Concert: The Trousers and Kyle Burghout, at LIVE! on Elgin, Sunday 11 Feb 2018

Join Ottawa's The Trousers at LIVE! on Elgin, Elgin St., Ottawa, Sunday 11 February, at 2PM for a wonderful ride through a grand selection of traditional acoustic Celtic music. Doors open 1:30.

TICKETS

Making a name for themselves as Ottawa’s hottest trad band, The Trousers are a dynamic duo that showcase music from their roots. Seasoned multi-instrumentalists Karson McKeown (right) and Ross Davison (left) are sure to have audiences unable to resist nodding and tapping their toes along to the beat of unique arrangements consisting of traditional Irish, Scottish, and Cape Breton tunes.

After forming the band in Jan. 2016, The Trousers are thrilled to have released their first EP, which unites sets influenced by the members’ most influential idols, new music, and, of course, old favourites.

Karson McKeown, who comes from a long line of fiddlers in western Prince Edward Island, began playing the fiddle at age 10 following step dancing for six years. He has a classical background, and studied music at Holland College, where he focused on jazz, blues, rock, and Celtic. McKeown loves incorporating tunes his great, great, aunts and uncles taught him into their performances.

Davison also started applying his love for music at 10 years old when he took up learning to play the saxophone. Davison attended Michigan State University to study classical and jazz. Also, he is one of few people in Ottawa who play the uilleann pipe, which isn’t typically heard live outside of Ireland. He relishes the opportunity to share such a rare instrument with music-lovers at shows.

Kyle Burghout (Facebook / webpage) Having performed across Canada, the USA, Ireland, Italy, Austria, and Hungary, Kyle Burghout has established himself as one of Canada’s best young fiddlers. Kyle and his music have been featured on CBC radio and television, as well as in Irish Music Magazine and The Canadian Fiddler. His many awards include North American Irish Fiddle Champion, runner-up at the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Championship, and two-time finalist at the All-Ireland Fiddle Competition in Sligo, Ireland.  Learn more at Kyle's webpage!

Learn more at THE TROUSERS webpage!

Follow The Trousers  on Facebook!

ALL OF THE ABOVE ARTISTS HAVE CDS.

Ceilidh at the Hill - 21 June

This worldwide ceilidh, which starts in New Zealand and concludes in Hawaii 24 hours later, is in celebration of the 20th Commonwealth Games being held in Glasgow Scotland in 2014. Lively music and simple instruction will enable participants with no previous dance experience to master and enjoy the dances in no time. No kilts, no swords, no partner, no charge! Come as you are and stay for a good time. A Ceilidh is a party and you are invited!


More details here: http://rscdsottawa.ca/commonwealth%20ceilidh/commonwealth%20ceilidh.html

Come one, come all!
Bring your family and friends.

See you at the ceilidh on the Hill!

Irish Language

The Irish Language is one of the six Celtic languages, the others being Scottish Gaelic, Manx, Cornish, Welsh, and Breton. In pronunciation, Irish most closely resembles its nearest relatives, Scottish Gaelic and Manx.

Gaeilge, also known as Irish Gaelic or Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family (Indo-European → Celtic → Insular Celtic → Goidelic → Irish), historically spoken by the Irish people. 

Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of the population. Around the turn of the 21st century, estimates of native speakers ranged from 20,000 to 80,000 people. In the 2011 census for the Republic, 94,000 people reported using Irish as a daily language outside of the education system, and 1.3 million reported using it at least occasionally in or out of school. Currently the UNESCO has classified the Irish language as “Definitely Endangered.”

There are also thousands of Irish speakers in Northern Ireland, and a comparable number of fluent speakers in the United States and Canada. Historically the island of Newfoundland had a dialect of Irish Gaelic, called Newfoundland Irish.

