A SCOTS teenager who was killed in the Manchester Arena bombing will be honoured at a major fundraising gala event due to held later this year in Glasgow.
Eilidh MacLeod, 14, from the island of Barra, was among 22 people killed by a terrorist’s bomb following an Ariana Grande concert in May, 2017.
A charity has been set up in her name which aims to support music education for young people, primarily but not exclusively for children from rural area and reflecting the teenager’s love of music. Eilidh was a member of Sgoil Lionacleit Pipe Band.
The Eilidh Macleod Memorial Trust will be officially launched at a gala ball due to be held at Oran Mor in the city’s West End on September 6. Eilidh’s mother Marion is believed to have spent some time in Glasgow as a child.
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Glasgow singer and broadcaster Michelle McManus, who has spoken of her great love of Barra and Vatersay, will join a host of young musicians in a showcase of Scottish and Gaelic talent and the event will be hosted by Still Game star Sanjeev Kohli.
Eilidh and her friend Laura MacIntyre had travelled the 400 miles to Manchester for the concert with members of their families. Laura survived but was left with serious injuries.
Michelle McManus said: “I am delighted to be supporting Eilidh’s Trust at their launch event.
“Their ambition to support future young musicians is something in which I believe passionately and I want to play my part in helping them provide support and creating opportunities for our young people.
“ I have a personal link to Barra and Vatersay having spent many happy times there and I know how important Eilidh’s Trust is to that amazing community.”
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Suzanne White, founder of Eilidh’s Trust said: “The Tartan and Tiaras Ball will be our official launch event after several months of hard work to establish ourselves and carrying out our first major fundraising events.
“We are so grateful that so many talented people are supporting us on the night, to celebrate the trust and to help drive forward our work.
“We are also grateful to Glasgow’s Oran Mor for being so accommodating and supportive of Eilidh’s Trust.”
A memorial statue, created by Sussex-based artist Jenna Gearing, featuring a young female bagpiper with her pipes at rest, is also being created in honour of Eilidh.
The sculpture is to be placed in a newly-created memorial garden overlooking Vatersay in Barra next year.
Tickets for the Tartan and Tiaras Ball are on sale via Eventbrite priced £85 each, with table of 12 available for £960. The black tie event, which starts at 6pm, will include a drinks reception, a three course meal, entertainment, ceilidh and auction.
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