Gaelic culture on centre stage at St.FX

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.
The weekend will feature children's and adult Gaelic language classes, a mini-conference on the status of Gaelic in Nova Scotia and a gala concert. Participants will also be able to take workshops from Mary Jane Lamond on Gaelic song, Scott Williams and John MacLean (piping), Shelly Campbell (fiddle), Mary Janet MacDonald (step-dance and square set) and Lena/Iain MacLellan (dance reels/quadrilles) as well as workshop from members of CeÒlas, of South Uist, Scotland.
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.
"This is certainly a one-of-a-kind event for Nova Scotia, perhaps unique world-wide," says organizer and St.FX Celtic Studies professor Catriona Parsons. "The scale of the project also presents an opportunity to further raise the profile of Gaelic culture in Nova Scotia."
For information visit www.gaelic.ca.