Listen to a documentary that explains all disappearing languages in the world. The Irish part starts about 05:40 of the 12+ minutes. Here is the link to the France24 program: http://www.france24.com/fr/20130119-intelligence-economique-disparition-des-langues-les%20degats-de-la-concurrence-irlande-gaelique


If you are interested in learning the Irish language, here in Ottawa, join us for our weekly classes. For more information, check: http://www.ottawacomhaltas.com/events.php

2014 Student Lecture Series in Celtic Studies - University of Ottawa

When: 18-19 January 2014

Where: University of Ottawa (more details to follow)

Cost: $65.00 (price may drop according to the number of people registered). Fees include all meals, snacks, and entertainment during the days of the Series.



2014 Student Lecture Series in Celtic Studies


The University of Ottawa Celtic Club presents an opportunity for all students of subjects related to Celtic Studies to meet and discuss issues that interest them.


The Series will take place 18-19 January, 2014 and feature student presenters as well as professional guest speakers. We would be glad to hear what you have to say! Just send in a presentation proposal along with your registration form!


Registration rates are presently $65 per person, and may drop as we get more participants. Fees include all meals, snacks, and entertainment during the days of the Series. Entertainment includes the CCÉ Ottawa ceili (Saturday 18 January).


Please email Celtic Club at celtic.uottawa@hotmail.ca for further details and registration forms.

Traditional Irish Music Resources

Ottawa Ceili Band

Now that you might have secured some music lessons from the Instructors list we published last week, we thought that you may be interested in some link to musical resources besides the ones listed on the Traditional Irish Music post. 

The Irish Traditional Music Archive – Taisce Cheol Dúchais Éireann is a national reference archive and resource centre for the traditional song, instrumental music and dance of Ireland. It is a public not-for-profit facility which is open, free of charge, to anyone with an interest in the contemporary and historical artforms of Irish traditional music. ITMA provides access to:

Digitised materials 

Audio playlists   

Video playlists   

Interactive scores  

On-Line Catalogues and Databases

PDF Downloads 

Discover the music! 

2013 Ottawa Gaels Annual Golf Fundraiser Tournament

 

When: Saturday, July 13, 2013

          12:30 pm. Shotgun Start
          06:30 pm. Dinner

Where: Irish Hills Golf & Country Club, 3248 Carp Road, Carp, ON K0A 1L0

Cost: $110.00 per golfer (includes   

                   dinner)
         $34.00 Dinner only


For more information, Contact Clara (after 6 pm) at 613-850-9074 or at ottawagaels@gmail.com

Who are the Ottawa Gaels? The Ottawa Gaels Gaelic football Club was established in 1975, they are a Gaelic Athletic Association club in Ottawa dedicated to the promotion and development of Gaelic football in Ottawa

The Ottawa Gaels are affiliated with the Toronto GAA, where they play in both men's and ladies senior competition. The league is made up of 8 teams from Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal, and the season runs from May to September.

https://sites.google.com/site/ottawagaels/

Come and join us for a good craic! 

Oireachtas Gaeilge Cheanada: Tamworth and Dún Laoghaire (Ontario) 2013

In case that you missed it, the last weekend of June (28-30 June) was the 2013 Oireachtas Gaeilge Cheanada as part of the Gaeltacht Thuaisceart An Oileáin Úir that was held both in Tamworth and at the Days Inn and Conference Centre in Kingston (Dún Laoghaire), Ontario. For detailed information check: http://www.oireachtas.ca/forbhreathnu-bea.shtml 

Tamworth. Photo courtesy C. Hamm

During the three-day event, the most exciting is the one held on the Saturday, at the Tamworth site. There is where all the competitions are held; competitions are grouped as follows: 

Speaking: Oration, Story Telling, Poetry Recitation, Pair Dialogue 

Writing: Poetry, Prose, Learning Books and Aids 

Singing: Sean Nós Singing, Singing in Irish (not Sean Nós), Individual, Choir, Lúibíní 

Music: Harp, Uilleann Pipes, Céilí Bands 

Dancing: Sean Nós, Set Dancing 

Several CCE Ottawa members actively participated at the Oireachtas, in music, speaking, Sean Nós dancing, Singing, and Set Dancing. At the end of a Saturday where the rain held off for the most part of the day (began to rain as the participants were heading off to the Banquet in Kingston!), the Ottawa group fared quite well. 

