News release

Highland Village Hosts Array of Special Events in October

Nova Scotia Museum

Gaelic art and music shows, a Scottish documentary filmed in Cape Breton, closing ceremonies for the International Gathering of the Clans and special-effects Halloween tours are just of few of the highlights of an exciting October schedule at Highland Village.

The annual Joe Neil MacNeil Memorial Lecture will kick off the month's special events on Tuesday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m., in the Village Tuning Room. Michael Linkletter, an assistant professor with the St. Francis Xavier University Celtic Department, is guest lecturer.

Mr. Linkletter is a native of Prince Edward Island who received a degree in Celtic Studies at St. F.X. and has completed graduate studies in Celtic at Harvard University. He was the first holder of the Ben Alder Chair in Celtic Studies at St. Francis Xavier University. The topic of his lecture will be The Life and Work of Alexander MacLean Sinclair. Admission is free and tea will be served.

The art exhibit by Mabou Coal Mines painter Peter Rankin runs until Sunday, Oct. 14, in the Malagawatch Church. Titled Air Aithris aig M'Athair (Stories my Father Told), the 24-work exhibition of oil, pen, ink and pencil is drawn from traditional lifestyles, stories and scenes of Gaelic Cape Breton.

Làithean Sona/Happy Days children's Saturday programs, Oct. 6 and 13, offer a glimpse of what life was like for the Gaels with hands-on activities such as chores, crafts, games, language and song. Pre-registration is required.

On Monday, Oct. 8, expert weaver Vicki Quimby will present Cairtean, Cuibhle's Beairt: A Pioneer Textile Tour at the Iona, Victoria Co., museum. The two-hour tour will focus on cloth production in the historical lives of Nova Scotian Gaels, examining textiles and the tools used to make them. Pre-registration is required.

On Tuesday, Oct. 9, Highland Village will show Fàgail Bharraidh. In October 2006, a group of Scottish Gaels originally hailing from the Isle of Barra, toured Cape Breton Island in search of Nova Scotia's Gaelic language traditions and relatives. Their visit was recorded by the Media nan Eilean film crew for a 44-minute production broadcast nationally in Scotland.

On Wednesday, Oct. 10, Highland Village will present The Gaelic Cape Breton Show filmed at Little Theatre, at the University College of Cape Breton in 1989. The concert featured some of Cape Breton's most recognized performers including Dave MacIssac, Willie Kennedy, the late John Morris Rankin, Willie Fraser, Natalie MacMaster with traditional Gaelic singers Maxie "Dan Angus" MacNeil and Allan MacLeod.

Young singers Joy Dunlop and Calum Alex MacMillan, both from Scotland, will offer a Gaelic song workshop on Thursday, Oct. 11, from 1 p.m to 3 p.m. Both have extensive backgrounds in Gaelic performance and Gaelic development work. Mr. MacMillan, a Mod Gold Medal winner, is a native of Lewis, and has released his first CD, Taladh nan Cuantan. Ms. Dunlop is well known in Gaelic Cape Breton for her work with Féis Mhàbu as a teacher of Gaelic language and songs to children.

Later that evening, Highland Village will present the Waters of Iona Celtic Colors concert in the Malagawach Church. Dunlop will sing Gaelic songs from the Highlands and the Sangsters quartet will harmonize songs from the Lowlands. Mabou-born piper Kenneth MacKenzie will perform in the traditional Gaelic style and Cape Breton fiddlers Andrea Beaton and Shelly Campbell, backed up by Betty Lou Beaton on piano, will perform.

On Saturday, Oct. 13, Highland Village will host the closing ceremonies for the International Gathering of the Clans. An afternoon program organized by the Clan MacNeil Society will close the Federation of Scottish Clans In Nova Scotia events for 2007.

The Scottish customs of Halloween (Oidhche Shamhna) will continue with special-effects tours Thursday, Oct. 25, to Saturday, Oct. 27, for Oidhche Mhór nam Bòcan (The Night the Ghosts Walk). Halloween activities are suitable for all ages. Pre-registration is required.