Quarterly newsletter of Slighe nan Gaidheal Seattle’s Gaelic society An Geamhradh No. 4, 2014

MacRae Award Presented to Mary Fears by Penny McLeod DeGraff

With the passing of Colin MacRae earlier this year, it was poignant and most fitting that the 2014 recipi-ent of the Alexander MacRae Memorial Award for Outstanding Contribution to Gaelic Culture was Colin’s fellow clansperson, Mary Fears. Mary was first exposed to Gaelic song during a trip to the Clan MacRae gathering at Eilean Dunan Castle in Scotland. Immediately taken with the tradition's beauty, she was steered toward Slighe nan Gaidheal by none other than Colin, one of our area's most significant tradition bearers in the Great Highland Bagpipe and the donor of the beautiful MacRae Award trophy in memory of his father. Mary has contributed greatly to the musical life of Slighe nan Gaidheal through her participa-tion in Seirm. Always eager for a challenge and the chance to expand her understanding of the rich tradition of Gaelic song, Mary has consistently volunteered as a soloist to lead and inspire her fel-low singers. Mary joined Slighe nan Gaidheal’s Board of Directors at the end of 2004, serving as President, Vice President, Secretary, and Development Officer. Over the course of her eight years on the Board, Mary kept much-needed funds coming into Slighe nan Gaidheal from our two major donors, Sage Arts Foundation and the Dunvegan Foundation.

Above: Mary Fears holds the beautiful trophy donated by Colin MacRae for the Alexander MacRae Memorial Award for

Outstanding Contribution to Gaelic Culture. Photo by Dale DeGraff

Right: Mary MacRae shares memories, stories, and family photos of her father,

Colin MacRae during the Annual General Meeting October 26th.

Photo by Penny McLeod DeGraff

Even during troubled economic times, Mary kept our community’s strengths and financial needs visible to those who were in a position to help. In her professional life, Mary has had a wealth of experience in the art of accepting help from volun-teers while maintaining a professional level of service to those who needed it. When challenges beset our community, Mary always found a way to apply les-

sons learned from her other experiences to our situation, adding her helpful pearls of wisdom to many a Board dis-cussion. Mealaibh ur naidheachd agus tapadh leibh, a Mhàiri! We were especially honored to have Colin’s daughter, Mary MacRae join us at the Annual General Meeting for the presentation of the MacRae Award and to share her memories and photos of Colin. She was very touched to learn how much her father and grandfather have meant to Slighe nan Gaidheal through the years and that we will continue to keep their memory alive through the MacRae Award.

Slighe nan Gaidheal's Board of Directors held their September Board meeting in the Board room of the Celtic Arts Founda-tion's new building in Mount VernonLeft to right: Jason Kies, Stacey Giermann,

Rich Hill, Judy Webster, Seumas Gagne, and Miriah Hetherington

Adam Robbins also attended via Skype from Portland — and took the minutes!

Photos by Penny McLeod DeGraff

About the Celtic Poets in

North America Project

by Michael Newton

Celtic Poets in North America is a digital exhibit that aims to bring attention to the poetry composed in North America in Celtic languages—Breton, Cornish, Irish, Manx, (Scottish) Gaelic, and Welsh—by making a selection of poets and poems visible and accessible in digital form. You will find graphic representations of basic information about poets (where and where they lived, etc.), short biographies, and essays about aspects of these literary traditions. Two of the Gaelic poets in the exhibit are Slighe members.

The creator, curator and software developer behind the exhibit is Dr. Michael Newton, who has present-ed at previous Slighe Féisean (2004 and 2014) and other events. There are contributions of various kinds from several other people on the website. Further contributions from the community regarding poets and poems in Celtic languages will be welcome.

Please visit Celtic Poets in North America at: http://celticpoetsna.web.unc.edu.