Ellen MacIsaac’s Celtic Choir, took the first place (Gold medal) on the Choir competition, the Ottawa Céilí Band took the first price in their category, Ellen MacIsaac took the 2nd place (Silver medal) in the Corn Mhic ConCharraige competition, the Sean Nós competition for those who have already won the open Sean Nós competition. Emilie Funston took 3rd place on Sean Nós dancing, Patrick Scott took the 1st Annual Bob Ely award for Poetry Recitation, and the CCE Ottawa Set Dancers took the first place on Set Dancing.

Ellen Singing and Medals. Photo courtesy of Oireachtas Gaeilge Cheanada

Pat Scott reciting. Photo courtesy C. Hamm

Pat Scott receiving the Bob Ely Award. Photo courtesy of Oireachtas Gaeilge Cheanada

Ottawa Céilí Band. Photo courtesy C. Hamm

CCE Ottawa Set Dancers. Photo courtesy C. Hamm

Two of our dancers, Emilie Funston and Melanie Courtemanche with their winning medals! Photo courtesy of Oireachtas Gaeilge Cheanada

Congratulations to everyone who competed, regardless of the result!

International Small Grants scheme -- Financial support for Irish Language Events

International Small Grants scheme July December 2013.

Glór na nGael has announced a funding/grant support scheme which will run with assistance from the Department of Foreign Afairs and Trade, for committees across the globe who have plans to promote the Irish language.

Committees are invited to submit their plans for events which will take place between July 1st and December 31st 2013. Plans must include details on target groups, dates and estimated costs, and should be submitted to Glór na nGael, Ráth Chairn, Co na Mí by June 30th.

Any events being submitted for consideration must be language based. Among qualifying event there are intensive courses, lectures and debates, quizes, and play events for childrens through Irish. Writing and arts events, are also eleigible as are information and awareness talks through Irish. 'Cultural' events which are not through Irish do not qualify.

The grants are limited to €500 for any single group, and since the overall amount available is limited it is hoped that funding can be spread to more events costing less than to events costing more. Every application will be evaluated and a record will be kept of all entries, successful or otherwise and these will be entered in Global Gaeilge 2013. Applying for the scheme gives automatic entry to Global Gaeilge.

As part of the Global Gaeilge 2013 judging all successful groups will be re-assessed in January 2014 along with other entries for Global Gaeilge who did not receive a support grant. Application for entry in the support grant scheme is not a condition of entry in Global Gaeilge.

For more information contact Eoghan Mac Cormaic eoghan@glornangael.ie 00353 85 7187678

Scéim na nDeontas Idirnáisiúnta Iúil – Nollag 2013

Reachtáilfear scéim mhaoinithe/deontais i mbliana, le cúnamh na Roinne Gnóthaí Eachtracha agus Trádála, dírithe ar choistí ar fud an domhain, a bhfuil plean acu an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn.

Tabharfar cuireadh do choistí plean imeachtí Gaeilge, don tréimhse 1 Iúil agus 31 Nollaig 2013, a bhfuil spriocanna, dátaí agus costais measta leo, a chur isteach chuig Glór an nGael roimh an 30 Meitheamh 2013.

Ní mór do na himeachtaí a bheith teanga bhunaithe. I measc na n-imeachtaí a bheidh incháilithe beidh dianchúrsaí, léachtaí agus díospóireachtaí, tráth na gceist trí Ghaeilge, imeachtaí súgartha agus spraoi trí Ghaeilge do pháistí, comórtais scríbhneoireachta nó ealaíne trí Ghaeilge, oícheanta feasachta agus eolais trí Ghaeilge agus imeachtaí eile mar iad. Beidh imeachtaí 'cultúrtha' nach imeachtaí Gaeilge iad, dí-cháilithe.

