The Gathering of the Gaels

The Gathering of the Gaels

From: July 24th 2008 until July 26th 2008

[www.gaelic.ca](http://www.gaelic.ca}

ANTIGONISH – St. Francis Xavier University is the place to be this month when international and local visitors gather to celebrate Nova Scotia’s distinct Gaelic culture.

The university will host Cruinneachadh nan Gaidheal – the Gathering of the Gaels – July 24-26, the first international Gaelic celebration of its kind to be held outside of Scotland. It will feature in-depth workshops on the Gaelic language and song, fiddling, piping, stepdancing, storytelling and what may be the largest milling frolic ever assembled.

Immediately preceding and joining with the event is Rannsachadh na Gàidhlig (Researching Gaelic), an international academic conference July 21-24 chaired by Dr. Ken Nilsen, chairman of St.FX’s Celtic Studies Department.

Attention Youth Who Care About Gaelic!

Will the Gaelic die in your lifetime?

Let's face it- you've got a job and/or school on the go.

You're interested in the Gaelic language and culture of your ancestors (maybe more than you admit) but you're busy.

And when you look at the state of Gaelic you feel concerned.

Your parents probably don't speak it. Your grandparents (or great grand parents) might have. But now YOU want to learn it. You want to reclaim your roots. You want to speak the language of your ancestors. You're attracted to the Gaelic culture and you don't want to see it die.

But it could.

Make no mistake, Gaelic is in serious trouble at the moment with very few native speakers left in Nova Scotia.

But it's also on the most exciting times ever for Gaelic.

Here's the deets on the Gathering:

WHAT: an evening long gathering of young people from around Nova Scotia exploring what we can do to see the Gaelic Culture and Language thrive. We are hosting a province wide youth gathering for those interested in Gaelic (between the ages of 15 and 30).

We did this in August of 2005 and it was super good.

WHEN: Weds, July 23, 5-10pm

WHERE: St. FX University, The Hall of the Clans (we'll be using a small room just off of it - there'll be signs).

WHO: Nova Scotian youth (ages 15-30) who are concerned Gaelic might die in their lifetime and who are interested to explore their own connection to it. You don't need to speak any Gaelic or have any previous experience - you just have to be interested in the conversation.

WHY: In the past few years amazing projects have been happening all around Nova Scotia. There has been an amazing resurgence of Gaelic language learning and a strengthening of the Scottish Gaelic culture. Native speakers have had their language documented, an amazing short film (The Wake of Calum MacLeod) was made, a new form of Gaelic Language instructions (TIP) has been spreading.

And we want to look at the ways that youth can be involved.

COST: Free. PLUS you get free pizza (from 'The Wheel' - you know you want it) and juice and other food.

WHAT WILL YOU GET OUT OF IT:

  • free pizza goodness

  • meeting other youth into Gaelic stuff (you're not the only one!)

  • hearing the most recent updates on what's happening in the Gaelic community (it may surprise you in a good way)

  • learn the realities of the challenges the language and culture face

  • we bet you make one new really good friend. no joke.

WHAT TO DO NOW:

RSVP for this event. It's gonna be a gooder!