NACHS Newsletter

The Northern Arizona Celtic Heritage Society

July 2006

A Thank You from the President of NACHS

For all your efforts to make NACHS a strong, wacky, fun, educational, supportive, family organization – a HUGE THANK YOU. It's at this time of year that I get sappy and sentimental and remember all that we have accomplished. We have given over $27,500 in scholarships to date. We have created a fantastic educational web site and outreach program. We have supported our community and other organizations (check out the contributions on the web site). We have grown into a two-day event! And, we have done all this with loads of fun along the way. I am so very proud of what each of you has done to make this organization what it is. So, from the bottom of my heart ~ thank you. Slainte!

Jude McKenzie

Arizona Highland Celtic Festival July 15 & 16!

This year will be our first two-day event and the following are some of the special features to watch for:

· Plants of the Celtic regions...plants donated by Viola's Garden

· Geology of the Celtic regions...great for all you rock hounds!

· Educational workshops...check the program for the special workshops including genealogy talks, musical bones playing, penny whistle, bodhran, and Celtic knot tying, to name a few.

· Celtic Kids Corner...don't miss the archeological dig, the croft house, and Nessie's mountain lair.

· Glenfiddich premium whisky tasting...watch the program for the time to do the special Glenfiddich tasting. The highlight will be a 30-year-old Glenfiddich!

More Perks for MEMBERS

Don't forget to stop by the NACHS tent (located just inside the main gate) at the festival for your special VIP goody bag. Who knows what might be in store for this year!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE FESTIVAL

A number of key volunteers are down with medical issues and we are strapped for help. If you ever thought you might want to get involved, now is the time. Only a week and a half to go!

We need volunteers for beer sales, ticket sales, set up and take down for BOTH DAYS. We ask you to volunteer for 3 to 4 hours and the rest of the time you can enjoy the festival for free!

If you would like to volunteer, please call Jude at 928.556.3161.

US School of Piping

During the week following the Arizona Highland Celtic Festival, we will be hosting our second US School of Piping. Thanks to Jim Thomson for his dedication and the dedication of the many volunteers, this school is an excellent opportunity for NACHS to meet its goal of presenting, promoting, and preserving Celtic culture. This year we have some of the world's piping greats for instructors, so if you know of someone who might be interested, please have them check the web site at www.nachs.info. The school is an extraordinary opportunity for pipers to perfect their craft with top-notch instructors.

At the ICC

GREENSLEEVES AT THE CENTER

On Friday, August 11, 2006, the Center will be presenting Lindianne Sarno and Gary Kuitert on the History and Music of Greensleeves. Program starts at 7:00 pm and admission is $5.00. Lindianne Sarno, author/musician, and her husband, musician/photographer Gary Kuitert, will speak on Lindianne's novel, Greensleeves, An Historical Novel of the First Irish Diaspora.

Set in Tir Conaill (County Donegal) in the 1500's, in the court of Irish scholar-king Maghnus O Domhnaill, Greensleeves chronicles the work of a band of Irish scholars and musicians who dedicated their lives to saving Irish culture in the face of the English invasion. Greensleeves draws the reader into renaissance/reformation Europe through the eyes of singer Caitlin ni Conor--who becomes Lady Greensleeves.

Refuting the rumor that King Henry VIII wrote the song, Greensleeves offers an account of the song's cultural and spiritual origins in Ireland and Scotland, and how the tune acquired English lyrics. A rousing good tale of a gallant troupe of noble singers who double as spies and diplomats, Greensleeves features insightful portraits of historic characters diplomat Eoin O Gallagher (who represented the interests of Tir Conaill in the perilous court of Queen Elizabeth), King Maghnus O Domhnaill, and in the next generation, Hugh Dubh O Domhnaill and his Scots-born wife, the stately, deadly Ineen Dubh O Domhnaill. The author reads selected passages from her book, and she and her husband speak, play illustrative music, and share photographs about their travels and research through Ireland, Scotland and Europe following the path of Lady Greensleeves. Visit www.music-garden.net for more information on Greensleeves.

