The American Scottish Gaelic Society

ACGA ‘Mini-Mòd’ Coming to Ligonier Sept. 21-23

| | Events, Gaelic Song, National Mòd

ACGA’s National Mòd in Pennsylvania is on hiatus for 2018 as we re-tool for an expanded event in 2019, but we’ve gotten a large number of inquiries and requests to get together in Ligonier again this year, to have a smaller, informal Mòd.

We just can’t let the year go by without keeping the tradition of singing, storytelling, poetry, and good times going in some form! ...

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The American Scottish Gaelic Society

Preparing for the Gaelic Song & Language Week this July 9-13

| | Events, Gaelic Song

There’s still time to reserve a place at the 20th Annual Grandfather Mountain Gaelic Song and Language Week, which will be held by ACGA July 9 to 13 in Banner Elk, North Carolina, just before the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games July 12 to 15.

We’re working on getting everything ready for the weeklong event at Lees-MacRae College, which will feature Scottish Gaelic language song classes taught ...

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The American Scottish Gaelic Society

Hebridean Students Bring Gaelic, Music to NYC for Tartan Day

| | Events, Gaelic Education, Gaelic Song

This past Friday, April 6, was Tartan Day in the United States, and people around the country celebrated Latha an Tartain. New York City hosted its annual Tartan Day Parade on Sixth Avenue, with more than 4,000 registered marchers, including Còmhlan Pìoba Sgoil Lìonacleit, the student pipe band from Sgoil Lìonacleit in the Outer Hebrides.

(See a BBC video report on the band’s trip in Gaelic ...

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The American Scottish Gaelic Society

Uncovering ‘Hidden History’ in Gaelic Poetry

| | Gaelic Song

Gaelic songs can tell us a huge amount about life in Scotland and the surprisingly modern ways in which Gaels saw the world. Even when working with English translations, they reveal the words and thoughts of people who are not normally visible in written histories.

So writes Kevin Grant at the start of his blog for Historic Environment Scotland on “Three Gaelic Bards” and the insight ...

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The American Scottish Gaelic Society

Gaelic song competition Mòd nan Lochan Mòra to be held June 8-10

| | Advanced, Beginner, Events, Gaelic Song, Intermediate

The premiere Scottish Gaelic song event of the Midwest — Mòd nan Lochan Mòra or The Great Lakes Mòd — returns to Akron, Ohio, June 8-10.

This year’s adjudicator will be Seumas Greumach (James Graham) of Sutherland, Scotland, winner of the men’s Bonn Òr a’ Chomuinn or Gold Medal at the Royal National Mòd. James has been an instructor at ACGA’s Grandfather Mountain Gaelic Song and ...Read More
The American Scottish Gaelic Society

Registration Open for 20th Annual Gaelic Song and Language Week

| | Advanced, Beginner, Events, Gaelic Song, Gaelic Week @ GFM, Intermediate

They say time flies, but it’s still hard to believe we will be gathering in North Carolina this July for the 20th Grandfather Mountain Gaelic Song and Language Week, held from July 9 to 13 in Banner Elk, just before the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games July 12-15.

Every year since 1998, An Comunn Gàidhealach Ameireaganach has held a week of classes taught by some of the ...

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The American Scottish Gaelic Society

First ‘Oidhche nam Bàrd’ Celebrates Scottish Gaelic Poetry

| | Events, Gaelic Learning Communities, Gaelic Song

Everyone, practically everywhere, has heard of Robert Burns and Burns’ Night, but what about Scotland’s Gaelic poets?

They got their due and their own night Jan. 27, when 20 people gathered to celebrate centuries of poets and Gaelic poetry and share poems and songs at Oidhche nam Bàrd in Alexandria, Virginia.

Gàidhlig Photomac, the Scottish Gaelic Learning Community in the Washington, D.C., area, organized the special event, ...

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The American Scottish Gaelic Society

‘S e Nollaig a th’ ann! Students release Gaelic Christmas song

| | Gaelic Song

A Scottish Gaelic Christmas song performed by a high school rock band is spreading not just throughout Scotland but worldwide.

“‘S e Nollaig a th’ ann! (It’s Christmas!”) was recorded by Làn Chomais, a Gaelic rock band from Greenfaulds High School, and released Dec. 7.

Làn Chomais (which means full of ability or power), recorded the song with the backing voices of 1,000 students from Gaelic language ...

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The American Scottish Gaelic Society

Great Lakes Mòd Celebrates Gaelic Song

| | Events, Gaelic Song

Mòd nan Lochan Mòra/The Great Lakes Mod kicked off this year’s North American mòd season at Akron, Ohio, in the middle of June.

Participants gathered Friday night for a pot-luck supper followed by sight-reading, storytelling, and poetry competitions adjudicated by Angus MacLeod, winner of the men’s Bonn Òr a’ Chomuinn at the 2014 Royal National Mòd in Scotland. Saturday saw the singing competitions, which included ...Read More