Beidh uasmhéid thacaíochta, €500, d'aon imeachta faoi scéim seo, ach ós rud gur ciste teoranta atá ann, bheifear ag súil le maoiniú a chur ar fáil do imeachtaí nach gcosnóidh an t-uasmhéid sin. Déanfar gach iarratas a mheasúnú, agus coinneofar taifead de gach iarratas, rathúil nó eile, mar iontráil i gcomórtas Global Gaeilge 2013. Is ionann iarratas a dhéanamh, agus clárú do chomórtas Global Gaeilge 2013.

Mar chuid de phróiseas moltóireachta Global Gaeilge 2013, déanfar na scéimeanna a mhaoineofar a scrúdú ina athuair le linn Mí Eanáir 2014 chomh maith le hiarratais eile a thiocfaidh isteach don chomórtas. Ní critéir do Global Gaeilge í, tacaíocht mhaoinithe scéime a lorg faoin scéim seo.

Eoghan Mac Cormaic eoghan@glornangael.ie 00353 85 7187678

Second Annual Tulip Ball 2013

Next Saturday June 8th!

When: June 8th, 2013 at 8:00PM to 11:00PM

Where: At the Residence of the Irish Ambassador, 291 Park Road, Rockliffe, K1M 0E1. 

Tickets: Student/Members $25, Adults $30. 

Purchase tickets online at https://ottawatulipball2013.eventbrite.com/

To welcome the 2013 summer season in style, please join us to the Second Annual Tulip Ball on June 8th,at the Residence of the Irish Ambassador.  Enjoy an entertaining evening, with live music and traditional Irish dancing,  hosted by the Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Youth Group. 

Last year's even was sold out, so don't wait until the last minute to get your tickets!!

For more information contact Lisa at 613 620 7031.

NAACLT 2013 Conference, May 29 - June 1

Next week, from May 29 to June 1st 2013, the North American Association for Celtic Language Teachers will host its annual international conference, at the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute, University of Ottawa,University of Ottawa Simard Hall, Rm 221.

NAACLT is an international group which includes but is not limited to academic professionals. The motto of the group is "Saving the World form Boring Languages," if you are interested in this conference check their website to register: http://www.naaclt.org

Hope to see you at the conference!

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2013 in Derry

For anyone that is seriously considering attending the Fleadh Cheoil 2013, in August in Derry, you can check the updates with all the latest news and developments regarding biggest Irish traditional music festival in the world.

Top Acts Revealed for Fleadh 2013:

• The Poet and the Piper, Seamus Heaney and Liam O’Flynn: Wednesday 14th August 2013 
• Cara Dillon and the Orchestra of Ireland: Thursday 15th August 2013 
• Dervish: Friday 16th August 2013 
• A Gathering of Traditions: Wednesday 14th - Sun 18th August 
• Late Night Tunes: Friday 16th - Sunday 18th August 2013 

And many more excellent artists!

For more information check the official newsletter for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2013 

See you in Derry, come and join us! 

Irish Set Dancing and Health

For many of us Irish set dancing is enjoyed as an inexpensive and mild cardio workout, with the added social benefits of having a lot of fun, seeing current friends, and making new friends. However, trying to enlist new enthusiasts to join us in dancing can be difficult. Irish dancing goes through different phases of popularity, with peaks and lows, that are common everywhere. But new research shows that perhaps we can add another benefit to Irish dancing.

Earlier this month there was a very interesting article on the BBC news service where the benefits of dancing were explored. The article, Parkinson's patients test Irish set dancing benefits, mentions an international study that focuses on determining if dancing alleviates some of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. In the Irish Times there is a video clip where you can see some Parkinson's patients dancing an open-air Connemara Set on Inishmore (scroll down the Irish Times article for the video).

Now the research team wants to investigate the efficacy of set dancing on Alzheimer’s Disease. In contrast with Parkinson's disease patients, there likely would be a need for a large number of volunteers to help with the patients.

What we know for sure is that Irish set dancing is a fun social activity, and for that it is worth the effort. If in addition to that benefit Irish set dancing helps patients with degrading physical and, or, mental capacities, that is truly a great outcome.

See you on the dance floor!

