Scottish Culture Online

With talents ranging from singing to television presenting, dancing to award-winning Gaelic journalism, Mòd Gold Medalist Joy Dunlop certainly has more strings to her bow than most. A multi-prize winning Gaelic singer and popular international performer, she combines her singing with regular media stints and also writing for numerous Gaelic publications. Her debut solo album “Dùsgadh” (Awakening) won the 'Roots Recording of the Year' award at the Scottish New Music Awards and she herself was nominated as ‘Gaelic Singer of the Year’ at the 2010 MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards and won the ‘Tradition Award” at the Fatea Awards 2010. In recent years, Joy has also found time to entertain a global audience including performances in the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada and New Zealand. A regular on the traditional music circuit, she is as much at ease entertaining audiences at local cèilidhs as performing at major festivals, such as Cape Breton’s ‘Celtic Colours’ and Glasgow’s ‘Celtic Connections.’ In addition to her solo work, Joy is a dedicated supporter of Gaelic choral music and Scottish step dancing & is a prolific figure in both fields, especially in her native Argyll. With an extensive academic background in Gaelic language and culture development work, she is also increasingly in demand as a teacher, speaker and translator. Lately, Joy has become a familiar face in Gaelic broadcasting, appearing frequently on both television and radio, while her Gaelic journalism was commended at both the Scottish Press Awards and Highlands and Islands Media Awards; a heady combination of achievements that has raised her profile as a new and powerful Gaelic voice.