News Archive
Failte Oirbh gu Colaisde Na Gàidhlig
Summer 2012 Educational Highlights
Tracey MacNeil, Director of Education & Programming
Summer 2012 at Colaisde Na Gàidhlig brought smiles to the faces of many who came through its doors. The summer season was filled with Children and Adults who visited and stayed on-site at the College. The days were filled with classes in Gaelic language and culture, organized extra-curricular activities after classes and many opportunities to take full advantage of the beautiful scenery Colaisde Na Gàidhlig is located in, along the shores of St. Ann's Bay. The beach was a huge hit!
With two weeks of Youth Classes and two weeks of Adult Classes, in addition to a Youth Gaelic Immersion week, the summer was filled with much activity. Students from all over the world came to seek out a fun-filled, educational experience in Nova Scotia Gaelic Language and Culture. From Scotland to Katar and all the way back to North River just up the road, the presence of these keen individuals graced the grounds of the college day after day, and contributed to a wonderul learning environment where everyone was given the opportunity to relax, play music, learn to dance, socialize, and of course, learn Gaelic! Sincere thanks goes out to all students, staff and instructors who helped us to make the summer such a great experience for one and all!
Fall 2012 Educational Programming
Tracey MacNeil, Director of Education & Programming
The fall of 2012 will see more exciting educational programming here at Colaisde Na Gàidhlig. Evening classes in Highland Dance, Fiddle, Step-Dancing and Gaelic Song will be starting up on October 18, giving students of all ages the opportunity to learn a new talent, or polish up their skills. The upcoming Fall Gaelic Weekend (September 21-23) is shaping up to be a full house and another wonderfully unique weekend of learning Gaelic language through the GAB total language immersion methodology (Gaidhlig aig Baile). The Christmas Gaelic weekend will take place during the weekend of November 23. One and all are encouraged to come out and learn more about these events as they are truly an exceptional experience in terms of language acquisition and also in making friends that will last a lifetime.
Colaisde Na Gàidhlig offers a unique cultural learning experience to one and all who visit. The instruction provided is world class in nature. The environment is friendly, comfortable, and always a ton of fun! We welcome you all, thank you all, and hope to see you all in the near future!
Around Campus
Gail Montgomery, Hospitality Manager
Our St. Ann's campus has come alive in the past few months with a fresh facelift. The maintenance crew has been busy with beautiful landscaping and facility upgrades: more flower gardens, fresh paint, new trails, and upgrades to the outdoor performance center, where the Highland Dance Competition, and Cape Breton Fiddlers' Association concert were held in August.
We are also very pleased about our newly renovated rooms. A job well done by our staff and the older workers who finished the renovations at the end of June; just in time for summer! MacLeod House rooms now have full ensuite baths. MacKenzie also has full ensuite baths with a queen bed and a separate room with a set of two bunks (great for families).
Hospitality
We have had some great groups in this year; Canadian Water Colour Symposium, Family Services, Sailing Cruises of North America and Becoming Outdoors Women. All were thrilled with the upgrades to our facilities, and we look forward to welcoming more groups to the College in the future.
As a wedding venue, the Gaelic College is growing in popularity. We hosted several weddings this summer, and have more coming up in the months ahead. Our wonderful facilities and kitchen staff ensure a enjoyable and memorable day for all brides, grooms, family, and friends.
From the Sewing Studio
Jenny Cluett joined the Gaelic College sewing studio this spring, to apprentice with Master Kilt Maker Ann Cantwell. Jenny and Ann have been very busy this
year with the rental department, sizing people for various occasions, the most popular being weddings. Our wedding clients this year come from Vancouver, Ontario, Moncton, and the local area. Customers are ordering kilts and ladies kilted skirts from the United States and as far away as Germany. We asked Jenny what her most memorable moment was since she started.
“That is easy,” she said, “making a MacLeod tartan kilt for a two year old and the garter flashes to go with it (too cute).”
Gaelic College Craft Shop
There goes another piece of Marie’s weaving out the door! World-renowned weaver Marie MacDonald has been busy this summer keeping the Craft Shop stocked with her beautiful work. Keep a watch for unique colourful shawls, cocoons, scarves, ponchos and shrugs coming this fall. Don’t forget Christmas is right around the corner and we have a great selection of Celtic gifts, including tartans, jewellery, books, and music. Our annual fall sale starts on Monday, September 24, with 15% - 50% off our stock.
The first-ever Gaelic College compilation CD, “Blas Math!” is now available in the Craft Shop. Featuring local fiddlers, pipers, piano players, singers, and more, all proceeds from the sale of CDs goes right back to educational programming here at the College.
