So you have conducted on-line searches for your Celtic connections in Cape Breton and found lots of interesting things. So why not include some on-site genealogical research while visiting the island. While there is a wealth of information available on the Internet, many treasures and research gems are off-line and can be found in Cape Breton libraries, municipal archives and historic society minutes.

Tha Oidhche Shamhna a' tighinn dlùth a nis agus bidh tachartasan ann an iomadh baile 'is coimhearsnachd. Mar eisimpleir bidh Oidhche nam Bòcan aig a' Chlachan Ghàidhealach agus bidh Cuairt le Lòchran aig an Daingneach Louisburg.

It’s that time of year again. The time when Cape Breton shows off its most magnificent Fall colours and welcome visitors from near and far to the annual Celtic Colours International Festival! If you are one of the lucky ones who will be in Cape Breton for the Festival, we are thrilled that you decided to share this annual celebration with us. Whether this is your first time or a return visit, we want to make sure this is your best Celtic Colours experience yet.

The Order of Canada is the centrepiece of Canada’s honours system and recognizes a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation.

Cape Breton songwriter, musician and author Allister MacGillivray was recently named to the Order by Governor General David Johnston. Allister was appointed “for his contributions as a musician and composer whose songs are widely known for their depictions of Cape Breton and its people.”

Rachel Davis is a gifted, hard working young Cape Breton Fiddler. Rachel first came to my attention in 2009 as the recipient of the Frank “Big Sampy” Sampson Award, which is sponsored by the Celtic Colours Festival Volunteer Drive’ers Association. This organization has a really good track record in choosing young musicians who can benefit from the professional assistance of Lakewind Sound Studios in the production of a debut CD.

I love words.

And I enjoy discovering the origins of the words we use every day to communicate. I have always liked the sound of this place - Uisge Bhan Falls. It is a waterfall located at the end of a provincial walking trail outside Baddeck. Its name is Gaelic for white water.

Uisge – pronounced oosh-ka – means water; ban means white. I like that it describes what happens there. It makes sense. But I also really like the way it sounds when you say ‘uisge’.

A sunny day. Celtic Music. Beautiful scenery. Good food. What could be better?

Last month, I visited the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre in Judique and saw this license plate in the gift shop and knew it would be my theme for this summer.