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Publication InformationAm Bradan Fiosa is produced on a quarterly basis for the members of Slighe nan Gaidheal by the Communications Committee and additional contributors. Editor: Anne Paulsen Layout: Linda Henry

Contributors to this issue: Carolina Coleman, Dale DeGraff, Penny McLeod DeGraff, Seumas Gagne, Richard Hill, Gary Ingle, Ted Neveln, Michael Newton, Nan Pardew

Mission Statement: The mission of Am Bradan Fiosa is to provide the membership of Slighe nan Gaidheal with news and information about upcoming events and items of interest to Gaelic language learners, and to document the life of our community.

Slighe nan Gaidheal members and supporters are welcome to submit items for publication in Am Bradan Fiosa that are Gaelic-related and meet its editorial guidelines. Publication of such contributions does not imply endorsement of programs or events that are not sponsored by Slighe nan Gaidheal.

Next Publication deadline: March 15, 2015

Slighe nan Gaidheal’s

Board of Directors

Slighe nan Gaidheal’s

Board of Directors

correct as of 12/14

Adam Robins

Secretary

adamrobins@slighe.comGroup 2 | term expires 2016

Nancy Lawson

Director

Group 2 | term expires 2016

Judy Webster

Director

judywebster@slighe.comGroup 3 | term expires 2017

Miriah Hetherington

Treasurer

miriahhetherington@slighe.comGroup 2 | term expires 2016

Jason Kies

Development Officer

jasonkies@slighe.comGroup 3 | term expires 2017

Penny McLeod

DeGraff Director

penny@slighe.comGroup 3 | term expires 2017

Richard Hill

President

richardhill@slighe.comGroup 1 | term expires 2015

Seumas Gagne

Director

seumasgagne@slighe.comGroup 1 | term expires 2015

Stacey Giermann

Vice President

staceygiermann@slighe.comGroup 1 | term expires 2015

Letter from the President

A chairdein agus a chompanacha choire!

I'm having a hard time believing that 2014 is almost over! This Slighe year was so full and so successful: including record attendance at Slighe Intensive Days, several pubic performanc-es by Seirm and the waulking group of excellent vocal and instrumental music, and a Feis, which included more Gaelic language enthusiasts than ever, with top-notch classes and concerts, a powerful tweed-waulking, and some of the most exciting after-ceilidhs ever!

Last week in my Tuesday class I asked my students to translate something really special, a dialogue in which Seattle was men-tioned by name as a hot-bed of Gaelic enthusiasm (Colloquial Scottish Gaelic, Spadaro/Graham, Routledge, 2001). This was no accident! All the keen supporters of Scottish Gaelic in Seattle from 1989 (perhaps even earlier...) to today should take credit!

However, let there be no resting on laurels, or fraoch, or lua-chair, or murran. The strength of our organization lies in our continuing to show up for class and rehearsal, and in our dili-gence as students and our exuberance as bearers of Northwest Highland Hospitality, wherever we may be!

By the time you read this a'Ghrian Bheag, an Nollaig Mhor, an Nollaig Bheag, a'Challuinn...all may be behind us. As we enter the new calendar year, I hope you'll ponder the power and wisdom in the following seanfhacal: Riaghladh goirid air an òr, riaghladh fada air an òran. The power of a song lasts far longer than the power of gold.

We are so lucky to be connected with our teachers in Scotland, Canada, the US, and with our friends in Gaeldom all over the world. I truly believe that Gaelic is one of the tallest feathers in our cap: wear it proudly!

