Yesterday Gaelic learners gathered at O’Flynn’s in Baltimore City for our autumn cèilidh.  Given the time of year, the theme was Oidhche Shamhna – Halloween, the end of summer, the eve of November, the eve of winter.

Sgoil Ghàidhlig Bhaile an Taigh Mhóir teacher, Scott Morrison, led a fascinating discussion around the Gaelic Fairy tradition.  Do you know your Fairy lore?

Two participants recited the first two verses of the poem Air Oidhche na Samhna bidh ann, after which Scott recited many more verses with everyone chanting the chorus. Originally a wauking song, probably from the late 19th century, The poem is filled with Scottish Oidhche Shamhna traditions.

If you want to take a crack at it, here is the poem: Air Oidhche na Samhna bidh ann.docx

Or, for something simpler, this fun book, Oidhche Shamhna, that one of our classes is reading.  It was written and illustrated by young school children in the Hebrides in the 1980s: Oidhche Shamhna

Everyone shared stories of their ancestors, funny and serious, and we learned a lot of new things about each others while honoring those who walked those long roads of our heritage.

We were in a bar, so why not play cards?  For instance, this group below in a game of Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) Uno.

And then the sharing of songs and poetry.  Below you can hear one of the participants, Duncan, singing Cànan nan Gàidheal, written by Murchadh MacPharlain. It’s only a portion of the song, the quality isn’t great, and music from another part of the pub was coming through, but you can still hear what a beautiful voice this young man has.

We need to thank Liam Flynn for creating such an ideal Irish pub as O’Flynn’s, his hospitality in making the pub a home to many Celtic groups, and his commitment to Gaelic.

Everyone!

Mark the 17th of December on your calendars
and join us for our next cèilidh, again, at O’Flynn’s.

Tha sinn a’ dèanamh fiughar gus am faic mi sibh uile!
(We are looking forward to seeing all of you!)

Sgoil Ghàidhlig Bhaile an Taigh Mhóir is excited to announce a new online class in Scottish Gaelic for complete beginners.  As the existing class of beginner learners has moved on to a more advanced beginner status we found the need to re-establish a class starting from step one that would address the needs of the newest learners joining our community as well as some just returning to study.  The new class will also be taught by our teacher, Scott Morrison.

As with our other online classes, we are currently using Skype.  Participation requires that students have a Skype alias and a microphone on their computer.  Your Skype alias will have to be provided before your first class.

Also,as with our other classes, the text we are using in the new class is Teach Yourself: Complete Gaelic, by Boyd Robertson and Iain Taylor, supplemented with lessons from Taic.

The fee for the class is also the same: $10 per class, with tuition payments made in increments of $30 (3 classes).

Classes are every two weeks on Friday afternoons, 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm.

For complete information on classes go to the Class Schedule page.

To register, or for more information contact: Richard Gwynallen at richard.gwynallen@gmail.com

Cèilidh Oidhche Shamhna

Sunday, 29 October
DiDòmhnaich, 29mh An Dàmhair
3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Tri uairean feasgar – Sia uairean feasgar
O’Flynn’s
3432 S. Hanover Street, Baltimore, Maryland

Tha am foghar ann a bheireas an samhradh gu crìch agus a dh’fhosglas an geamhradh. (The autumn is here which brings the summer to an end and opens the winter.)

A new year in the Celtic calendar is upon us, and we are gathering with song, story, food, and drink to welcome Oidhche Shamhna (Halloween/Eve of November) in the warm, convivial environment of Baltimore’s Best Irish bar.

Thigibh ann cuide ruinn! (Join us!)

Aig a’ chèilidh (At the céilidh)

• Gaelic Immersion session – Build your Gaelic through conversation
• The Gaelic Fairy Tradition – A presentation and discussion by Scott MacIlleMhoire (Morrison) on the lore, origins, and lessons of the Fairy tradition among the Gaels.  What could be better as we approach Oidhche Shamhna and the veil between the worlds is thinnest?
• Sharing of songs, stories, music, and poetry  – Learn some songs as we sing together and bring your own tunes, poems, stories or songs to share (in Gaelic or otherwise).  Some will reflect the time of year and the Gaelic traditions of the season.

