2014 Oireachtas Gaeilge Cheanada: Tamworth & Dún Laoghaire

Oireachtas Gaeilge Cheanada

Once again this past June (27-29 June), the 2014 Oireachtas Gaeilge Cheanada (Gaeltacht Thuaisceart An Oileáin Úir) was held both in Tamworth and at the Days Inn and Conference Centre in Kingston (Dún Laoghaire), Ontario. This year the weather was sunny and hot, and the competitors had to seek refuge under the tents as the Saturday temperature was well over 30°C!

There were competitions held on the Saturday on the field location of Tamworth. The categories are 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

Oireachtas Gaeilge Cheanada, Celtic Choir.

Several CCE Ottawa members actively participated at the Oireachtas, in music, speaking, Sean Nós dancing, Singing, and Set Dancing.  

CCE Set Dancers

Oireachtas Gaeilge Cheanada, Ottawa Céilí Band

CCE member 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. In the Sing in Styles other than Sean Nós, CCE members were quite successful, Ellen MacIsaac took the 1^st place (gold medal), Síle Scott, the 2nd place (Silver medal), and Oscar Mou was tied for the 3^rd place!  Shadyn Proctor took 2nd place on Sean Nós dancing, and the CCE Ottawa Set Dancers took the first place on Set Dancing for a second year running!

Oireachtas Gaeilge Cheanada, Sean Nos, 2nd place

Oireachtas Gaeilge Cheanada

Check the list of Winners in all categories: http://www.oireachtas.ca/pdfs/Buaiteoiri.Bearla.2014.pdf

Oireachtas Gaeilge Cheanada

Oireachtas Gaeilge Cheanada

Congratulations to everyone who competed, regardless of the result!

2014 Irish Immersion Week

Summer Immersion Week at Gaeltacht An Oileáin Úir

http://www.gaeilge.ca/programs---events.php

Once again this year, our friends at the Cumann Na Gaeltachta, the Permanent North American Gaeltacht, are hosting this annual event.  Every year this week-long event is sold out and currently the registration is open and filling up! Besides learning to speak Irish, there are associated activities: ceili, concert with the very talented couple Steafan Hannigan and Saskia Tomkins, and diverse workshops (singing, dancing, music, arts and crafts).

When: 10-17 of August, 2014

Where: Tamworth/ Erisnville, Ontario

Registration forms can be downloaded here, you could also register online!

We hope to see you there!

Oireachtas Gaeilge Cheanada: Tamworth and Dún Laoghaire (Ontario) 2014

www.oireachtas.ca

Do not miss the upcoming 2014 Oireachtas Gaeilge Cheanada as part of the Gaeltacht Thuaisceart An Oileáin Úir that will held both in Tamworth and at the Days Inn and Conference Centre in Kingston (Dún Laoghaire), Ontario. This Irish cultural festival runs from the 27 to 29 June 2014.

For detailed information check: http://www.oireachtas.ca/Baile-bea.shtml

Again this year, the CCE Ottawa branch will be represented in competition by the CCE Set Dancers. The competition categories are Sean-nos dancing and singing, harp, Ceili Bands, Uilleann pipes, recitation and poetry, choir performance, etc.

Come and join us for a good craic!

42nd Scoil Éigse

from http://www.fleadhcheoil.ie/scoil-eigse

Scoil Éigse 2014 Sligo 10th - 15th August

International Summer College of Irish Traditional Music Instrumental – Vocal – Dancing Workshops – Lectures – Sessions – Irish Language 

When: 10 August 2014–15 August 2014, at 3:00 pm (Irish time)

Where: Sligo

Contact: Siobhán ní Chonaráin 

Phone: +(353) 01 2800295

Email: liza@comhaltas.ie or siobhan@comhaltas.ie

Website: http://www.fleadhcheoil.ie/scoil-eigse 

The 42nd Annual Scoil Éigse organised by Comhaltas this year will take place in Sligo, between 10- 15 of August, the week before the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.


What is the Scoil Éigse? The Scoil Éigse is the official summer school organised by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann where Irish people and students from the Commonwealth (or from anywhere in the world where is a Comhaltas branch) attend to obtain a better and deeper understanding of Irish music and culture.


At the CCÉ’s annual international Summer School, students of all ages register for the various classes offered. The school provides workshops, lectures and sessions the week before the Fleadh and continues each day during the Fleadh. The emphasis of the school is in traditional music, dance, and song during the day with informal céilís and sessions each evening.

For details check the Scoil Éigse descriptive document, and the registration form.

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!

40th Anniversary of Ennis Fleadh Nua

http://www.fleadhnua.com

Ennis, Co. Clare, 18-26 May 2014

Fleadh Nua celebrates its Ruby Anniversary in the town of Ennis from 18th to 26th May, 2014. For further information please see our website http://www.fleadhnua.com or follow us on Facebook or Twitter. It would be mighty if you could join us at the Fleadh.

Inis, Co. Chláir, 18-26 Bealtaine 2014

Tá 40 bliain in Inis á cheiliúradh ag an bhFleadh Nua ó 18 go dtí 26 Bealtaine, 2014. Tá tuilleadh eolais ar fáil ar http://www.fleadhnua.com nó lean orainn ar Facebook nó Twitter. Bheadh sé togha dá mbeifeá linn ag an bhFleadh.

Rory Casey 
O.C.P. / P.R.O. Coiste Fleadh Nua

For those of you who do not know what a Fleadh Nua is, a Fleadh Nua is a "New Festival," a festival of Irish culture. According to Wikipedia, the Fleadh's purpose is to promote Irish traditional music and culture. Activities include music concerts, céilithe (dances), dance workshops and street entertainment. The Fleadh Nua is noted for its innovative approach to the presentation of Irish traditional music.

The Fleadh Nua is organized by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.

Folk Music Revival

In Ireland and other countries, a folk music revival has been gong on since the beginning of the 20th century. Many musicians have sought to draw on the original sources of folklore traditions as a way of renewing their own art, but this “renewal” is not always geared to preserving traditional culture before its disappearance.

Here is an interesting documentary on how the revitalization of Irish folk music in the 1960’s came about: http://youtu.be/39D0J8SzQMA 

In central Europe, Endre Abkarovits (citation below) wrote a very interesting paper in which he compares both the Irish and Hungarian folk music revival; both countries have covered similar paths in pursuit of “preserving” their musical culture in the latter part of the 20th century.

A video of Hungarian folk dances, shows a musician on stage walking around with a set of elbow pipes, reminiscent of the Irish “píobaí uilleann” (see 05:10 mark). http://youtu.be/BXGovKBEaHo
In you want to explore a plethora of Irish songs in Gaeilge, lyrics in Irish (with English translation) and the audio, check: ‪http://www.songsinirish.com 



Abkarovits, Endre. 2006. Irish Folk Music Revival from a Central European Perspective. Romanian Journal of English Studies, Number 3/2006, pp. 7-16. (the article is in the first 10 pages of the issue).
http://www.litere.uvt.ro/vechi/documente_pdf/RJES/no3_CULTURAL_STUDIES.pdf