The Great Hall of the Clans
Colin MacDonald, Tour Guide
We had yet another busy summer at the Great Hall of the Clans and had many interesting visitors from all over the world; from Sydney, Cape Breton to Sydney, Australia. Our new Unparalleled Cultural Learning Experience was a wonderful addition to the museum and gave tourists the opportunity to not only learn, but also engage in our demonstrations hands on. Our Unparalleled Cultural Learning Experience is made up of four demonstrations: the Great Kilt demonstration, Gaelic lesson and Milling Frolic,Cape Breton music and dance demonstration, and weaving demonstration. We look forward to spreading the word of our new experiences and hopefully seeing you here next year!
75th Anniversary
Anna MacDonald, Director of Marketing & 75th Anniversary Coordinator
It’s definitely an exciting time to be at the Gaelic College! 2013 will mark the 75th anniversary of the College, and we’ve got some great events planned! Alumni, instructors, students, friends, and guests will be invited to campus next summer to celebrate all things Gaelic College, with fun activities for the whole family. Keep an eye on social media, and our website for updates on our anniversary celebrations.
Gaelic Corner
Emily MacDonald, Gaelic Director
When I began my position as Gaelic Director at Colaisde na Gàidhlig this past spring, I was eager to develop programming for youth in Nova Scotia. This summer, we added some new Gaelic classes to our multidisciplinary youth weeks including Gaelic Nature, Sport and Drama. These sessions received positive feedback from students and were a nice complement to our existing Gaelic language and song classes.
One of our most exciting Gaelic programs this summer was held the week of August 27-30; a youth program which we entitled “Caidreabh na Cloinneadh,” meaning, “The Fellowship of the Youth.”
Students from around the province attended, and many had strong existing ties to the culture and language. All participants had prior exposure to Gaelic, whether they take classes in their schools, or their communities or have Gaelic in the home. This opportunity was a means for these children to add useful, everyday Gaelic to their vocabularies and practice it with their peers in an immersion environment.
“Caidreabh na Cloinneadh” was the first gathering of its kind for the College, and for the province more broadly. Forty children, aged six to sixteen, eagerly participated in four full days of Gaelic immersion. We divided the children into four groups, to keep class sizes optimal for Gàidhlig aig Baile (GAB) style instruction. In addition to myself, we also had Colaisde na Gàidhlig staff-member, Colin MacDonald and local Gaelic tutor Amber Buchanan instructing, as well as Goiridh Dòmhnallach and Lewis MacKinnon from Gaelic Affairs.
In addition to the intensive Gaelic instruction participants received during the day, students also had the opportunity to learn the history of their culture with a captivating presentation by Goiridh on Tuesday evening. Goiridh gave a history of the Gael, with a focus on the language. He described the roots of the language and explained how the language has endured for so long with faith and determination. The message was simple, “If the roots of our language go back an estimated 9,000 years, are you willing to see it die out in a generation or two?” Students were engaged throughout and many were eager with questions.
The program ended on Thursday afternoon with a “Taigh-Céilidh” of sorts, where students had the opportunity to sing, share stories and perform skits with their peers and family members. With the great momentum these youth have made in these four days, I am eager to see what great things they will do to preserve and perpetuate the language and cultures in their own communities!
I would like to extend thanks to Tracey MacNeil, Director of Education and Programs and all the staff of Colaisde na Gàidhlig, Gaelic Affairs, our instructors, super house-parents Glenda MacNeil and Brian MacDonald, parents and especially to the students who were so willing to learn and who are so dedicated to Gaelic!
Suas i!
Eamag Dhòmhnallach, Stiùiriche na Gàidhlig
Nuair a thòisich mi air mo chuid obrach mar stiùiriche na Gàidhlig aig Colaisde na Gàidhlig as t-earrach, bha mi èasgaidh airson prògramman a chur air dòigh airson na h-òigridh ann an Albainn Nuaidh. As t-samhradh seo, chuir sinn cuspairean eile ris na bh’ againn, Nàdar `s Spòrs agus Dràma `sa Ghàidhlig. Chòrd na cuspairean ùra seo ris na sgoilearan agus ghabh `ad gu math ris na clasaichean `s a chànan agus na h-òrain a bh’ ann mu thràth.
`S ann eadar 27-30 dhen Lunasdail a bha am prògram ùr sònraichte againn; prògram airson na h-òigridh “Caidreabh na Cloinneadh.”