Our céilidhean are rooted in the traditional Highland céilidh as an intimate, informal gathering where stories, poems, songs, news, and more are shared; good food and drink are partaken of (a guarantee with the O’Flynn’s kitchen); and the craic is always good.

If you are interested in Gaelic culture and language, we would love for you to come.  You do not have to be a participant in any of our study groups (though you are very welcome to join).  We will be practicing our Gaelic, but everyone will feel comfortable, whether you have any Gaelic or not.

Please RSVP to richard.gwynallen@gmail.com

Chì sinn uile aig a’ chèilidh sibh! (We’ll see you all at the cèilidh)

A chairidean chóir,

Schedule changes this autumn are continuing to firm up.  First, our long standing Gaelic Conversation Session is switching the Wednesday evenings it meets.  These are informal opportunities to practice our basic Gaelic in the warm environment of O’Flynn’s pub on Hanover Street in Baltimore, with access to plenty of good drink and food.  Our next session will be held on Wednesday, 27 September, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm, and continued every two weeks.

Second, we are opening a new intermediate online Gaelic class, which will start meeting on Wednesday, 20 September, 6:00pm – 7:00 pm, and continue every two weeks.  The class is using the same text and web-based learning site used in the beginner class, plus additional material.

Please see our class schedule for full information. Thigibh ann cuide ruinn!

Suas Leis a’ Ghàidhlig!

A chairidean chóir,

It was a busy spring and summer around Sgoil Ghàidhlig Bhaile an Taigh Mhóir.  We had a tent at two Celtic festivals, new students have come on board, we had a wonderful picnic cèilidh in association with Gàidhlig Photomac, and our teacher, Scott Morrison, was out of the country with family in Australia.

Online classes are re-opening this month. The first beginner session of the new season is on Thursday, 21 September, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm. Everyone is welcome to join the beginner session.

For full information on our classes, check out our Class Schedule page.

We hope you can join us for the classes and céilidhean.

Suas Leis a’ Ghàidhlig!
Up with the Gaelic!

Our céilidhean are rooted in the traditional Highland céilidh as an intimate, informal gathering where stories, poems, songs, news, and more are shared; good food and drink are partaken of; and the craic is always good.

We usually hold our céilidhean in private homes, but this céilidh on the 20th of August is being held at O’Flynn’s at 3432 S. Hanover Street in Baltimore to make use of Liam’s kitchen for a Cooking in the Kitchen Gaelic Immersion Session.  Also, so folks can attend the Irish Traditional Music Session at O’Flynn’s before the ceilidh gets underway.

Usually the céilidh is pot luck, but this time we’ll have the benefit of O’Flynn’s great menu.

So, the order of the day will be:

2:00 pm – Irish Traditional Music Session

Come early to play or just listen.

3:00 pm – Còcaireachd anns a’ Chidsin: Cooking in the Kitchen Gaelic Immersion Session

Our céilidhean always include an immersion session before we get down to the sharing.  After the successful hiking immersion session in June where we tied the language to the land, Liam Flynn suggested doing the same in the kitchen.

We’ll be making oatcakes together!

4:00 pm – Cultural Presentation and Sharing

We’ll be learning and singing some wauking songs, but come with song, stories, poems, or anything else you want to share.  If they are in Gaelic all the better.  But they don’t have to be.

Feel free to eat and drink during the sharing.

6:00 pm – Officially the céilidh will be over, but please stay and eat, drink, and talk.

Message from our teacher of the Gàidhlig, Scott Morrison:

Our céilidhean are rooted in the traditional Highland céilidh as an intimate,informal gathering where stories, poems, songs, news, and more are shared; good food and drink are partaken of; and the craic is always good.

We usually hold our céilidhean in private homes, but the next céilidh on the 20th of August is moving to O’Flynn’s at 3432 S. Hanover Street in Baltimore to make use of Liam’s kitchen for a Cooking in the Kitchen Gaelic Immersion Session.  Also, so folks can attend the Irish Traditional Music Session at O’Flynn’s before the ceilidh gets underway.

Usually the céilidh is pot luck, but this time we’ll have the benefit of O’Flynn’s great menu.

So, the order of the day will be:

2:00 pm – Irish Traditional Music Session

Come early to play or just listen.