Gael Linn

Gael Linn or "Irish people with us," is a non-governmental, non-profit organization, focused on the Irish language and arts. It was founded in 1953 with the goal of nurturing the Irish language and the promotion of artistic events. So far it seems like they are doing a great job.

At the Siansa Gael Linn 2012, the group of musicians that won the first prize, had one of the Echoes of Erin 2012 fiddle players. Enjoy the talent of all those young musicians!

Teaspach - Siansa Gael Linn 2012 - An Chéad Áit

Echoes of Erin Canada 2012 Concert

Normally, the Echoes of Erin Concert only comes to Canada every other year, and their next tour will be in 2014. 

For those of you that were otherwise engaged and could not attend the past October 18, 2012 Echoes of Erin's Ottawa performance, you missed an extremely good concert. It was a sell out and those of us that had also attended the previous 2010 Echoes' concert, agreed that the 2012's group of performers were the best so far. The most talented group of musicians and dancers, the majority barely in their twenties with only one exception, kept the audience smiling, toes tapping, and hands clapping throughout the show. A standing ovation led to the encore. While the performers are young in age they played with a level of knowledge, sensitivity and skill usually afforded to much more experienced performers. Check the Ireland Comhaltas' page to see the full list of performers: http://comhaltas.ie/blog/post/2012_concert_tour_of_north_america 

Here are some clips that showcase the talent of the musicians:

•Jason McGuiness (fiddle): http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/comhaltaslive_372_5_jason_mcguiness

•Bairbre Uí Theighneáin and Mícheál O’Shea (singing): http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/comhaltaslive_372_9_bairbre_ui_theighneain_and_micheal_oshea

•Matthew Dean (flute and whistle): http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/comhaltaslive_372_7_matthew_dean

•Caoimhe Kearns (lilting): http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/comhaltaslive_372_6_caoimhe_kearns

•Christopher Maguire (accordion) and Aoife Ní Argáin (harp): http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/comhaltaslive_372_8_christopher_maguire

•Mairéad Corridan (concertina): http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/comhaltaslive_372_2_mairead_corridan

After the concert, the performers mingled with those in the audience that remained and played their instruments with those concert-goers glad enough to bring their own. Tunes were exchanged and some trading of dance steps happened. Free tea, cheese, crackers and fruit were on hand up to 12:30 in the morning when the festivities finally came to an end.

Here are some of the thank you notes sent by the performers:

Hello,

Hope you are all recovered and well after all your hard work with organising the Tour etc. I know you put immense work into arranging the Concert Tour to Ottawa I just want to say a sincere thank you to you especially and all the committee etc., who worked along with you for all your wonderful work in making arrangements for the Tour. You really put on a fantastic reception for us and you had all preparations well in place so that everything went so smoothly on the night. We have been left with such fantastic, unforgettable memories of a beautiful place around Ottawa. 

Our Tour was a fantastic success ...Canada has set the bar very high now...which is tribute to all of you and the local committee for all your hard work. The group still talk about the audience response to them on the night of the concert and regard it as one of the best.

Can you say a big thank you to all the host families, and all the lovely people we met, on behalf of the entire group, their hospitality and care for all was greatly appreciated by all and still remembered fondly.

Thanks again
Eddie Murphy (Concert Tour Manager)

___________

A chairde,

This is just a few lines to express my gratitude for the wonderful welcome we received in Ottawa on our recent Echoes of Erin Tour of Canada. I have to congratulate you on a well organised concert and a lovely warm audience!! I was amazed and delighted at the number of people who were able to speak Irish fluently to me - I do believe that I never met as many Irish speakers at one concert in all our travels!!! I particularly liked your welcome notice at the door and believe that many branches around Ireland could take a leaf from your book!! Karen Tracey and I stayed with M. Maher and I can only say that I have never met such an inspirational person! She was kindness itself and looked after us like we were her own children - we really felt at home!

Le gach dea-mhéin,

Bairbre Uí Theighneáin (Singer)

___________

Hello,

I think I'm finally recovered from the Comhaltas tour now and back to the hard work in University.

