorn to allow people to
connect more deeply with their souls.
We celebrated the setting sun with
drum and chant. The next morning we
travelled to Scotland’s holiest island,
Iona, home of St Columba’s Monastery
and burial ground to Scotland’s
ancient kings. We chanted the sweetest
dawn prayers in St Oran’s chapel.
Never had the island heard the Greatest
Name been chanted with such
sweet devotion. Later on, across on the
Ross of Mull, we met the Scottish
contingent of singers. Gathered
together by the enthusiasm of
Christina St Clair, the Winny met Alex
and Parviz Reid, and David Grant. The
sun was shining, the sea was turquoise
and Gaelic singing took us to yet
another realm.
Piping the Winny to Fingal’s Cave
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Fingal’s cave was the next destination.
The Gaelic name of Fingal’s cave
translates into “melodious cave” and
melodious it was that afternoon. As the
Atlantic gently thundered and echoed
Alex sang an ancient Gaelic longboat
song., there was sweet fiddle music
from Richard, a flute meditation from
Garry, prayers from Poppy and Rosie
and a soul-inspiring chant from all of
us. The rising and falling lilting voices
merged with rock and water to give
praise for being alive.
Our final meeting was celebrated in
the form of a unity feast in the barn of
old friends Nigel and Rosie Burgess.
The readings from Rumí and
Bahá’u’lláh, the dance from Tim, the
Gaelic songs from Christina and Alex,
the fiddles, the boran, was such a
celebration of the unity of religion.
The enchantment was complete. All
were deeply touched and found
healing in their own way.
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