Celtic Culture & heritage

The Celtic Festival Renaissance in America – From Milwaukee to Bethlehem

Emmett McIntyre's picture
Submitted by Emmett McIntyre on January 8, 2014 - 7:16pm

Irish dancers at the Milwaukee Irish Fest

Estimates vary on the number of American’s claiming descent from immigrants to North America from the modern Celtic Nations. More elusive still is identifying the number of American’s descended from Celtic immigrants who enjoy a “Celtic Identity”.  An analysis of the American 2010 Census data proffered in an August 2013 article in “Business Insider” estimates the number of descendants of Celtic immigrants to be in the vicinity of 50 million, comprised primarily of Irish, Scottish and Welsh in that order and inclusive of 5 million Americans who claim Scots-Irish ancestry.  Manx, Cornish and Breton identity is more difficult to measure as it has generally been subsumed within the census data into either English or French categories.

We at Transceltic believe that the Pan-Celtic movement should look upon Celtic Americans as a reservoir of good will, resources and support as we engage in the struggle to restore Celtic culture and language to its rightful place in the Celtic Nations.

A marker that points to the resurgence of Celtic ethnic identify in America is the growth in attendance at Celtic festivals.  It is problematic to gauge how many of the attendees are drawn to these events because they are expressing their Celtic identity versus just showing up because they enjoy a good show.  If we assume that 50% of the attendees at Celtic festivals are expressing a Celtic identify, then we are talking about a very large number of people that can be viewed as allies in the Pan Celtic movement and the struggle to preserve the language and culture of the Celtic Nations.

Scottish Society of New Zealand Pipe Band Going from Strength to Strength

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Submitted by Alastair Kneale on December 21, 2013 - 5:06pm

Scottish Society of New Zealand

Transceltic’s Alastair Kneale interviewed the Scottish Society of New Zealand Pipe Band Pipe Major Nick Eagle as the band prepared for practice in the Scottish Society of New Zealand Hall in Christchurch New Zealand. In common with pipe bands around the world competition is a major focus for the New Zealand Band.

How is the band progressing and do you have an enthusiastic group of players and volunteers?

The band is progressing well. Since becoming Pipe Major I have tried to instil a sense of self belief. As we started to win competitions confidence has grown. We have an enthusiastic group of people who are very supportive of each other.

The band enters a number of competitions. What are your recent successes and forthcoming events?

We are a Grade 4A Pipe Band and have been doing well in competitions. Success has brought a new sense of pride in our performance and a desire to continue to perfect our skills. It is hard work entailing a lot of practice under the instruction of myself as Pipe Major and Drum Sergeant Nathan Harris but it is also very enjoyable.  Recent competitive successes prior to Christmas included:

  • Hororata Highland Games: 1st Place in Grade 4
  • Christchurch Casino Highland Day: 2nd Place in Grade 4
  • South Canterbury Provincial Contest: 2nd Place in Grade 4

The competing season will resume towards the end of January. This year we will also see us taking part in the 2014 Australian Pipe Band Championships.

Manx Fairy Tales by Sophia Morrison

Submitted by Valerie Caine on December 16, 2013 - 8:26pm

manx=

This outstanding collection of stories, initially published in 1911, has lost none of its original appeal, with its reissue by Lily Publications bringing these thought-provoking tales to a new audience.

Earlier editions were presented in a much simpler style, but with the assistance of Manx Gaelic speaker Bob Carswell, Island based illustrator Julia Ashby Smyth and the Manx Heritage Foundation, these stories have been developed into an eye-catching and memorable book.

These classic tales are testimony to Sophia’s work, and introduces readers to some of the great characters from Manx mythology by using stories with a prophetic or moralistic tone.

Incorporating familiar place-names with copious amounts of humour and drama, this selection of wide-ranging stories has been edited by Bob Carswell, offering a contemporary feel to this well-presented hard back edition.

Celtic Identity, Language and the Question of Galicia

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Submitted by Emmett McIntyre on December 11, 2013 - 1:50pm

Celtic nations

An issue raised on occasion is the question of why the Six Nations of Cornwall, Brittany, Ireland, Isle of Man, Scotland and Wales are specifically identified as Celtic and only these six. Over the years there have been persistent calls for the inclusion of the North Western Spanish provinces of Galicia and Asturias within the family of modern Celtic Nations. What follows focuses on the “Galician Question” but allows us to share a working definition of what constitutes a Celtic Nation.

The Pan-Celtic movement is built on the recognition that Bretons, Cornish, Welsh, Manx, Irish and Scots benefit from a special relationship with one another due to a shared identity. An identity that is rooted in the distinct living Celtic language of each of the Six Nations.  It is also true that history, mythology and the bitter legacy of persecution at the hands of the English and French nation states bind us together.  Yet, it is the shared linguistic heritage that primarily defines Celtic identity and drives the Pan-Celtic movement. And it is the existence of the Celtic language that defines the modern Celtic nation.

