Cape Breton Area Marks 200 Years of Gaelic
N.S. MUSEUM--Cape Breton Area Marks 200 Years of Gaelic Settlement
A salute to two centuries of gaelic settlement in central Cape Breton will take place at an event called Féill nam Barrach -- gaelic for Barraman's Feast -- from July 28 to Aug. 4. The celebration will mark the 200th anniversary of the arrival of the first Gaels to the area along the Barra Strait.
The event will feature two concerts at the Highland Village Museum/An Clachan Gàidhealach in Iona, a dramatic production inspired by the Donald Og story, workshops on various aspects of gaelic culture, family dances and ceilidhs, religious celebrations, and a re-enactment of the first landing in Iona and the meeting with the Mi'kmaq people.
The Highland Village Museum/An Clachan Gàidhealach will be the centre of the celebration, with many of the events taking place at venues in central Cape Breton communities, including Iona, Christmas Island and Washabuck.
In 1802, inspired by Donald Og MacNeil's accounts of the Bras d'Or Lakes, MacNeils from the Isle of Barra in Scotland became the first gaelic settlers to the shores of what is now called the Barra Strait.
Resolute Hebrideans, they were followed by many more Gaels from the highlands and islands of Scotland. Names such as MacDonald, MacKenzie, MacKinnon, MacLean, Campbell and others have all become part of the gaelic story in Central Cape Breton. The descendants of the Barra pioneers are still represented strongly across the region. They can be found in communities of the Iona Peninsula, on Christmas Island, and in areas to the east that are steeped in the Gael heritage, culture and language.
Féill nam Barrach is a partnership of Clan MacNeil, the Highland Village Museum/An Clachan Gàidhealch, local fire departments, churches, Grandona Legion, and other community groups.
More information on Féill nam Barrach can be obtained using any of the following methods:
- mail: Barraman's Feast 2002, c/o Highland Village Museum/An Clachan Gàidhealach, 4119 Highway 223, Iona, N.S., B2C 1A3
- Web site : www.centralcapebreton.com/barramensfeast2002
- e-mail: [email protected]
- phone: 902-725-2272
Highland Village Museum/An Clachan Gàidhealach is a part of the Nova Scotia Museum.