I wanted to send you a quick e-mail to thank you for all your hospitality while I stayed with you in Ottawa. It was a wonderful experienced and very interesting talking to you about your own experiences of traditional music and the many musicians you have entertained in your home.

Thank you as well for the lovely CD's you gave me, they have found a nice spot in my iTunes and are played regularly on my iPod.

Best of luck for the future and I hope I'll be able to meet you again someday.

Micheál O'Shea (Singer, Sean-nós dancer)

To see pictures of the concert, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/pat4792/sets/72157631809632096 All Echoes of Erin 2012 pictures, courtesy of Pat Cassidy.

We are certainly eager to see the new crop of Echoes of Erin performers, when they come back to Canada in 2014!

What is Caint agus Comhrá?

Under the auspices of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, Ottawa Branch, Caint agus Comhrá (founded in 2010) is a flourishing group of speakers and learners of the Irish language. Caint agus Comhrá is self reliant and funds are raised through, book sales, raffles and workshops. These monies are used to bestow small subsidies and bursaries to help students attend Irish Days, La Gaeilge, two of which are held each year. Also a Irish Weekend held every September, at Galliee House in Arnprior.

We are very lucky to have great support from students and teachers from as far as New York to Montréal, Kingston and Brockville.

The group is lively and friendly and classes, held weekly for beginners to fluent speakers, are fun and exciting. Casual Caint is held weekly also in a local pub where the Craic is fierce altogether!

As far as teachers go, we have some of the best, Professors from the Universities and a language scholar, currently teaching at Ottawa University, directly from Ireland.

By Toni Forsythe

Faoi stiúir Chomhaltas Ceolteoirí Éireann, Ottawa, is grúpa díográiseach láidir é “Caint is Comhrá” (bhliain 2010) de chainteoirí agus d’fhoghlaimeoirí na Gaeilge. Is grúpa féinthuilleamaíoch é Caint is Comhrá agus bailítear cistí chun é a choinneáil ag imeacht trí dhíolachán leabhar, trí tharraingtí an phota óir agus trí cheardlanna. Is leis an airgead seo gur féidir leis an ngrúpa scolaireachtaí beaga a chur ar fáil do mhic léinn a bhfuil suim acu sa Ghaeilge, a chabhraíonn leo freastal ar ár “Lá Gaeilge”, a reachtálfar faoi dhó le linn na bliana. Ina theannta sin, bíonn “Deireadh Seachtaine lán-Ghaeilge” againn i dteach na Gailíle, Arnprior, gach Meán Fomhair.

Tá an t-ádh dearg linn go bhfuil líonra tacaíochta fairsing againn, ó dhaltaí agus ó mhúinteoirí araon, agus iad ag teacht chugainn chun tacú linn ó chian is ó chongar, ó Brockville, ó Mhontréal, agus ó Nua Eabhrac fiú.

Ní féidir a shéanadh ach gur grúpa bríomhar beosach cairdiúil muid, agus baintear taitneamh agus tairbhe as na ranganna seachtainiúla. Bailíonn muid le chéile sa theach tábhairne oíche amháin sa tseachtain chomh maith chun an Ghaeilge a chleachtadh, agus baintear sult as sin chomh maith, gan amhras.

Maidir leis na múinteoirí, tá na hOllaimh is fearr againn óna hollscoileanna áitiúla agus teagascóir Gaeilge atá tagtha ar chuairt againn díreach ó hÉirinn.


Bígí linn! Beatha teanga í a labhairt.

Le Toni Forsythe agus Eoin Ó Catháin

This is the companion piece of previously posted Caint agus Comhrá items: http://ottawacomhaltas.blogspot.ca/2012/11/caint-agus-comhra-talk-and-chat.html  and http://ottawacomhaltas.blogspot.ca/2013/01/caint-is-comhra-links.html

Caint is Comhrá - Links 2

The Caint is Comhrá group is very creative on their Irish language classes, for example this past Monday night’s intermediate class they used this article. It was published in The Irish Times - Wednesday, January 16, 2013, the original article "Tá iarrachtaí ar siúl ag Protastúnaigh a gcuid féin a dhéanamh den teanga," which loosely translate to "Protestants make an effort to create their own language."


