Bliadhna Mhath Ùr. Everyone at the Celtic Heart of North of America would like to wish you and yours a very Happy New Year. We look forward to another year of sharing the Celtic culture of Cape Breton with you.

We are very proud of our Celtic Heart blog. Our bloggers are passionate about Cape Breton Island’s culture and are ready to share their unique views and experiences.

I’d like to introduce you to two of the Celtic Heart’s bloggers:

Mar a sgrìobhas mi am blog seo, bidh a' bhliadhn' ùr a' teannadh oirnn a rithist agus mu 'n àm seo gach bliadhna tòisichidh mi ri smaointinn air na mìosan 'sa Ghàidhlig 'is 'sa Bheurla.

Who’s Playing in Westmount tonight?

For a long time now, at least 20+ years, the community of Westmount, Cape Breton (home to famous Cape Breton fiddler, Howie MacDonald) has been home to frequently scheduled square-dances. Holy Rosary hall just off of the Westmount Road would be alive with stepping feet and lively fiddle tunes. The fiddle/piano due would always be fantastic! The regulars would come out and dance all night, and you’d often see a new face or two, out on a discovery mission, and never let down with their newly chosen adventure.

Cape Breton Island's renowned Celtic Colours International Festival begins today and runs for the next nine days in venues throughout the island. There are still tickets available to some of the performances, but you should act fast to get yours, as most will sell out.

For a taste of what you can expect from the Celtic Colours Festival, here's a link to a sampler video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaYFi5C6rnY

Hope to see you there! 

What a refreshing place to be……..  It had been too long since my last visit.  The drive over was relaxing in itself, but the moments that followed as I drove up the driveway, parked and entered the grounds, were really moments of “awe” and total appreciation for the beauty that surrounded me.

'S e cleachdadh làidir a bh' aig na Gàidheil bho chian nan cian a bhith ag aithris sgeulachdan, seachadas a bha air dol á cleachdadh ann an Ceap Breatainn bho chionn greis. Nan rachadh duine do cheilidh, is cinnteach gun cluinneadh e ceòl na fìdhle, ceòl na clàrsaiche móire, agus a bu dòcha òrain agus innealan ciùil eile 'gan cluich, ach sgeulachdan...? 

The world of summer school…….a really unique kind of summer school…….not the summer school that a child might be forced to take part in if they didn’t quite acquire all of those credits they had hoped for.  I’m talking about the type of summer school where you are able to move in for a full week, fiddle, step-dancing shoes, AND your Gaelic scribbler in tow.  Summer school at the Gaelic College!

'Nuair a dh' éisdeas daoine ri ceòl Ghàidhlig, cluinnear gu bheil iomadh òran air a dheasachadh air an aon fhonn. Bidh cuid de dhaoine a' smaointinn gur e fàilligeadh nam bàrd a th' a's coireach ach chan e sin a' chùis.