Thievin’ Corbies turn dancefloor into fundraiser for Palestine

On a cold December evening, over 130 people gathered at Pollokshaws Burgh Hall for a festive Ceilidh by Thievin' Corbies, raising over £2000 for Medical Aid for Palestinians while dancing the night away.

By Eilidh Inara (Thievin Corbies member) | Photos by Cathel Robertson

With the Winter Solstice just been and gone, the nights are really drawing in.  And what better way to keep the darkness at bay than with a Ceilidh?

This was the logic of  Thievin’ Corbies when they organised their Christmas Ceilidh for Palestine last week. 

"I think we all need more opportunities to gather in community spaces at the moment," says one Corbie, "especially in spaces where alcohol isn't essential."

It seems like others are in agreement, as more than 130 people streamed in from the cold, dreich December evening to pack out the beautiful Pollokshaws Burgh Hall. If the Thievin’ Corbies had been nervous about playing their first ever ceilidh together, those nerves evaporated at the sight and sound of a hundred people clapping and stamping and cheering on the dancefloor. It was a truly festive occasion, the faces of the couples and sets spinning joyfully in time to the music a sight to behold.

But more than just creating an evening where people could gather together and dance, the band wanted to create an event that would enable people to do good at the same time. Tis the Season and yet the days and the times are too often full of darkness. It’s difficult to feel Christmassy – let alone hopeful – when the news supplies us with a near-constant stream of things going wrong in the world. 

This is why The Thievin' Corbies worked together on this event with Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), donating all of the ticket sales to raise money for the charity. We wanted a cause that people can gather around. We wanted a way that people can come and have fun and spread some good at the same time – it feels important, especially this time of year.

For more than 40 years MAP has provided both emergency relief as well as supporting the development of better, more long term medical services such as the training of medics. And thanks to the ticket sales and the generosity of the punters putting cash in buckets on the night, more than £2000 has been raised and will be donated. Proof then, that doing good in the world can sometimes be joyful.

It would be safe to say that this community ceilidh was a resounding success. And for those who didn't make it along this time, worry not – The Thievin' Corbies will be back again before long.