I have provided the following links to organizations and businesses that deal with Celtic culture solely for the benefit and interest of the reader. I receive no financial or material incentive, remuneration, or other compensation of any kind from these sites or organizations. They are for the most part places that I have personally used and been satisfied with, and the owners are often known to me personally. However, neither I nor the site provider accept any responsibility for any problems with transactions, products, or any other issues arising from their use. Clicking on their links signifies the user's acceptance of this statement.  The ever-popular Yachats Celtic Music Festival is being held the week-end of November 11 - 13th 2011 (Veteran's Day) in beautiful and scenic Yachats Oregon. Since November of 2002 Yachats Oregon has been both home to and producer of the spirited Yachats Celtic Music Festival. For nine years the Festival has thrilled audiences with a lively blend of Celtic music, humor, scrumptious food, and graceful dancers. For the 10th Anniversary of the Festival, acclaimed performers from the old countries will mix harmoniously with home grown American musicians to fill the Village of Yachats with traditional and modern Celtic Music. ( I will be presenting a seminar on Celtic history, language, culture, language and music on Saturday at 2 PM and Sunday at 1 PM ) See the link above for a full schedule and information. The second annual Newport Celtic Festival and Highland Games will take place on June 8-9-10, 2012 in Newport, Oregon on the beautiful and scenic Oregon coast. This fun, educational and family-friendly event has been brought about by the dedicated members of the Newport Celtic community to showcase the traditions and heritage of the seven Celtic Nations of Brittany, Cornwall, Galicia, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Scotland and Wales. Events will include piping, drumming, dancing, and athletic contests, Celtic musical ceilidhs and concerts, parades, and many other colorful and exciting events. In addition there will be clan tents, genealogy and history, and displays of all kinds, as well as vendors of Celtic jewelry, art, books, music, and many other products of interest. ( Though the plans are well under way, the Games committee can still use generous Sponsors, Patrons and donors, as well as dedicated Volunteers to help stage this great event.) For a little bit of Scottish flavor while at the Newport Celtic Festival and Highland Games, stay at the Caledonia House in beautiful Seal Rock, OR, Just down the road! Caledonia House has the authentic Scottish B&B flavor, provided by hosts Dee Brodie and Belinda Goodie. It is run in accordance with environmentally sustainable principles, and offers nature wildlife trails and walks in addition to being adjacent to some of the finest parks and beaches in the state. Give them a ring if you're coming this way!  Caledonia House B&B Ever thought seriously about learning Irish Gaelic? If so, a course at Oideas Gael should be on your calendar!  Beautiful, Historic and Scenic Glencolmcille in rural Co. Donegal (Photo courtesy Oideas Gael site) Since its foundation in 1984, OIDEAS GAEL, located in beautiful and historic Glencolmcille, Co. Donegal, has attracted hundreds of participants annually its highly acclaimed language and culture courses for adults and Irish activity holiday cultural programmes each year. Classes are not just for the Irish, but for people from all over the world who travel especially to attend. The unique blend of expertly prepared and customized language courses and an attractive mix of cultural sessions, all located within a Gaeltacht community, enables adult learners to improve their fluency in Irish, while at the same time enjoying the living culture. These courses have produced some of the finest and most fluent non-native speakers of Irish in my circle of acquaintance, and their skilled staff can meet every need and level of fluency from beginner to advanced. Contact them at: Cúrsaí Gaeilge agus laethe saoire cultúrtha Irish language courses & cultural activity holidays eolas@oideas-gael.com fón: +353 (0)74 973 0248 / Faics: +353 (0)74 973 0348 Iain Sherwood of Cuillinn Craft has been a friend of mine since our boyhood. we used to play the pipes together when he was in town. He is a fine craftsman in metal, wood, and leather (the dirk pictured is one of his "bespoke" pieces), and a piper of many years standing. He carries pipes and supplies, tartans and Highland dress, band equipment, and his own fine products, as well as those of other craftsmen he has worked with. He also is available to play for events, and to teach. His site is well worth a visit!  One of Iain's splendid dirks. Pipes and Piping Links A repository of information about uilleann pipes and pipers is the NPU - Na Piobairi Uilleann, the Irish national piping association. Other sites catering to pipes and pipers include: Sean Folsom is an old friend whose consummate skill on many pipes and other instruments has earned him the title of "World Minstrel." Robert Burns (not the dead Scottish poet I hasten to add) is a friend, former student, and is now a fine Highland piper who has won several awards for his playing. Bob is also an experienced and highly qualified member of the legal profession. Patrick Darcy's uilleann obsession is a site for all things pertaining to the uilleann pipes. Well worth a visit for pipers or those aspiring to the art. Likewise, the San Francisco Irish Piper's Club is a great resource for West Coast pipers. The late Bob Dunsire's piob mhor (aka "Great Highland bagpipe") site lives on. They have now expanded into some other areas as well. Dale Wisely's deservedly famous Chiff and Fipple, while originating as a penny-whistle resource, has expanded hugely. Other pipe information: The amazing vPipes have finally been released! After years of research, testing, and development, Ramon M. Castro