Claasagh – New Manx Harp Book

Submitted by Valerie Caine on December 1, 2013 - 11:31am

Claasagh

Scottish harpist Rachel Hair is recognised as one of the UK’s finest contemporary Celtic harpists and tunesmiths, with several tune books and a number of CDs under her belt, but she has recently widened her focus to include the Island’s rich traditional musical heritage.

For the past two years Rachel has been giving monthly harp lessons (courtesy of the Manx Heritage Foundation) to a growing number of pupils on the Isle of Man, and from this has emerged a collection of 20 tunes which she has arranged for her students, and now available to everyone under the fitting title of Claasagh (Manx Gaelic for harp).

Based in Glasgow, Rachel is a First Class Music Honours graduate and a winner of the Alexander Stone Award for excellence in performance, and keeps herself busy with a full range of teaching, touring and recording.

Claasagh is an extension of her first two books which concentrated on Scottish and other Celtic music, with volume three devoted exclusively to Manx compositions.

Irish Pubs in America: History, Lore and Recipes - by Robert Meyers with Ron Wallace

Emmett McIntyre's picture
Submitted by Emmett McIntyre on November 25, 2013 - 7:13pm

Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.

– Benjamin Franklin

The Irish Public House maintains a ubiquitous presence on the American urban landscape. The Irish “Pub” stands as an island of Celtic identity, giving proof to the impact that Irish immigration has had on the American psyche. Whether one points to the immensity of America’s Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations, the stunning surge in attendance in recent years at Celtic festivals across North America or simply to the Irish Pub, there is no question that a strong Celtic strain of cultural ethnicity is inextricably mixed with the European American identity. The Irish Pub is considered by many to be a cultural institution, a conjurer’s image of refuge from the confusion of the 21st century. A place that preserves a time and a way of life that is now almost forgotten. An anchor in a fractured and changing American ethnic landscape which affords comfort from a rapidly changing mosaic of cultural influences.

Review of "Irish Pubs in America" by Robert Myers with Ron Wallace

Irish Pubs

“Irish Pubs in America”, by Robert Meyers with Ron Wallace, is lushly illustrated, meticulously researched and shows a respect for the subject matter. This is a one-of-a-kind coffee table book which features more than 50 Irish Pubs throughout America. It is a work that deals in the currency of iconographic imagery and reflects the regard the authors possess for the subject matter. Meyers and Wallace have opened a window into the Irish Pub, a low door in the garden wall exposing a path that goes a long way towards capturing the essence of the American version of the Celtic Public House. In a recent interview the author states:

We logged 50,000 air miles and performed hundreds of interviews with Pub owners.  We quickly found out we didn’t just want to highlight the most famous Pubs. Instead it was the people, history and the buildings themselves that distinguish them as truly distinctive.

Meyers emphasizes this point in the preface, "This book is more than a survey of Irish Pubs. It is a tribute to Irish culture and the contributions that the Irish have made to the United States."

Anne of Brittany (Breton: Anna Vreizh), the last independent ruler of Brittany

Submitted by Dominique Corolleur on November 20, 2013 - 8:39pm

Anne of Brittany

January 9th marks the five hundredth anniversary of the death of Anne of Brittany (Breton: Anna Vreizh) in 1514. Born in Nantes, Brittany she was the daughter of Francis II (Breton: Frañsez II) and Margaret of Foix. Anne was their only surviving child and she became Duchess of Brittany upon the death of her father in 1488.

Anne was only aged twelve when she inherited the Duchy and was the last independent ruler of Brittany. These were turbulent times and marriage to Anne was sought by both the House of Habsburg and the French Crown. Despite a treaty between France and Brittany that required French agreement on the marriage of Anne, a proxy marriage with Maximilian 1 was undertaken. The treaty in question was the Treaty of Sablé; forced upon Brittany by the French after defeat at the Battle of Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier on July 28, 1488.

Anne’s proxy marriage to Maximilian 1 of Austria at Rennes on 19th December 1490 upset the French, who saw it as a breach of the Treaty of Sablé and at the same time placed Brittany in an alliance with their enemy. The subsequent French invasion and fall of Rennes led to Anne’s proxy marriage to Maximilian being forcibly broken. Anne was given no choice but to become engaged to Charles VIII and they were married on 6th December 1491. At the time of Charles death in 1498 they had no surviving children. Anne then married Louis XII (cousin and successor to Charles) and they had two daughters Claude and Renée.

Anne died on January 9th 1514 just before her 37th birthday at Château de Blois. Her last wishes were for her heart to be removed, placed in a gold reliquary, then brought to her beloved Brittany and placed in the tomb of her parents at Nantes. Throughout her life Anne of Brittany sought to defend the autonomy of Brittany and to preserve the Duchy as separate from the French crown. Anna Vreizh was a very pious woman and in 1505 made a pilgrimage around Brittany, known as the Tro Breizh, to honour the seven founding Saints of Brittany-Malo, Samson, Brieuc, Tugdual, Pol Aurélien, Corentin and Patern. She is remembered for her intelligence and as a promoter of literature and the arts. The Grandes Heures of Anne of Brittany was commissioned by Anne in the early sixteenth century. A book of hours is a Christian devotional book and the Great Book of Hours of Anne of Brittany is beautifully illustrated and has been described as one of the best ever made. It is seen to be the work of miniature painter and illuminator Jean Bourdichon.

