The American Scottish Gaelic Society

ACGA to hold Virtual National Mòd in November

| | Gaelic Song, National Mòd

Mark your calendars — An Comann Gàidhealach Ameireaganach (ACGA) will hold its 31st US National Mòd entirely online the weekend of Nov. 7-8. The Mòd Committee is contacting adjudicators and making plans for the competitions and any other events, and more information will be available soon.

The coronavirus has pushed all types of events online this year, including ACGA’s Grandfather Mountain Song and Language Week. That ...

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The American Scottish Gaelic Society

Cape Breton’s Féis an Eilein Goes Virtual, Puts Concerts Online

| | Events, Gaelic Learning Communities, Gaelic Song

Many of us are missing the opportunity to travel to Cape Breton this year, especially to Féis an Eilein, which is celebrating its 30th year despite the coróna-bhioras (COVID-19).

The weeklong event in August is a highlight of the Gaelic year in Nova Scotia. The féis, held on Eilean na Nollaig or Christmas Island, is the first to be held outside Scotland.

But don’t despair. Even if ...

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The American Scottish Gaelic Society

Grandfather Mountain Song & Language Week Goes Online July 6-9

| | Events, Gaelic Song

ACGA’s Grandfather Mountain Gaelic Song and Language Week (GMS&LW) will be held online, with four days of classes July 6-9 in Scottish Gaelic song and language taught via Zoom. The virtual event will feature Wilma Kennedy and Màiri Britton as instructors.

After the physical on-site event was canceled due to the loss of our venue at Lees-McRae College, the GMS&LW committee swung into action and organized ...

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The American Scottish Gaelic Society

2020 Grandfather Mountain Gaelic Week Canceled

| | Events, Gaelic Song

We regret to say the Grandfather Mountain Gaelic Song & Language Week scheduled for July 5-10 has been canceled.

Tha sinn gu math duilich.

Lees-McRae College, the site of the event for two decades, has officially canceled their hosting of all summer events and programs due to necessary actions taken to address the Covid-19 pandemic. This includes our event. The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, which follow the ...

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The American Scottish Gaelic Society

Britton, Kennedy, MacPhee coming to 2020 Grandfather Mountain Gaelic Week

| | Events, Gaelic Song

Three highly acclaimed Scottish Gaelic singers and educators will be instructors at this year’s Grandfather Mountain Gaelic Song & Language Week (GS&LW): Catriona MacPhee, Wilma Kennedy, and Màiri Britton. Registration for the GS&LW is now open, and may be completed online here.

The GS&LW will be held from Sunday, July 5, through Friday, July 10, at Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, North Carolina. Information on accommodations ...Read More

The American Scottish Gaelic Society

Registration Open for Gaelic Singers, Storytellers at Mòd Ligonier 2019

| | Events, Gaelic Song, National Mòd

The Ligonier Mòd will take place in the town of Ligonier, Pennsylvania, at the Ligonier Highland Games Sept. 13-15, 2019, as it has many times in the past!

We will gather Friday night, Sept. 13, for those who wish, for a cèilidh at the Ramada Ligonier, situated in the heart of the town near Fort Ligonier. The competitions will take place at the Ligonier Highland Games ...

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The American Scottish Gaelic Society

Rachel Walker coming to Ligonier Mòd in September

| | Events, Gaelic Song, National Mòd

Acclaimed Scottish Gaelic singer Rachel Walker is returning to America, this time to judge the Gaelic song competition at Mòd Ligonier 2019 in September.

The Mòd is a celebration of Scottish Gaelic song, music, poetry and storytelling based on Scotland’s Royal National Mòd and provincial Mòds. ACGA has held 30 National U.S. Mòds, many of them at Ligonier in western Pennsylvania.

Mòd Ligonier will be held Sept. ...Read More

The American Scottish Gaelic Society

Register now for ACGA’s Grandfather Mountain Gaelic Week

| | Events, Gaelic Song, Gaelic Week @ GFM

Registration is now open for the 2019 ACGA Grandfather Mountain Gaelic Song & Language Week, a five-day intensive exploration of Scottish Gaelic song, language and culture in the western mountains of North Carolina. This year’s program will run from Sunday, July 7 through Friday, July 12, followed by the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and North Carolina Provincial Gaelic Mòd.

The GS&LW returns to Lees-MacRae College for ...

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The American Scottish Gaelic Society

Òran Bagraidh: Reimagining a song and a language

| | Gaelic Education, Gaelic Song

It’s well-known, or should be, that Scottish Gaelic was once spoken well beyond the Hebrides and Highlands, as far south as the Scottish borders during the Middle Ages. That’s been obscured by history and historical myth-making that sought to de-emphasize the role of the Gaels in Scotland (how many times have researchers heard “Gaelic was never spoken here” from people in parts of Scotland pocked ...

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The American Scottish Gaelic Society

Mòd Ligonier Puts US Spotlight on Scottish Gaelic Song, Language

| | Events, Gaelic Song, Organization

Scottish Gaelic song, story and poetry rang out at the Ligonier Highland Games this year when ACGA held its latest Mòd — a day-long competition in Gaelic language arts and tradition. The popularity of the Mòd — ACGA has held one in Ligonier each year since 1995 — demonstrates how important Gaelic song is to learning, teaching, and promoting Scottish Gaelic in North America.

Mòd Ligonier, ...Read More