and Jose A. Garcia, talented Spanish piper-techs, and their team have finally brought this remarkable device to the piping world. This virtual uilleann pipe solves all the problems of earlier electronic pipes, such as GSR (galvanic skin response) issues, sensitivity, etc., and has incorporated many new features such as the two-octave range, and the ability to make slurs, such as the critical "caoine" ( the wailing cry produced by note-shaping that is a hallmark of traditional uilleann piping ), as well as many other issues, and it has features previously unobtainable in electronic piping. It also has its own on-board synthesizer and effects, and can be played with ear-phones or any other standard speaker or output device. Sound samples for the initial release are full, rich, and authentic, having been taken from the Rowsome and Froment D and flat sets of the well-known piper, Cilian Valleley of Lughnasa, who field-tested the vPipes on his world tour a few years ago. (Check Cilian and Jarlath Henderson playing prototype models on the site. ) I am told that future versions will include piob mhor (Highland pipes) and Spanish Gaita Gallego (Galician pipes), and that other voices and instruments will eventually be available, and that it will eventually include a set of regulatoirs. (At this point, it only includes drones.) The device has already attracted excellent reviews from noted pipers all over the world at the field tests / demos it has appeared at. (Note: I have tested this device and found its attributes to be as advertised. The sound quality, responsiveness, etc. , were all excellent!)  Another talented piper-tech friend is Michael Eskin of San Diego, CA. Michael is already well-known for his tutorials of Irish music, and he has now developed a great app which runs on the iPhone - a virtual "3/4 set" of regulators and drones. Made for the uilleann pipes, it is also useful for penny whistle, flute, and other instruments wanting to use a drone note and regulator accompaniment. Michael used high-quality sound samples from his own Lynch set, and the sound is excellent. The free version is very cool, but the paid ($2.99) version is AWESOME - with a new 1.1. version coming in January (free upgrade to current purchasers). Great fun for those who have or are getting an iPhone. MIchael has also developed a virtual uilleann pipe chanter for the iPad, and most recently, a Highland pipe chanter and drones app, which are truly marvelous! Check out his apps (and Irish music lessons, etc.) at Tradlessons. You can see the virtual pipes and regulators demonstrated on You Tube.  Carbony™ Instruments from Pipe Makers Union LLC  Galician Gaita in Carbony™ Carbony™ i composite carbon fiber wood-alternative developed and used by Rob Gandara of Pipe Makers Union LLC to make quality Celtic and other wind instruments Located in Corvallis, Oregon, USA, PMU offers innovative Celtic wind instruments that blend the advantages of modern carbon fiber technology with traditional instruments and designs. Rob's instruments include bagpipe practice chanters, pipes, whistles (including his "pipe-whistle" - a whistle with bagpipe fingering), flutes and didgeridoos. Carbony™ is indestructible: it will not crack, break or rot; it is geometrically stable over variable temperature and humidity; it stays as built - no warping or drying out over time; and is highly responsive. I have personally played some of these instruments, and their quality and responsiveness is excellent. Tod of Tod's Stuff is an antique weapons maker who comes highly recommended. The Tower of London commissioned some crossbows from him - the first they have ordered in 500 years! Also, my friend Ryun, a Jacobite Highlander re-enactor, has gotten a fine brass-hilted dirk from him (below), and says it is highly satisfactory, well-crafted, and balanced. I would say it is, (in the words of a famous piobaireachd), "biodag boidheach" - a pretty dirk - and certainly a handsome piece for the re-enactor or collector.  Ryun's Dirk From Tod's Stuff Among our many talented artist friends is Adrien Rain Burke, whose work graces some of our pages, and which is available for sale and commission. She is also highly involved with An Claidheamh Soluis (The Celtic Arts Center) a small non-profit organization in L. A. dedicated to promoting Celtic language, dance, arts, theater, and concerts. It is also home to the longest-running traditional music session in Southern California. Adrien organized and produced a CD called Ceiltis to commemorate the ACS' 20th anniversary some years ago. You can purchase it at CD Baby. The cover and CD art alone is worth the price (see below), but it also contains many talented artists who have played at ACS and who have donated their time and work for the the benefit of the Center.   Jen Delyth is a talented Celtic artist of Welsh heritage. Her art is based on ancient Celtic mythological and folk themes, as drawn from are an intricate delight to see, and can be seen at a number of Celtic events. Her DVD, "Beyond the Ninth Wave" featuring her art, music, and recitations of Celtic poetry is available through her site. Other Links Though not strictly speaking of Celtic interest (although the author was a piper of Celtic stock, as well as an old warrior), his book, "Heaven's Pavement" is a gritty portrayal of an Airborne unit in the Second World War. The author was the late Juarez Roberts, who was a paratrooper in the 507th, and fought with them from the first jump into Normandy all the way to Combat Varsity and the end of the war. Although this book is not Celtic per se, Juarez was very attached to his heritage, and was an avid penny-whistler and piper. Available at Amazon.com in both print and Kindle edition. CAP Oscar is a site about a later war, Vietnam. It is the story of a little-known Marine "hearts and minds" program. For more gentle and artistic interests, Glen Quilts is the site of Lisa J. Taylor, a talented quilter and fiber artist. |