The Fight To Save Our Language, Our Nations, Ourselves: Introducing Liam Alastair Crouse

Submitted by Transceltic team on November 13, 2013 - 9:03pm

Celtic horses

Celtic Culture is anchored in the languages of the Six Nations. Indeed, the definition of a modern Celtic nation is based on language and it is widely recognized that the each of the six national languages face challenges of varying degrees. Guarded optimism coupled with vigilance and determination to fight back from the centuries of systematic persecution and suppression of the Celtic languages must be our mantra if we are to restore Breton, Cornish, Welsh, Manx, Irish and Scots Gaelic to their rightful positions. 

In a January 2013 interview with Transceltic, the noted Celtic historian and author, Peter Beresford Ellis, shared his insights into the current state and future of the tongue:

In spite of the achievements of the last decades, there is no room for complacency when examining the current situation and looking to the future (of the Celtic languages). Coming from the 1960s perspective when Welshmen and women were going to jail in their campaign to gain status for Welsh; when the Cornish who proclaimed their Celticity were sneered at as fantasists dreaming of the second coming of King Arthur; when Scottish Gaelic speakers could not even register their children in the language … well – times have moved on. Since the 1960s there has been some legal recognition given to the Celtic languages and through this there is a more widespread knowledge of the languages and their historic, cultural and social value. But the fact remains, they are still endangered languages. Look at recent Census figures for Welsh as an example. There is no easy acceptable programme to ensure their salvation.  It comes down to hard work – we must publicise, educate and encourage. There is a saying in each of the six Celtic languages – no language, no nation!

The survival of the language in each of the Six Nations is in the hands of future generations. And it is in that spirit that Transceltic are honoured to welcome Liam Alastair Crouse as a contributor.  Liam’s Blog Posts will focus on his experiences in Scotland as he works to revitalize the Scots Gaelic tongue. Liam is currently a post-graduate student in Publishing Studies at the University of Stirling, after having obtained his under-graduate degree in Celtic and Archaeology from the University of Edinburgh. He will be focusing on Gaelic literature in his studies and is working closely with the Gaelic Books Council. He is originally from Rhode Island in the US and is both a Gaelic speaker and a Piper.  Scottish Gaelic tradition, history, and culture are the driving interests in his life.

Barrule Pulls the Crowds at WOMAD

Submitted by Valerie Caine on November 6, 2013 - 8:45pm

Barrule on stage at WOMAD

With international music pulling the crowds as never before, Manx traditional music trio Barrule was delighted to receive an invitation to perform on the BBC Radio 3 stage at the WOMAD international music festival, set in the attractive arboretum of Charlton Park in Wiltshire, England, where they introduced the unique music of the Isle of Man to large audiences and fellow musicians, several of whom declared Barrule’s gig to be the favourite of the festival.

Barrule at WOMAD

WOMAD (World of Music and Dance) was founded by Peter Gabriel, Thomas Brooman and Bob Hooton, with their first festival in 1982, but now established as a truly international festival bringing together artists from all over the world to present music of passion, individuality and excellence.

With a reputation for introducing unknown artists to a wider audience, WOMAD has presented more than one thousand musicians from over 100 countries to live audiences of in excess of one million people in its lifetime.

After weeks of glorious weather, a forecast of rain did little to dampen the enthusiasm of the all-male line-up of Adam Rhodes, Jamie Smith and Tom Callister, who were overwhelmed by the fantastic response of music lovers determined to have a good time come rain or shine (although Barrule’s gig was bathed in sunshine) at the 31st WOMAD festival; with the additional delights of workshops, food tastings and a global trade market.

Norwegian-Manx Music Exchange

Submitted by Valerie Caine on November 6, 2013 - 9:27pm

Tom Callister

Local Manx musicians Ruth Keggin and Tom Callister travelled to Norway recently, with funding from the Manx Heritage Foundation, to exchange fiddle and vocal music, and to meet Hardanger fiddler Erlend Apneseth and singer Margit Myhr.

Ruth Keggin

Joining their fellow musicians at Ole Bull Akademiet, situated in Voss in western Norway, the aim of this visit was to share, explore and arrange music from both traditions, in an informal setting, providing an opportunity to learn more about each country’s unique traditional style.

The Ole Bull Akademiet is affiliated with the Grieg Institute at the University of Bergen, and is one of only three establishments in Norway where it’s possible to study Norwegian folk music at Bachelor degree level. This was a return trip for Ruth who had previously visited in 2009 as part of her research for a BA degree in music.

Erlend is currently one of the top young Hardanger-fiddle players in Norway and after years performing folk music in competitions and concerts has begun to explore contemporary and improvisational performance alongside traditional music. Having received the Grappa debutant award in 2012 Erlend will be releasing his debut album later this year. Meanwhile, Margit who has sung since childhood, also dances and plays the Hardanger-fiddle, together with the langeleik, also closely associated with Norway, and the lyre.

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