The Scottish Gaelic influence is strong in Nova Scotia. Our very name New Scotland embodies it. You can find it at the Colaisde Na Gàidhlig/Gaelic College in St. Ann’s and at the Highland Village/An Clachan Gàidhealach in Iona. Our Celtic culture greets you with Ciad Mile Failte (100,000 welcomes) at a milling frolic, concert and ceilidh.

When I worked in the festival world people would often ask what my real or full time job was. I guess this is understandable if you've never looked behind the scenes at a music festival. All most people see is a public explosion of activity for a short period of time. In fact, the cycle of fundraising, planning, promotion, production and reporting on the results of a major festival goes on year round.

Ma shuidh sibh riamh ag éisdeachd ri sgeul 'ga h-innse, no ma dh' éisd sibh ri Stiùbhart Mac 'Illeathain air a' ChBC, bidh làn fhios agaibh air cho tlachdmhor 'sa tha e sgeul tarruingeach a chluinntinn aig seanchaidh coileanta seach a leughadh no a faicinn mar fhiolm.

It’s interesting how language is influenced and changes over time. I started travelling to Scotland in the mid 90’s and loved hearing the shopkeepers say “cheers” when they handed over my purchase. Ten years later I began to hear the same in Nova Scotia.

If you ask most people where they can hear Celtic music they would likely answer Scotland and Ireland. An increasing number of folks would also think of Cape Breton because of our living Gaelic culture.

It would surprise some people that the areas of north western Spain, Galicia and Asturias, are also widely recognized as Celtic nations. Both of these regions also have a very active bagpipe tradition. (Their version of the instrument is called the gaita.)

I made my first trip to Scotland in January of 1996. The purpose of the visit was to conduct research at the Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow. My business partner and I had hatched the idea to create what would become the Celtic Colours International Festival in Cape Breton. We wanted to see a large Celtic festival in action and Celtic Connections, although only in its third year of existence, was already a huge event spanning almost three weeks in length.

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.

Tha mi an còmhnuidh toilichte leis an uiread de Ghàidhlig a bhios ri fhaotainn an duigh tro iomadh meadhan - ma bhios fios agaibh càit' am faighear iad! Bu toil leam fios a chuir thugaibh air programan ris a dh' fhaodas sibh éisdeachd, mu dheidhinn 's dòchas nach cuala sibh roimhe seo.

Ciamar a dh' Ionnsaicheas Mi a' Ghàidhlig?

Bidh iomadh duine a' cantainn gum bu toil leis a' Ghàidhlig dh' ionnsachadh ach chan eil 'ad cinnteach ciamar a ghabhas sin a dheanamh. Tha mi toilichte a dh' ràdh gu bheil móran chothruim ann an diugh seach mar a bha bho chionn ghoirid.