Céili Dance List and Schedule, 10 February 2018

Ottawa Irish Arts 

Elaíona Gaelacha Ottabha

Céili Dance List and Schedule, 10 February 2018

(Remember, you do not need to know how to dance nor need to have a dancing partner. Everyone is welcome!)

Click on a dance title for videos to see how it is danced.

7:00 - 7:30PM      Workshop
                               Join us in the first half hour of the evening for a short 
                               tutorial on steps, holds, and terminology that will have 
                               you dancing your way through the evening with  
                               confidence. Gay Gordon (March) to finish.

7:30 - 8:00PM       Aiofe's Three Step (March)

                             North Kerry (Set dance)
                                  Figure 1: Wheel and turn
                                  Figure 2: House and slide
                                  Figure 3: Slide and change                              
8:00 - 8:30PM       Entertainment and 1st Intermission
                             Ottawa Irish Arts Dance Class
                               Caitlin Crockard’s Monday night adult class will perform 

                               skilfully choreographed pieces during the intermission. 8:30 - 9:30PM        Haymaker's Jig (Jig)
                        
                              North Kerry (Set dance)
                                  Figure 4: Wheel and turn
                                  Figure 5: Hornpipe body                                                    
9:30 - 10:00         2nd Intermission 
                             Join us for a cup of tea and freshly baked Irish Soda bread. 
                             Be sure to have your admission ticket handy for the Door 
                             Prize draw. There will be a 50/50 Draw.

10:00 - 10:30PM  Walls of Limerick (Reel) (dance instruction starts at 0:35 min) 

                            Clare Lancers (Set Dance)
                            Each figure starts with a two-handed lead around, 
                            turning the lady under to swing.
                            Each figure ends with a full around-the-house.
                                  Figure 1: Square the House
                                  Figure 2: House and Turn the Lady
                                  Figure 3: Big Wheels and Big Christmas Tree
                                  Figure 4: Small Wheels and Small Christmas Tree
                                  Figure 5: Long Chain and Line Ups

Note: As the final dance of the evening, the Clare Lancers will not be called. Given that this dance is not called and that all figures will, as it is traditional, be danced consecutively, more experienced dancers will be invited to form a set and show off their steps, but as always, all dancers are welcome to the floor.


Here are some helpful dance guidelines:Irish Set (and Ceili) Dance Etiquette
Check our dance page for more information on the dances called at our céilis.

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.

10th Annual Feile Cheoil Competition - 24 March 2018, Toronto

Canadian Eastern Regional Board

CCE

presents the

10th Annual Feile Cheoil Competition

St. Joseph's Parish Hall

65 Curzon Street

Toronto, M4M 3B3

(one block west of Leslie St., north of Queen St.)

Saturday, March 24, 2018
Commencing at 9:30 am

(Note: Adult competitions begin at approx. 1 pm)

Eligibility: This competition is open to all amateur performers. Our aim is to encourage people of all
ages to participate in the rich culture of traditional music, song and dance.

Closing date for entries: March 20, 2018

Please send in your entry forms as early as possible to assist with the organization of the event.

Coordinator: Ena O’Brien
enaobrien47@gmail.com

Entry Secretary: Heather Corby
hmckay43@hotmail.com

Ottawa Contact: Craig Hamm ballyfingers@gmail.com
To obtain detailed pdf entry form explaining all categories etc.  There is a category for nearly everything: set dancing, fiddle, accordion, piano, concertina, concert flute, tin whistle, uilleann pipes, harp, banjo, mandolin, bodhran, ceili bandm music group, solo traditional singing, duets, trios and quartets.

January 2018 Céili Dance List and Schedule

Ottawa Irish Arts 

Elaíona Gaelacha Ottabha

Céili Dance List and Schedule, 20 January 2018

(Remember, you do not need to know how to dance nor need to have a dancing partner. Everyone is welcome!)

Click on a dance title for videos to see how it is danced.

7:00 - 7:30PM      Workshop
                               Join us for the first half hour of the evening for a short 
                               tutorial on steps, holds, and terminology that will have you 
                               dancing your way through the evening with confidence.

7:30 - 8:00PM       Gay Gordon (March)

                             Leaba Shíoda (Set Dance)
                                  Figure 1: Show Each Lady
                                  Figure 2: High Gates
                                  Figure 3: Little Christmas Tree

8:00 - 8:30PM       Entertainment and 1st Intermission
                             Scottish Country Dancers (RSCDS Ottawa)
                             Scottish country dancing consists of reels, jigs, hornpipes,      
                             minuets, and uniquely Scottish strathspeys. The Ottawa    
                             branch was founded in 1966, and some of its dancers will be 
                             joining us in the evening to demonstrate a few dances.

8:30 - 9:30PM       Siege of Ennis (Jig)
                        
                             Leaba Shíoda (Set Dance)
                                  Figure 4: Show Each Man
                                  Figure 5: Diagonals
                                  Figure 6: Body and Change
                           
                             Haymaker's Jig (Jig)

9:30 - 10:00         2nd Intermission 
                             Join us for a cup of tea and freshly baked Irish Soda bread. 
                             There will be a 50/50 Draw.