The Irish Cultural Center is located at 1106 North Central Avenue, Phoenix.

Reruns of Bic Waterman Articles

Bic Waterman has submitted articles about the eight Celtic regions to our newsletter for over four years. Following are a few of “The Virtual Visitor”’s earlier submissions:

February 2002

Today I’m on Gruinard Island, off the coast of Scotland and the year is 1942. Britain’s Ministry of Defense has sanctioned experiments in biological warfare to be carried out on this desolate 520-acre island. A flock of sheep has been secured in a fenced area and will be exposed to airborne spores emitted from soon-to-be-exploded canisters of anthrax. The entire flock will perish in three days.

Despite attempts to neutralize the island, active spores will keep the island in quarantine for nearly 50 years. In 1986 the island will be soaked with nearly 300 tons of formaldehyde distilled in 2000 tons of seawater. Topsoil will be placed in sealed containers and taken off the island. In 1990 officials from the MOD will proclaim Gruinard Island to be safe and clear of anthrax contamination.

March 2002

Today I’m on the northern coast of Cornwall, in southwest England and the year is 465 A.D. Rumors, innuendo, mystery and intrigue have overcome the population. On one of the highest promontories jutting into the North Atlantic sits Tintagel Castle. In this castle, so the most consistent rumor goes, Igraine has recently given birth to the baby who will become known as King Arthur. The magician Merlin, so I’m hearing, has taken the baby to the safety of the Cornish woods because questionable fatherhood has put the baby’s life in jeopardy. During the next 77 years of Arthur’s life the seeds of Arthurian Leg- end, including Camelot, the Round Table, and the sword Excaliber will be planted.

Twenty four centuries later remains of mighty Tintagel Castle endure and Merlin’s Cave are visible during low tides.

September 2002

Today I’m on the summit of Mt. Snaefell, Isle of Man and the year is 1979. It is dawn. A small group of officials and celebrities, including Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb (known to the world as The Bee Gees and who were born on the IOM) is gathered to celebrate the 1000-year anniversary of IOM’s Tynwald, the oldest continuously active democratic parliament in the world. From our 2000’ vantage point we can see Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales.

IOM is a mystical place in the middle of the Irish Sea. Consider these unique qualities of the 227-square mile island: its legendary creation from a huge dirt clod thrown at a fleeing rival by the Irish giant Finn McCool; present-day beliefs in placating the fairies of the island; its three-legged symbol of unknown origin as the coat of arms; the breeding of cats with no tails; and flocks of four-horned sheep. One of the largest populations of Basking Sharks lives in Manx waters. They are the world’s second largest fish, growing to about 33 feet.

Wanted: Pipers and Drummers

Interested in learning to play bagpipes and belonging to a small local pipe band? Call us!

All levels of skill welcome and lessons are free! Jim Thomson 928-522-8797.

For Sale:

DUNFION Bagpipes $1000.00; GIBSON Bagpipes $3800.00.

Please contact Lloyd McCaffery: 928-634-3672

Celtic Music radio program on KJZA 89.5 FM

- Hosted by NACH's own David McNabb

- Live on Saturdays, 6-7 pm

- Broadcast repeated on Sundays, 1-2 pm

Directory of Celtic Arts

For Lessons:

Bagpipe, Prescott	Denise Robinson: 928.443.5191 (New!)
Bagpipe and Drums, Flagstaff	Jim Thomson: 928.522.8797
Bodhran	Ron Barton: 928.774.7261
Fiddle	Kari Barton: 928.600.1365
Harp	Laurie Riley: 928.204.0013
Highland Dance	Jim Thomson: 928.522.8797
Irish Dance	Sharon Judd: 602.253.1978

For Performance and Music:

AZ Highlanders Pipe Band, or to hire bagpipers	Jim Thomson: 928.522.8797
Bagpiping in Cottonwood/Verde Valley area	Lloyd McCaffery: 928.634.3672
The Knockabouts	John McGregor: 928.863.0188
Celtic Harp	Laurie Riley: 928.204.0013
Wild Thyme	Sherri Bermeister: 928.636.1207