3:00 pm – Còcaireachd anns a’ Chidsin: Cooking in the Kitchen Gaelic Immersion Session

Our céilidhean always include an immersion session before we get down to the sharing.  After the successful hiking immersion session in June where we tied the language to the land, Liam Flynn suggested doing the same in the kitchen.

4:00 pm – Cultural Presentation and Sharing

Some songs will be taught, but come with song, stories, poems, or anything else you want to share.  If they are in Gaelic all the better.  But they don’t have to be.

Feel free to eat and drink during the sharing.

6:00 pm – Officially the céilidh will be over, but please stay and eat, drink, and talk.

A chairidean choir,

It’s been a busy spring around Sgoil Ghàidhlig Bhaile an Taigh Mhóir.  We’ve had a tent at two Celtic festivals, new students have come on board, and we just had a wonderful picnic cèilidh in association with Gàidhlig Photomac.

Now the summer is upon us, and with it some changes in our schedule for the summer. Every year we find that summer plans in our little community require some adjustment to our class calendar.   This year, our teacher, Scott Morrison, will be out of the country much of the summer starting the 16^th of June.

There will be one more online class, which will be on Thursday, 8 June, after which the online classes will be discontinued for the summer, to resume on Thursday, 31 August.

The informal Gaelic Conversation Sessions will continue through the summer, but may undergo some schedule changes if the summer travel of participants requires change.  However, these changes are usually easily managed as the group is very casual, and any change will be announced.  The next scheduled Gaelic Conversation session at O’Flynn’s at 3432 S. Hanover Street will be on Wednesday, 14 June.

To keep up with the schedule and other matters regarding classes go to our Class Schedule.

Even though he will be traveling with family, Scott will be available to students by email at sammallets@gmail.com.   He will do his best to keep up with questions.  If your question does not require Scott’s attention, contact Rick Gwynallen at richard.gwynallen@gmail.com

Mòran taing a h-uile duine.

Over the last few years a Scottish Gaelic learning community has been evolving in Maryland and northern Virginia.  On the 4^th of June, we had the first joint gathering of Sgoil Ghàidhlig Bhaile an Taigh Mhóir (The Gaelic School of Baltimore) and Gàidhlig Photomac (The Potomac Scottish Gaelic Society).

‘S math gu robh là soilleir, grianach ann

This whole event was outdoors, so it was good that we had sunny and bright weather.  It was a beautiful day at Carderock Recreation Area.  Great food contributed by everyone, great music and singing, and a lovely hike on Billy Goat Trail along the Potomac learning Gaelic in the woods, really tying the language to the land.

Mòran taing

Many thanks to Scott Morrison and Liam Cassidy for their leadership and teaching; Michelle LaFrance for scouting out and securing the site; the musicians of the day, Scott Morrison, Peter Walker, Maraji Gwynallen, and Liam Cassidy for a great cèilidh. And everyone who participated.

An latha

After enjoying food and company, the group gathered to start the Gaelic immersion portion of the day, the language hike.  Scott and Liam led the group through the terms most likely to be used during the hike, and assigned scavenger hunt responsibilities whereby groups of two sought to find and photograph certain things to be found along the trail.  A pdf of the vocabulary list can be accessed here.

The trail wound through the woods along the Potomac, up and down, over rocks and roots, a narrow bridge, and a tiny stream.

The hike paused at many locations as scavenger hunters found the objects of their quest, or folks had questions about the Gaelic terms for things not identified in the vocabulary list.

The most interesting find of the day goes to Liam Flynn of O’Flynn’s for the artifact he discovered in the woods.  Two other hikers, Amy Gray and Peter Walker, identified it as half of an old lemon squeezer.  Most of us only found slugs, trees, and beetles, and such.

Back at camp the hikers compared pictures of what they had found, asked more questions, and generally refined our understanding of the Gaelic language for our surroundings.

Then, more food and a lot of great music and singing.  It turned out to be kind of an international picnic area.  Next to our Gaelic group was a group of French speakers playing petanque.  They enjoyed us and we enjoyed them.

Ceòl is òran is aighear

It’s a wonderful Gaelic learning community that’s evolving in Maryland and northern Virginia. We hope you will join.  For more information on Sgoil Ghàidhlig Bhaile an Taigh Mhóir programs, Click Here.  For more information on Gàidhlig Photomac, check out their Facebook page here, and their Meet-Up page here.

A h-uile beannachd