10:00 - 10:30PM  Aiofe's Three Step (March)

                            Clare Lancers (Set Dance)
                            Each figure starts with a two-handed lead around, 
                            turning the lady under to swing.
                            Each figure ends with a full around-the-house.
                                  Figure 1: Square the House
                                  Figure 2: House and Turn the Lady
                                  Figure 3: Big Wheels and Big Christmas Tree
                                  Figure 4: Small Wheels and Small Christmas Tree
                                  Figure 5: Long Chain and Line Ups

Note: As the final dance of the evening, the Clare Lancers will not be called. Given that this dance is not called and that all figures will, as it is traditional, be danced consecutively, more experienced dancers will be invited to form a set and show off their steps, but as always, all dancers are welcome to the floor.


Here are some helpful dance guidelines:Irish Set (and Ceili) Dance Etiquette
Check our dance page for more information on the dances called at our céilis.

Pre-registration for Irish-language classes | Réamhchlárú do ranganna Gaeilge

Irish Language Classes for Children

Ottawa Irish Arts is glad to say the Ottawa Catholic School Board has their pre-registration ready for Irish-language classes. (Gaelic message follows)

Tá áthas orm a rá go bhfuil an réamhchlárú réidh ag an Bord Scoile Caitliceach do ranganna Gaeilge.

The Ottawa Catholic School Board is asking parents who have children aged K-8 interested in Irish-language classes to submit pre-registrations. Classes may start as early as January 2018!

The proposed time is Saturday mornings, and the proposed location is Mother Theresa School in Barrhaven. The location may still change based on information collected in the pre-registration, so please submit the form even if you would prefer a different location.

As well, there is no obligation yet to commit every Saturday morning by submitting the pre-registration form as the main goal of pre-registration is to gauge interest.

Please spread the links below and the flyer from the Board attached to anyone with school-aged children as we need around 20 students approximately the same age to open a class.

If the Board get enough pre-registration submissions, the classes will be free for any student from kindergarten to grade 8 in Ontario (no matter if enrolled in the Catholic board, public board, French school, home-school or private school). Québec residents will have to pay $160 per semester.

------------------


Tá an Bord ag lorg réamh-chláraithe ar dhaoine a bhfuil suim a gcuid páistí idir aois naíscoile go dtí an 8ú ghrád sa bhunscoil a chlárú i ranganna Gaeilge. D'fhéadadh tús a chur ar ranganna chomh luath le Mí Eanáir 2018!

Tá rún ag an Bhord na ranganna a chur i bhfeidhm maidin Dé Sathairn sa Scoil Mother Theresa in Barrhaven. Seans go n-athróidh láthair na ranganna de réir an eolais atá le bailiú, mar sin, ar mhiste libh an réamhchlárú a chur isteach cé nach mbeadh an áit mholta foirfe oiriúnach daoibh.

Níl aon ghá daoibh go fóill an Satharn a chomaid saor i ndiaidh réamhchláraithe a chur isteach mar an príomh-aidhm ar an réamhchlárú ná suim an phobail a mheas.

Scaip na nascanna agus an bileog ón Bhord (Béarla) ceangailte seo thíos le bhur dtoil d'éinne le páistí ar aois scoile, toisc go bhfuil timpeall le 20 scolaire de dhíth orainn chun aon rang a thosnú.

Má tá go leor cláraithe curtha isteach chuig an Bhord, beidh na ranganna saor in aisce do scolaire ar bith in Ontario (is cuma má tá siad sa Bhord Caitliceach, poiblí, na Fraincise, nó i scoil bhaile nó phriobháideach). Caithfidh scolaire a chónaíonn in Québec $160 a íoc ar sheimeastar.


***
Nascanna | Links:

Réamh-chlárú (Béarla) | Pre-registration: https:// docs.google.com/forms/d/e/ 1FAIpQLScZbRD1jPbF5041gsMyn3s8 NsiWaDhNudsPp7Qw0pp2CT1jfg/ viewform

Tuilleadh eolais ar Chlár na dTeangacha Idirnaisiúnta (Béarla) | More information on the International Languages Program: http://conted.ocsb.ca/childrens-programs/elementary-il

Beannachtaí,

Xavier-Oscar Mou
Oifigeach caidrimh phoiblí | Public Relations Officer
Ealaíona Gaelacha Ottabha | Ottawa Irish Arts
Ottawacomhaltas.com 

The Trial of the Orange Order

The Thomas D'Arcy McGee Foundation with New Point Players (Ireland) and Limelight Group (Ottawa) Presented a new play by Anthony Russell. 

The Trial of the Orange Order

The Trial of The Orange Order in the Court of History is an historical and political fantasy, a drama that seeks to, as objectively as possible, examine the role of the Orange Order in the formation of modern Ireland and, to a lesser extent, Canada. The charge is treason; defined as the crime of betraying one’s country. 