Thàinig sgoilearan ás a’ mhór-roinn ann agus bha ceanglaichean eadarra fhéin agus an cultar `s a’ chànan cheana. Bha feadhainn ann ás an aon choimhearsnachd neo ás an aon teaghlach cuideachd. Bha `ad uile fiosrach air a’ Ghàidhlig ann an dòigh air choireigin, co-dhiù a bheil `ad a’ gabhail chlasaichean Gàidhlig aig an sgoil, `sa choimhearsnachd aca fhéin neo a bheil a’ Ghàidhlig air a bruidhinn am broinn an taigh’ aca. `Se an cothrom a bh’ ann dhaibh Gàidhlig fheumail, chumanta a thogail; agus a bhith ga bruidhinn am measg a’ chéile ann an suidheachadh bhogaidh.
`Se Caidreabh na Cloinneadh a’ chiad chruinneachadh mar sin aig a’ Cholaisde agus `sa mhór-roinn fhéin againne. Thàinig dà fhichead duine cloinneadh, a dh’ aois sia gu sia bliadhna deug, ann airson ceithir là air fad a chur seachad `s a Ghàidhlig. Bha sinn gan cur ann an ceithir buidhnean, los nach biodh na clasaichean tuilleadh `s mór airson Gàidhlig aig Baile(GAB) a dhéanadh. A bhàrrachd orm fhìn, bha feadhainn eile a’ cumail chlasaichean: Cailean Dòmhnallach, neach-obrach eile aig a’ Cholaisde; taoitear ionadail, Òmar Bhocanan; agus Goiridh Dòmhnallach `s Lodaidh MacFhionghain à Iomairtean na Gàidhlig.
A bhàrrachd air a’ chànan fhéin, bha cothrom aig a’ chloinn gus eachdraidh a’ chultair a thogail aig taisbeanadh a rinn Goiridh feasgar Dhi-màirt. Bhruidhinn Goiridh air eachdraidh nan Gàidheal, gu h-àraid air a’ chànan. Thug e dealbh air buin a’ chànain agus air mar a mhair e gu ruige seo le creideamh agus rùn. Bha an teachdaireachd simplidh, “Ma tha buin a’ chànain againn cho sean ri 9,000 bliadhna, am bi sibh deònach ’fhaicinn dol a-mach á sealladh ann an ginealach neo dhà?” Chum na sgoilearan aire air Goiridh fad an taisbeanaidh agus `ad èasgaidh le ceistean.
Chuir sinn crìoch air a’ phrògram feasgar Dhi-ardaoin le seòrsa de thaigh céilidh, far a robh cothrom aig na sgoilearan òrain `s naidheachdan a ghabhail agus sgiotaichean a dhéanadh airson an càirdean agus an teaghlaichean. Thàinig crìoch air an t-seachdain le toileachas agus bròin, bròn gu robh aca ri falbh ach toileachas a thaobh an àm ri teachd. Leis an t-sàr obair a rinn an òigridh seo ann an ceithir là, tha fiughair orm ri fhaicinn na nì `ad a thaobh na Gàidhlig anns na coimhearsnachdan aca fhéin!
Bu thoil leam taing a thoirt do Threasag Nic Nìll, Neach Stiùiridh an Fhoghlaim agus Phrògraman, agus dhan luchd-obrach uile againn aig Colaisde na Gàidhlig, Iomairtean na Gàidhlig, dhan luchd-teagaisg, do phàrantan an taighe Glenda NicNìll agus Brian Dòmhnallach, dha na pàrantan agus gu h-àraid dhan chloinn a bha cho deònach a bhith `togail na Gàidhlig agus a tha cho dìleas dhan chànan.
Suas i!
Gaelic Phrase for the Fall
A' chiad sgeul air fear an taighe agus sgeul gu là air an aoigh.
"The first tale from the host, and tales until dawn from the guest"
Upcoming Events
September 21 - 23
An Doigh Gàidhealach
September 28
Square Dance with Kinnon & Betty Lou Beaton & Howie MacDonald
October 5 - 13
Celtic Colours Festival Club
October 7
Celtic Colours Cape Breton Fiddlers Concert
October 13
Celtic Colours Pipers’ Ceilidh
Daily Demonstrations until 5 October
Great Hall of the Clans Open until 5 October
October 19 - 21
Cape Breton Creative Retreat
November 3
Pane in the Glass Fundraising Event
November 23 - 25
Christmas Gaelic Weekend
Facebook Challenge
Name the following tune, and be entered to win a Gaelic College T-Shirt! Each correct answer gets one entry. Name the composer, and be entered a second time! Post your answers on our Facebook page.
There have been a number of questions asked and statements made in recent days with regard to Gaelic College programming. As a result of this, we would like to take this opportunity to provide the public with accurate information. The following Q&A has been prepared to provide clarity on these programming issues.
