World famous band the St Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band were the guests of honour during a weekend of music.
The band, from Dublin, travelled to the Hebrides on a special chartered plane to take part in a piping extravaganza at the beginning of March.
The event was organised by the Stornoway Amenity Trust and included concerts at Lewis Sports Centre, the Macleod Stone in Harris and the Callanish Stones. Then band also took part in a march in Harris.
Local bands Lewis Pipe Band, Skye Pipe Band, Uist Pipe Band and Sgoil Lionacleit Pipe Band also gave performances during the weekend as well as playing alongside the former world champions. There were also performances by groups Isle Dance and the Lynn Maclean Dancers
A Grand Finale concert took place on the Saturday night and included the St Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band, Celtic rock band Face the West, Fiona Martin, Barra a’Dannsa Jane Douglas Dancers and local Gaelic choirs.
The weekend was organised as a follow up to the successful Tattoo Hebrides, which was held in 2009 for the Year of the Homecoming. This event featured the 78th Fraser Highlanders at a Tattoo event on Lewis Castle Green, a Grand Concert in Lewis Sports Centre and a carnival.
The Year of the Homecoming is organised to encourage Scottish emigrants and descendants to return home for a celebration of their Scottish roots. The next Year of Homecoming piping spectacular, organised by the Amenity Trust, will take place in 2014.