Feis an Eilein

…de la Cape Breton Post:

Feis an Eilein, a six-day festival celebrating the traditions and culture of the Gaelic people and the songs, dance and milling frolics is in full swing, with most events taking place at the Christmas Island fire hall.

The Feis is an opportunity for local residents and visitors alike to develop skills in the Gaelic language and listen to traditional music on a wide range of instruments.

“We are getting excellent numbers for our classes with students of all ages,” said Debi MacNeil, co-chair of this year’s event with Beth MacNeil. “We’re drawing good crowds for all our events.”

MacNeil said the combination of language and song is what makes the Feis work.

“It all revolves around having fun, that’s why we’ve been here for 19 years,” she said. “We have instructors who started off coming to day camps and are now teaching at the Feis. Instructor Meagan O’Handley will be teaching Gaelic at our local school. They’re proof that Gaelic is alive and well in Cape Breton.”...

Gaela Kolegio

...de la Watauga Democrat:

Two representatives from a Canadian College were at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games over the weekend seeking students for Gaelic College in Nova Scotia.

The school’s mission statement: “To promote, preserve and perpetuate … the culture, music, language, arts, crafts, customs and traditions of immigrants from the Highlands of Scotland.”

Jennifer MacAskill Daisley, bookkeeper, and Ann Cantwell, knitmaker, said they had excellent response from “very interested” people.

The school’s class offerings include bagpipes, fiddle, Celtic harp, Gaelic language and song, Highland dance, pipe band drumming and weaving, as well as spinning and dyeing...

William Shatner, Savanto de la Gaelaj Lingvoj?

…de la Cape Breton Post:

Gaelic, as a language, is facing its mortality on two fronts: it could lose its place in our modern world, and the last generation, both here in Cape Breton and in Ireland and Scotland, who grew up in a Gaelic culture are disappearing.

The documentary that was screened at Empire Theatre's Sydney Cinema Ten, Is Mise An Teanga ("I Am The Tongue"), makes its clear that Gaelic will not go gently into that dark night…

…The writer of the documentary, Kevin Anderson, was present at the screening and, after it screened, spoke to the audience and genially answered their questions….

…And, Anderson also acknowledged that there is debate between more traditional Gaelic speakers and younger, more innovative, users of Gaelic. One Irish poet, Anderson joked, called these newer strains of Gaelic "Esperanto".

Which brings us to how William Shatner can help save Gaelic.

William Shatner stands alone in cinematic history as having acted in two films that featured two different artificial languages: Incubus, which used Esperanto, and Star Trek: The Search for Spock, that introduced Klingon (And let us pause for a second and consider how un-endangered Gaelic would be if Kiingons spoke Gaelic). So, Shatner is used to promoting non-mainstream languages. He has cool appeal and recognition that cuts across generations and he has already made a movie in Cape Breton (The Third Walker).

A Gaelic language film set in Cape Breton with William Shatner on its own might put Gaelic in the mouths of Terrans everywhere.

And I would bet real money that somebody somewhere has already rendered into Gaelic the phrase, "Beam me up, Scotty."

Cainnt mo Mhàthar

...de la Cape Breton Post:

A three-year project to aid the development of Gaelic learners is finally nearing an end.

A website is expected to go live on the Internet later this month and will feature video and audio recordings of the province’s Gaelic tradition-bearers in their own homes, speaking about everyday life.

The Gaelic Council of Nova Scotia organized the project with the help of the Nova Scotia Highland Village and with the technical expertise of Cape Breton University.

Known as the Cainnt mo Mhàthar (My Mother’s Language) project, the collection now boasts more than 40 hours of material. As well, the Highland Village in Iona recently donated two additional compilations of song and conversation recordings.

These recordings will provide an invaluable resource for Gaelic learners and educators alike, said project co-ordinator Shannon MacDonald, a staffer with the Gaelic Council.

“These recordings were super important to try to capture the little nuances, the rhythms and the little subtleties that are definitely obvious from one community to the next,” MacDonald said.

Mary Jane Lamond

...de The Guardian (Insulo de Princo Eduardo):

Mary Jane Lamond burst onto the music scene as the hypnotic Gaelic voice behind Ashley MacIsaac’s hit song Sleepy Maggie in 1995.