Nath Cainte an Lae: (meán-rang)

Is mise an duine is sine/is óige sa chlann. / Tá mé i lár baill
I’m the eldest/the youngest in the family/ I am in the middle.

Nath Cainte an Lae ( ard-rang)

Réitim go maith le mo deartháireacha/deirfiúracha. Ó am go ham, bíonn muid in adharca a chéile.
I get on well with my brothers/sisters. From time to time, we’re at eachothers’ throats (literally: we lock horns)

Caint is Comhrá - links

The Caint is Comhrá group is very creative on their Irish language classes, for example this past Monday night’s intermediate class they used this article. It is entitled "10 ways to make your life healthier," and it has some great Irish phrases and some interesting vocabulary.

If you are interested in reading more in Irish, more articles are available on the Gaelscéal , a national irish language newspaper, website: www.gaelsceal.ie, and we encourage you to read them!  If you want to hear some spoken Irish, the Gaelscéal also produces podcasts.


Here we also have Irish phrases, and an Irish proverb:

Irish phrase of the week: (meán-rang)

Athbhliain faoi mhaise duit/ daoibh!  || Happy New Year to you/ to ye!


Irish phrase of the week (ardrang)

Tháinig an fhadhb seo aniar aduaidh orm || This problem came as an unpleasant surprise!


Irish proverb of the week:

Mol an Óige agus Tiocfaidh Sí  || Praise the youth and it will bloom.

Instrument loans for beginner musicians in Irish traditional music

The Brach website has a new page about instrument loans.

Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCÉ) is searching for beginner music students that may be interested in borrowing one of the Ottawa Branch owned Irish instruments. The loan of the instrument is for the sole purpose of learning the instrument for playing Irish traditional music, at the beginner level.

The translation of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann to English is ‘Gathering of the Musicians of Ireland.’ CCÉ was founded in 1951 by a group of Irish pipers who were concerned that the traditional music of Ireland was in decline and in danger of being lost. Since then the organization has grown into a global movement involving tens of thousands of people and has come to encompass traditional Irish dance and the Irish language as well as the music. Therefore, at the local level we must continue our best efforts to preserve the tradition.

The Ottawa Branch of CCÉ owns a collection of musical instruments common in Irish traditional music. These instruments represent a substantial investment and commitment by CCÉ Ottawa to maintain the musical heritage of Ireland. By loaning these instruments, beginning students are spared the initial cost while they find their way and determine whether learning the instrument is for them or not.

The collection, and current status, of the instruments is:
Two full sized harps (unavailable);
Two Stentor student 3/4-size fiddles (AVAILABLE);
Irish wooden flute (unavailable);
Single-row button Hohner accordion (AVAILABLE); and
Half-set of David Daye uilleann pipes (AVAILABLE).

Beginner students can petition the Branch to borrow an instrument. If the student is eligible and the instrument is available the student will receive the instrument on loan. Each loan is subject to written terms and conditions set by the Branch. It is expected that the student will make an honest effort to gain sufficient proficiency and passion for the instrument and the music, and eventually acquire their own instrument. The loaned instrument is then returned to CCÉ for loan to another beginner.

While some of the instruments are already spoken for, the uptake of instruments to interested beginners has been disappointingly low. Normally the availability of these instruments is announced at the monthly ceilis, and in the CCÉ Ottawa branch newsletter. CCÉ is eager to loan one of the instruments to persons who indicate a serious intention to make that initial effort to learn their chosen instrument. If you are such a person, or know of such a person, please contact the Vice-Chair of the of the CCÉ Ottawa branch for more details.

Irish language conversation group

...English follows...

