Cape Breton’s Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts Devoted to the Study and Preservation of Gaelic Culture, Language and Arts

The Gaelic College experience focusing on Gaelic culture has a WOW factor...It will blow visitors away! Laurel Reid, Ph.D Tourism Synergy Ltd.

St. Ann's, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia (PRWEB) August 4, 2010

With a mission formed 72 years ago, one of Cape Breton Island’s most treasured icons, the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts, has been promoting, preserving and perpetuating, through studies in all related areas, the culture, language, music, arts, crafts, customs and traditions of immigrants from the Highlands of Scotland. The college’s core focus is the school that attracts over 600 students each year from all across the globe to attend summer sessions and other courses that include some university credit and online courses.

New for 2010 is the Reverend Norman MacLeod Exhibit and Textile Exhibit in the Great Hall of the Clans along with a new Learning and Resource Centre, showcasing the many aspects of Gaelic culture. In addition to providing an active teaching/learning environment, the Learning and Resource Centre serves as a research centre for those seeking access to Gaelic material in the form of songs, stories, history, etc. employing appropriate technologies for language acquisition [cassette, CD, video players, computers with internet access]. The Centre contains the archives of the Gaelic College.

Currently, eight interpretive stations utilizing multi-media applications such as text, photos, audio, video and life size exhibits illustrate a specific aspect of Gaelic culture that include fiddle, piping, piano, weaving, story, song and dance. The new exhibits at the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts will add another dimension of the history and depicts one of the greatest pioneering odysseys of the 19th century.

Thousands of guests and visitors visit the campus and its points of interest to attend the céilidhs, programs, concerts and festivals taking place all year long at the school devoted to sharing Gaelic culture.Other features of the multi-functional Gaelic College include Elderhostel programs along with being a venue for events and meetings. The popular Craft Shop specializes in Scottish and local crafts and includes a sewing room for Scottish attire.

Reverend A.W.R. MacKenzie, who had a pastoral charge in Baddeck, Cape Breton was the driving force behind the creation of the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts. He was inspired by Reverend Norman MacLeod who lived on the present college property for almost 31 years before migrating with his flock to New Zealand in 1851. Reverend MacKenzie relinquished his ministerial duties and along with his wife devoted the rest of his life to his beloved College and directed its growth.

Although education is a priority at the Gaelic College, there is ample opportunity to experience the social side of Scottish tradition with Gaelic weekends, summer céilidh series, seafood céilidhs, Highland Dance competition and Féis A’ Mhòid / The Gaelic Mod, a one day celebration of all things Gaelic with workshops, storytelling, traditional codfish dinner, milling frolic and Concert.

For more information on the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts, visit http://www.gaeliccollege.edu

About the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts
The Gaelic College Foundation is incorporated under the laws of Nova Scotia as a Registered Charity. The school is a multi-functional facility offering:

•     Summer School and March Break session, degree-credit courses and on-line Gaelic courses.
•     Elderhostel Programs
•     Concerts, Céilidhs, Festivals
•     Hospitality services for various groups, events, conventions and meetings
•     Craft Shop that specializes in Scottish and local crafts and includes a sewing room for Scottish attire
•     Other culture oriented courses and workshops throughout the year
•     Great Hall of the Clans – Gaelic Heritage Learning Centre exhibit consists of eight interpretive stations and the new MacLeod and Textile exhibits.

The Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts is a founding member of the Celtic Heart of North America Co-operative, a group of eleven Cape Breton businesses representing and preserving the Gaelic and Celtic cultural experiences on Cape Breton Island.

Contact
Peggy MacAskill
Assistant Executive Director
peggy(at)gaeliccollege(dot)edu

###