Thirteen years, four CDs and countless concerts later, she has become one of the best-known Gaelic singers in the world.

“At this point in my career, I get to do a variety of things, but my favourite is performing,” says Lamond, who will be in Georgetown for a concert at Kings Playhouse on Saturday at 8 p.m.

“I’m so excited. It’s the first time I’ve ever performed there. It’s also been a long time since I’ve played with a full band. These days I’m mainly a guest performer so it will be fun to get back with everyone again,” says Lamond...

Cainnt mo Mhàthar

…de la Cape Breton Post:

Cainnt mo Mhàthar (My Mother’s Language) is a project designed to record idiomatic, everyday Gaelic from fluent speakers in Nova Scotia.

Now in its final stage, the project has produced nearly 25 hours of video recordings based on an extensive questionnaire developed with the needs of language learners in mind.Project co-ordinator Shamus Y. MacDonald and field worker Jim Watson, who volunteered his time on behalf of the Highland Village, visited Gaelic speakers in all four Cape Breton counties to complete the project.

Their recordings feature individuals and pairs speaking on a variety of everyday topics including the weather, folklore, child care, baking, chores, music and clothing...

Mark Macneill

...de la Glace Bay Gleaner:

Calling himself a decentralist, Macneill questioned the logic of the provincial government in placing the Gaelic Affairs office in Antigonish when Cape Breton has such strong cultural and historical ties to the language. MacNeill’s two children, Donovan and Skye, both speak Gaelic and entertained the group with some Gaelic singing.

Donovan Macneill would be a familiar face to those who saw the award-winning Gaelic short film The Wake of Calum MacLeod, which was filmed in Cape Breton and was nominated for a Genie Award this year.

In closing Macneill said, “I think this island has been so underserved in terms of the representation we need in Ottawa that I am asking Rodger Cuzner to resign his seat. We’re not going to have the next election until October 2009 and we can’t wait that long. Do you know how much Cape Bretoners will need before then? So if he’s not going to go and start fighting for more resources for our island, [he should] resign.”

Skotagaelalingvo en Nov-Skotio

...de la John O’Groat Journal:

…Beth Legg, one of Scotland's top contemporary jewellers, has been selected by pupils from Dalbrae Academy in Nova Scotia to come and work with them, while at the same time Ardnamurchan High School pupils have invited Kelly Krawchuck, who is a multidisciplinary crafter as well as a student of Gaelic language, folklore and biology from Cape Breton, to join them during May and June.…

…Gaelic is an integral part of the project and the makers will be encouraged to further extend their language skills by using Gaelic wherever possible….

…"I hope it will allow me to focus on narratives from the shared Gaelic heritage and craft traditions of Nova Scotia and the Highlands. Most importantly, it will give me the unique opportunity to become part of a community that has strong links to the place where I grew up and I'm really looking forward to it."

Councillor Hamish Fraser, chairman of the council's Gaelic committee, said: "I'm very pleased that through the Memorandum of Understanding partnership between the council and the province of Nova Scotia, we are able to run such an innovative exchange residency, especially as it contains many elements for which the council is responsible, such as Gaelic, crafts/arts and exhibitions…

Faire Chaluim Mhic Leòid

...de la Daily News (Halifax):

Halifax residents Marc Almon and Nona MacDermid have received a Genie nomination for best live-action short film for their production, Faire Chaluim Mhic Leoid (The Wake of Calum MacLeod).

It is the first Gaelic-language film made in North America and was completed as part of the Atlantic Filmmakers Co-operative's FILM 5 program.

The film premiered at the Atlantic Film Festival in 2006.

Na Beanntaichean Gorma

…de la Cape Breton Post:

Many of Cape Breton’s Gaelic stories will be passed on to a whole new generation through a provincial initiative at high schools across Nova Scotia.

The Office of Gaelic Affairs announced Friday that copies of John Shaw’s most recent book, The Blue Mountains and Other Gaelic Stories from Cape Breton: Na Beanntaichean Gorma agus Sgeulachdan Eile à Ceap Breatainn — a publication that includes Gaelic texts of the stories and their English translations — will be provided to all high schools in the province.

