CELTIC rock legends Runrig have bid a final farewell after two performances which saw more than 50,000 of their legion of fans – including islanders, highlanders and lowlanders along with Scandinavians, Germans and others – flock to Stirling’s City Park.

The band’s original vocalist Donnie Munro opened the Friday and Saturday night shows – 21 years after leaving the band – much to the delight of the crowd, and joined them on stage later with the Glasgow Islay Gaelic Choir.

Munro left Runrig in 1997 to pursue a political career, as did former keyboard player Pete Wishart, a long-serving SNP MP, but he slotted in as if he had never been gone.

It was a night of thanks to people who had supported the band, some now deceased, and to those who continue to support them, thanks for the journey they have been on for the past 45 years.

Canadian Bruce Guthro, Munro’s replacement for the past two decades, acknowledged the problems he had filling his predecessor’s boots.

The Nova Scotian spoke of playing “scaled-down” gigs to reduced audiences, but said he had to “keep on walking”.

He won applause when he said: “All of it has been special – it’s just been a great journey. Thanks for having our backs.”

Their three-hour set included many of the old favourites, such as Alba, A Dance Called America and Loch Lomond as one of their encores as well as much of their newer material, along with solo performances which highlighted the brilliance and versatility of guitarist and accordionist Malcolm Jones.

Long-time fan Alex McLean said: “It was phenomenal. The music, the atmosphere, the setting underneath Stirling Castle, it couldn’t have been better.

“I’ve previously seen Runrig at Edinburgh Castle and Loch Lomond, but this was a really special night.

“There was a moment towards the end when the stage background was a section of the castle with one spotlight on Malcolm as he played a solo – that sent shivers down my spine.

“I don’t know whether the crowd or the band were more emotional, but there were quite a few tears shed through the night.”

The Last Dance gigs opened with a monochrome video compilation from the Runrig Dance Band’s earliest days in Skye in 1973, when a faithful white Ford Transit took them to the Western Isles’ village halls where they served their apprenticeships.

Since then they have played all around the world and have a particularly strong fan base in Germany and Denmark, many of who stayed on a specially constructed campsite adjacent to the Stirling arena.

Rory MacDonald – the bass guitarist, co-writer and co-founder, along with his brother Calum – said the band would continue working together, although not performing, while a Glasgow company is making a documentary about them.

“In immediate terms we’re stopping playing live,” he said. “It’s become a big beast to try and organise and administer and cater for, so we took the decision to not play live any more.

“We haven’t made any plans to play live together but for the next year we’re going to be working on a DVD being shot of the two nights, so there’s a lot of work involved in that.

“There’s also a documentary being made about the band so we’ll be involved in that right up to next year.”

Such was the demand from diehard fans in the islands that Loganair put on extra flights to Edinburgh and Glasgow for the performances.

Stirling was awash with tartan scarves, kilts and Saltires for the whole weekend as the thousands of fans descended on the city.

Fiona Stewart, from Inverness, was saddened by their decision to quit playing together.

She said: “I was sort of brought up with them always being there and I was gutted when I heard they were disbanding.

“I guess I can understand their reasoning, but it’s only really started to sink in now.

“This was a really emotional show and it’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my days.”

That sentiment was echoed across social media, with Zak tweeting: “Well that was one of the best gigs I have ever witnessed. An emotional rollercoaster from the start to finish. Thank you to @BruceGuthro and @Runrig1973 for the music and the joy you have shared with me. A journey that will never be forgotten.”

Derek Murray wrote: “Soaked it all in, cried it all out and felt every single word of an outstanding ‘Last Dance’... What a privilege to have these legends as life’s soundtrack. Love each and every soul that took the stage. Sensational.”

Jeremy Blain added: “Emotional, joyous, sad, happy, amazing, togetherness, tears, dancing, singing, listening, appreciating, connecting. And that was just me and 25,000 others. Unbelievable final night. Thank you.”