A chairde, tá súil agam go raibh briseadh deas agaibh ar fad. Ós rud é go bhfuil muid ar ais ag obair an tseachtain seo, is dóigh go dteastóidh sos uainn ag deireadh na seachtaine. Mar sin, bígí linn ag an HEART & CROWN BWYWARD MARKET an AOINE (11 Eanáir) seo ag 5.30 pm le haghaidh "Caint is Comhrá". Beidh grúpa ag teacht le chéile chun ár scíth a ligean agus chun an Ghaeilge a labhairt. Bígí linn agus scaipígí an scéal!!

 
Hello all! Hope ye all had a lovely holiday. Since we're back to work this week, I think we will deserve a break at the end of the week. Therefore, why not join us at the HEART & CROWN BYWARD MARKET this FRIDAY (11 January) at 5.30 pm for "Caint & Comhrá". A group of us will be coming together to talk some Irish and relax!! Come along and tell your friends.

Sad tidings - Eamonn O'Loghlin (1951-2013)

Obituary (Photo by Smitty)

http://www.markharrison3.com/the-day-the-music-died-a-tribute-to-eamonn-ologhlin/

Eamonn O'Loghlin, born in Ennistymon, County Clare, Republic of Ireland on September 7, 1951, passed away on Friday, January 4th, 2013 at the age of 61, surrounded by family and friends. He was the beloved husband of Madeleine, the loving father of Treasa and Rory, and the adored son-in-law of Eleanor Treacy. He is survived by his 4 siblings Cathal, Ursula, Donogh and Roddy.

Eamonn O'Loghlin was larger than life, with a personality to match, which virtually filled any room he walked in to. His generosity to his fellow countrymen and women knew no bounds, as he helped hundreds of young people land their first jobs in Canada on their work visa, or in a more permanent way.

He was never afraid to speak his mind, to say what he thought was right and needed to be said. He made beautiful music with his loving wife Madeleine, especially during their time together with the band Tip Splinter. Oftentimes, when Eamonn played a song by Madeleine on his radio show on a Saturday morning, producer Alex Young would lower the volume on the CD and raise up Eamonn's microphone, so that listeners at home could hear him singing along with his wife.

His family was very important to him – all one had to do was listen to hear the pride in his voice as he spoke about his devoted wife, Madeleine, and his adoring children, Treasa, now a lawyer, and Rory, now excelling in his first year of Biology at McGill University. Eamonn felt he had come full circle as a father to see Treasa embarking into happily married life with Edward Pendergrast, and Rory setting out into the world as an extremely capable young man.

A successful businessman, Eamonn had been the Executive Director of the Ireland Canada Chamber of Commerce since 1993. He graduated from University College Cork with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1975, the same year he came to Canada. He worked in marketing for Hallmark Cards for 18 years before starting up his own marketing and communications consulting business, O'Loghlin Communications.

Eamonn hosted a weekly Irish radio show and published a national magazine, Irish Connections Canada , formerly the Toronto Irish News . A long time supporter of the Gaelic Athletic Association, Ireland Fund of Canada, and Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, he was Director of Strategic Partnerships and Corporate Sponsorship at the Canadian National Exhibition, and was the interim President of the newly formed Irish Canadian Immigration Centre.

He was honoured as Irish Person of the Year in 2009 for his work on Ceol Agus Craic , the weekly Irish-Canadian radio show he had founded in 1998. He loved traditional Irish music and it was not unusual for a sing-song on the piano to break out whenever he was about. He was also fond of getting back to nature through golfing. He would return for his annual pilgrimage of golfing, travelling and All-Ireland hijinks every September.

Eamonn will be remembered for the good work he did in the community, his generous spirit, his love of family, and for being a great leader amongst Canada's Irish community.

Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dhilis. Ni fhicimid a leithead aris.

Visitation:  Turner & Porter - Butler Chapel, 4933 Dundas Street West, Etobicoke, ON, CANADA, M9A 1B6
Tue, 8 Jan 2013 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Tue, 8 Jan 2013 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Funeral: Transfiguration of Our Lord Church, 45 Ludstone Drive, Toronto, ON, CANADA, M9R 2J2
Wed, 9 Jan 2013 10:30 AM

Web Address: http://turnerporter.permavita.com/site/EamonnOLoghlin.html