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

Halò a h-uile duine!

Sgoil Ghàidhlig Bhaile an Taigh Mhóir and Gàidhlig Photomac will hold a joint outdoor picnic céilidh for Gàidhlig learners around the region. (Family, friends, and newbies welcome).  Join us to kick off the summer.

Sunday, 4 June
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Hike with Gaelic learning; Gaelic session at site for those who do not want to hike
3:00 – 5:00 pm
Picnic and céilidh – Food, music, songs, craic

Carderock Pavilion
11701 MacArthur Blvd., Potomac, MD (map)
RSVP to richard.gwynallen@gmail.com

For hikers and nature lovers: The Billy Goat Trail offers excellent (strenuous) hiking for those who would like to come early. The C and O Canal trail offers less strenuous adventure and nature-watching to those who want to see heron, water fowl, tangier, and many, many native plant species.

More info on hiking, parking, and the C and O canal:
https://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/carderockpicnicpavilion.htm
https://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/maps.ht

More detailed directions from 1-495:
1. From the Beltway (I-495), take exit 41
(Coming from MD, the sign will say: Carderock, Great Falls, MD. Coming from VA, the sign will say Clara Barton Pkwy, Carderock, Glen Echo.)
2. Take the Clara Barton Pkwy going west.
3. Take the next right (sign says “Carderock, Carderock Div. NavSurfWarCen”).
4. Go up the ramp (you’ll see an I-495 sign).
5. At the top of the ramp, go left at the stop sign.
6. Go across the bridge over the Clara Barton Pkwy and continue straight into the park (don’t turn at the opposite end of the bridge).
7. Follow the road as it winds to the right and goes under the C&O canal bridge.
8. At the stop sign, where the road stops at a T, GO LEFT. We will be in the parking lot of a large pavilion (which we have not booked).

Our next Gaelic Conversation Session is this Wednesday, 8 March at 6:30 pm.  We are now meeting at O’Flynn’s, 3432 S. Hanover Street.  This is a very casual session where we work to improve the everyday use of our Gaelic.  Never been to one?  Doesn’t matter. Join us. It’s a lovely pub atmosphere.  Have some food and drink, and learn some Gaelic.  Please RSVP if you intend to come, so we know how many to expect.

It would be great if folks could join Sgoil Ghàidhlig Bhaile an Taigh Mhóir at two Maryland Celtic festivals this Spring.  Both are a lot of fun.  We hope you can put them on your schedule. Please drop by and hang out at the Gaelic tent.  We’ll play some music, sing some songs, eat some food, lift a pint together, and enjoy the craic.

Bliadhna Mhath Ùr dhuibh uile! – Happy New Year to you all!
And Happy Hogmanay!

Below are scenes from Hogmanay around Scotland from previous years for you to enjoy. May all your fires burn brightly throughout the year.

Something to think about: Scottish customs of the new year contain messages that can be relevant to how we think about entering 2017. While bonfires celebrate the lengthening of daylight and thus the “return” of the sun, in our own lives, we can use fire to call forth the light and passion within each of us, calling us to be our best selves in the months to come. By our own candles or fires, we can decide what goals for spiritual and personal growth we will set for ourselves, and link ourselves to our heritage and ancestors.

And even the ancient custom of first footing – the belief that a tall, dark, handsome stranger coming to your door the first thing after midnight of the New Year brings good fortune to the household. The idea of first footing is that the first person who comes through your door indicates the character of your New Year. On the one hand, by offering hospitality to the visitor you begin your year with a generosity of spirit. On the other hand, we can  consciously choose what we admit through the front door, then open that door with great intention and greet it!

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Burning of the Clavie photographs Copyright Anne Burgess/www.geograph.org.uk

A typical Baltimore Gaelic School céilidh and class:

Here is the song I mentioned at the cèilidh that contains the old Halloween traditions:

air-oidhche-na-samhna-bidh-ann

I’ll work on a translation for you guys and post it later.

-scott