Lewis MacKinnon, CEO of the Office of Gaelic Affairs, said the book will be an important tool for existing Gaelic language and culture courses and in building awareness among students and staff at schools where Gaelic programming currently isn’t offered.

“The significance of the material is that it’s bilingual. He presents it in a bilingual format and obviously it’s Nova Scotia content. The informants that he presents in his material are Cape Breton Gaelic tradition bearers and therefore I think it’s obviously of local interest,” he said.“Many of the students who will come in contact with this particular publication, probably their grandparents or their great-grandparents had some of these stories. I think that’s the amazing thing, that these stories were passed down generation to generation.”

Kanada Subvencio por la Skotgaelalingvo

...de la Canadian Press:

The Gaelic Council of Nova Scotia has been awarded $39,000 to help put recordings of those fluent in the ancient tongue on the internet.

A recent project that made video recordings of Gaelic speakers talking about a variety of everyday topics, will form a large part of the completed website.

The money from the Department of Canadian Heritage, combined with $8,100 awarded earlier by the provincial Office of Gaelic Affairs, will allow for the production of a series of professionally filmed interviews.

It is estimated that while thousands of Nova Scotians spoke the language 100 years ago only about 500 retain the knowledge today, primarily in Cape Breton.

The website will also showcase two important collections produced by the Highland Village Museum.

The project is intended to provide an overview to the world of Gaelic Nova Scotia, as related by modern-day tradition-bearers through their native language.

Cruinneachadh nan Gaidheal

...de la Chronicle Herald:

Gaelic language enthusiasts and scholars from around the world will meet in Antigonish next summer to celebrate the culture.

The Gathering of the Gaels, Cruinneachadh nan Gaidheal, will take place on the campus of St. Francis Xavier University in July.

Gaelic professor Catronia Parsons has been busy this month drumming up municipal and community support for the event.

Ms. Parsons said the gathering is an opportunity for young and old to come together "as a demonstration that Gaelic language and culture are alive and thriving."

Video de Skotgaela Klaso

...de Cape Breton Post:

Lt. - Gov. Mayann Francis was on hand at Mira Road Elementary School Wednesday morning to help launch the new school Gaelic program.

Mira Road is hosting one of three programs aimed at preserving the Gaelic language and culture.

Comunn Gàidhlig Cheap Breatuinn

...de la Cape Breton Post:

From the moment they step through the door of the Cape Breton Gaelic Society each Saturday morning, participants in a unique program are able to immerse themselves in the Gaelic language for five hours.

Known as the Total Immersion Plus (TIP), the program has been offered on the island for the last couple of years and is proving effective in allowing people to achieve conversational fluency in Gaelic.

The program includes beginner, intermediate and advanced-level learners.

Muziko de Breton-Kabo

...de la Cape Breton Post:

A video that explores Cape Breton’s unique musical history through the eyes of some of the island’s most well-known fiddlers and performers will now be available across Canada.

Earlier this week, Sea-Cape Music Ltd. announced it had signed an agreement with Landwash Music Distribution naming them the exclusive national distributor for Highland Legacy: The Music of Cape Breton, a DVD co-produced by Sea-Cape owner Allister MacGillivray and Helix Digital of Sydney...

...That footage showcases all aspects of Cape Breton’s musical culture, including the Gaelic language, stepdancing, square dances and much more...

Lodaidh MacFhionghain

...de la Daily News (Halifax):

"A friend of Premier Rodney MacDonald who once ran for Parliament as a Progressive Conservative will head up the province's Office of Gaelic Affairs.

Deputy Premier Angus MacIsaac appointed Lewis MacKinnon yesterday to be the office's first permanent chief executive officer. The job pays $80,740...

...MacKinnon's resume reads like he was made for the job. A self-taught speaker of Gaelic, he served seven years as president of Comhairle na Gàidhlig//Gaelic Council of Nova Scotia. He assists as a language instructor, and is working on a Gaelic language master's degree through St. Francis Xavier University's department of Celtic studies."