 

The premise is that Lord Craigavon, James Craig (1871 – 1940), the first Prime Minister of Northern Ireland is called from the grave to answer, in the Court of History, the charge that the Orange Order committed treason against Britain and Ireland. The prosecutor is John Mitchel (1815 – 1875), an unrepentant physical force republican from both Young Ireland and the Fenians.  Lord Edward Carson (1854 – 1935) who led the unionist opposition to Irish Home Rule defends the Orange Order against the charge of treason. Both Lawyers have returned from the grave for the occasion, to exchange ideas, 'facts', and prejudice with with and passion.

 

Thomas D’Arcy McGee (1825 – 1868), a former Irish rebel who became a founding father of the Canadian Confederation is called as a witness, for the defence - as is the murdered Mrs. Elizabeth Crozier, from farming stock in Ulster.

All of the ghosts are aware of what has happened in both Ireland and Canada since they entered the grave.

 

This play offers a superbly engaging dimension to the play, in which it sees the audience debate the issues in the play as jurors in the jury room! This facilitates a participate role for the audience enabling them to deliberate on the issues as presented by prosecution and defence, as well as voting on the final outcome, just like in a real trial. Therefore the ending may be different in each performance!!

This play follows on from the Trial of P. H. Pearse in the Court of History which entertained and engaged audiences on both sides of the Atlantic as it examined the use of the gun in Irish politics.

Cast and Crew

John Mitchell - Donal O'Hanlon

Lord Edward Carson - Sean Treanor

Sir James Craig, Lord Craigavon - Pat Mooney

Thomas D'Arcy McGee - Gerry O'Connor 

Mrs. Crozier - Diane Russell

The Court Clerck - Damien Fannon (Ottawa)

The Judge - Jammes Leal (Ottawa)

Playwright - Anthony Russell

Director Donal O'Hanlon

Musical Director - Gerry O'Connor

Project Coordination - Tommy Fegan

The drama was commissioned for the Thomas D'Arcy McGee Summer School in Carlingford, August 2017.

In Ottawa the play was performed at the St. Brigid's Centre for the Arts.

2017 Canadian East Region Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Music Hall of Fame

Robert (Bob) Francis MacDiarmid 

(Harp of Tara Branch, Kingston)

Last October  14, 2017 in Ottawa was the Canadian East Region AGM. Many members of the CCE branches across the East Region of Canada came to Ottawa for the meeting. As is usual, at the AGM, a person is introduced to the region's Music Hall of Fame. This year the honour was bestowed on Bob MacDiarmid.  The actual text of his induction to the Hall follows.

It is with great pleasure that the region is inducting Robert (Bob) Francis MacDiarmid into our Music Hall of Fame.

Bob was born in Ottawa in 1953. His father was of Irish heritage. Bob left home at an early age to seek his fortune in the world. He worked at various jobs across Canada as a longshoreman, construction worker and IT specialist.

In Edmonton he met Angeles (Angela) Garcia, a medical resident. They would marry and begin their lives together, living in Edmonton and Spain before settling in Toronto and beginning a family, raising two sons, Allan and Victor.

It was in Toronto where Bob's interest in all things Irish took hold. He began attending sessions, learning to play the fiddle and attending set dancing classes with Maureen Mulvey-O'Leary.

In 1995 Bob and Angela moved to Kingston where Angela set up a medical practice and began teaching medicine at Queen's University.

Bob became a stay home dad looking after their large home and grounds and carrying out a lot of renovations to it.

https://www.harpoftara.com

In Kingston Bob became active in the Comhaltas Branch serving as chair at one time and the PRO where he still serves the branch.

Bob Initiated the slow session in Kingston 20 years ago and still runs a very active weekly slow session. Having been hooked on set dancing in Toronto, Bob and Angela also started set dancing in the back porch of their home, were we still dance from fall till summer.

In 2004 Bob hosted our first house concert in their living room with Maeve Donnelly performing to a group of about 50 people.

Since then there have been over 50 house concerts in Kingston, all but one in Bob and Angela's house. He organizes the concerts, usually with workshops, and most times billets the performers, all with no charge.  Kingston has seen the likes of Blackie O'Connell, Draoícht, Diorama, Paddy Keenan, Patrick Ourceau, Jackie Daly, Gerry O'Connor, and many others play in a small intimate venue and it would not have happened without Bob and Angela. Bob has also hosted an annual weekend workshop with Patrick Ourceau and Ivan Gough.

Perhaps his biggest undertaking has been the production of the Kingston Irish Slow Session Tune Book. This is a very carefully researched and well-presented two volume set of tune books including historical notes, background material and the tunes themselves. It is a world class project and Bob completed virtually everything himself and has made it available for download at no cost.

Bob has been instrumental in keeping the Irish Music scene alive in Kingston for over 20 years with the slow sessions, house concerts and the tune books. He is an active and key member of the Harp of Tara branch despite that his wife Angela is  now suffering from a severe, debilitating, incurable illness.

No one is more deserving of induction into the Music Hall of Fame than Bob and it will be nice for Angela to see this take place.

Congratulations Bob on an honour well deserved and welcome to the Music Hall of Fame.

https://goo.gl/images/JgLfKH