Maine Ulster-Scots

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Members of the Maine Ulster-Scots Project will be presenting two workshops at the Maine Celtic Celebration in Belfast, Maine this weekend.

John T. Mann, Chair of the Project, and Bill McKeen, former President of the Saint Andrews Society of Maine and MUSP contributor, will be talking about “The Scots’ Trail To Maine”, focusing on the Border Reivers historical connection to Maine and New England. A second workshop, “The Blood Is Strong; Researching Your Scottish Ancestry”, will be presented by Dianne Bergstedt FSA Scot, MUSP web mistress and generational historian.

In addition to presenting the workshop, John T. Mann is the author of “Ulster-Scots on the Coast of Maine, Volume 1”. Prior to beginning his presentation, he will be presenting two signed copies of his book to Megan Pinette of the Belfast Historical Society and Museum for the Society’s library.

MUSP is sponsored by the Saint Andrews Society of Maine. It explores the struggle of the Ulster-Scots against religious and governmental persecution, their strong reliance on self and family, and the founding of a radically new independent country.

The workshops will be held at the Steamboat Landing in Belfast and will begin at 6pm on Friday, July 18, and Sunday, July 20 at 3pm.

More information is available at the website of the Maine Ulster Scots or by contacting:

John T. Mann
207-353-9047
John@maineulsterscots.com

By the way, the Maine Celtic Celebration is sporting a brand new website and it is spectacular!

Slainte,
Dianne

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Rhode Island Scottish Highland Festival

The Rhode Island Scottish Highland Festival is being held this Saturday, May 17, 2008. This year they are celebrating their 10th anniversary.

This year's scheduled performers are:
ALASDAIR FRASER and NATALIE HAAS
CHARLIE ZAHM
CELTIC HARP CIRCLE
RATHKELTAÍR
SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCERS

A special event this year is a fiddle workshop with Alasdair Fraser. Learn more about that here.

Visit the Rhode Island Scottish Highland Festival website here.
More Highland Games events can be found on the Highland Games Calendar, located at the top of the Links column on this page.

Slainte,
Dianne

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A Primer For Your First Highland Games

The first time you attend a Highland Games or Scottish Festival you will be delighted and inspired by the sights and sounds that accompany such a gathering. Delighted and inspired, but maybe not as prepared as you would like to be.

Highland gatherings are different from any other type of outdoors event, and as such require a different sort of preparation.

The verra canny folks over at Clan Cunningham have compiled a comprehensive list of FAQ's for the first-timers.

It's a readable, practical and good-humored approach to your first Highland Games.

You can read it here.

Moran Taing to Clan Cunningham.

Slainte,
Dianne

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Celebration of Celts Festival of Music, Dance & History

If you should fancy a drive to New York this weekend, May 3rd and May 4th, you should visit the Celebration of Celts Festival. Held at the Columbia County Fairgrounds in Chatham, NY, this is a two-day event celebrating not only the Celts but the fifth anniversary of the festival in 2008.

This year's entertainment features the Barra MacNeils and Enter the Haggis, along with several other top-notch performers.

The pipe competition looks like a hoot; check out "Piping Outside the Box".

Their website has a page devoted to the history of Heavy Athletics here.

Click here for their fabulous article on the East Coast Celts (US).

The festival flyer can be downloaded (PDF) here.

Visit the website of the Celebration of Celts Festival.

You can find other New England Highland Games and Festivals by clicking the Highland Games Calendar link located at the top of the Links column.

Slainte,
Dianne

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Tartan Day Photos

While I was doing a spring cleaning of my computer files, I found items from Maine Tartan Day 2007. One file is a plaque made by Noel Bonam, Director of Maine's Multicultural Office, using items we presented to him at the event. You can click on the photo for a full-size view.

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10 Years Of Tartan Day

The purpose of National Tartan Day is to recognize the contributions that Americans of Scottish
ancestry have made to our national heritage. It also recognizes the contributions that Scottish-
Americans continue to make to our country.

The following organizations, representing hundreds of Scottish-American groups and hundreds of thousands of individuals who are proud of their heritage, urge you to participate in Tartan Day.

THE SCOTTISH COALITION USA is composed of the following organizations:

The American-Scottish Foundation, Inc.
Association of Scottish Games & Festivals
The Caledonian Foundation USA, Inc.
The Council of Scottish Clans and
Associations, Inc.
The Living Legacy of Scotland, Inc.
Scottish Heritage USA, Inc.
Scottish Tartans Authority USA

For more information on how to participate in Maine Tartan Day, email MaineScot@gmail.com.

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