~ Richard Hill

aontachadh nach eil e coltach gur e Iain Dubh fhéin ughdar "Òran a' Chogaidh," agus sheall i gu Ian MacD-hòmhnall (a b'abhaist a bhith aig Comann nan Leab-hraichean) e. Tha Ian den aon bheachd, nach e 'guth' Iain Duibh a th'ann. Math dh'fhaodte rinn MacKinnon, sean-seanair Stacey, mearachd ann a bhith smao-ineachadh gur e Iain Dubh a sgríobh an dàn agus b'ann do bhrìgh sin a bha e ga ghleidheadh ann an leabhar le Niall MacLeòid, còmhla ri dàn eile, dàn a rinn Iain Dubh gu cinnteach. Rud eile a tha caran inntinneach: tha e coltach gu robh ceangal air choireigin eadar Alexander MacKinnon agus an teaghlach MhicLeòid ann an Gleann Dail, ceangal a mhair tro na ginealaichean; tha a dhà no trì ainmean a fhuair iomradh anns an leabhar le Meg a dh'aithnich Stacey S. mar cousins aice no am measg a sinnsearan: seinneadairean is sgeulaichean le òrain is fiosrachadh nan Leòdach. Mar sin tha ceangal mairean-nach eadar Gleann Dail san Eilean Sgitheanach, agus Seattle fhéin. Tha an triùir bhàrd Dòmhnall nan Òran agus a dhà mhac gu math eadar-dhealaichte bho chéile ann an stoidhle, ach is fhiach iad uile a leughadh, còmhla ris na h-eachdraidhean-bheatha eadar-dhealaichte aca. 'S dòcha gu bheil a' mhór-chuid an latha an diugh a' mea-sail gu bheil bardachd Néill caran eu-domhainn is ro mhaoth-inntinneach, ged tha 'òrain aithnichte agus gan seinn fhathast, cleas "Fàilte don Eilean Sgitheanach" no "An Gleann san Robh Mi Òg." Air an làimh eile tha bar-dachd Iain Duibh grinn agus neo-mhodhail aig aman-nan, ach pearsanta is faireachail nuair tha e ga iarraidh. Bhuinn bardachd an athar Dòmhnall nan Òran do linn nas sine agus nas traidiseanta. Gu mi-fhortanach tha e coltach gu bheil cuid mhór de a bhardachd air call. Aig deireadh an sgeòil tha mi a' moladh dhuibh an leabhar le Meg Bateman's Anne Loughran, "Bàird Ghleann Dail."

Puirt na Gael shares some tunes at the Annual General Meeting Céilidh October 26th. Left to right: Skye Richendrfer, Sue Truman, Brandy Driscoll, Aaron Malcomb

Above: Sue Truman presents an audience participation Crankie show as pipers Skye

Richendrfer and Aaron Malcomb watch the audience try out their "crankie" tools.

Right: Mary MacRae (right) congratulates Mary Fears, recipient of the 2014 Alexander MacRae Memorial Award

for Outstanding Contribution to Gaelic Culture

Below: Russ Smith, Holly Giermann, and Stacey Giermann await their turn to crank

their "crankie" tools during the Crankie show at the Annual General M.eeting

Photos by Penny McLeod DeGraff

Members of Seirm perform at the St. Andrew's Celtic Fling on October 18th.Left to right: Jim McKnight, Heidi Buschmann, Jennifer McClure, Beth Tibbets, Heidi Geiss, Ginny Byrnes-McKnight, Nancy Neveln, Nan Pardew, and Penny McLeod DeGraff. Photo from video by Dale DeGraff

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Committee Chair Directory

Awards (vacant)Children and Parents

Judith Cummings | judith@slighe.comCommunications

Seumas Gagne | seumasgagne@slighe.comDevelopment (vacant)Féis Seattle

Stacey Giermann | staceygiermann@slighe.com Rich Hill | richardhill@slighe.comGaelic Education

Judith Cummings | judith@slighe.com Nina Chambers | ninachambers@slighe.comGaelic Music

Penny McLeod DeGraff | penny@slighe.com Seumas Gagne | seumasgagne@slighe.comLibrary and Archives (vacant)Merchandising (vacant)

Iain Dubh Mac Leòid:

ath-char na sgeulachd

le “taibhs’”

Sgrìobh mi roimh seo beagan air a' bhàrd Iain MacLeòid, "Iain Dubh," bràthair a' bhàird ainmeil Sgiathanach Niall MacLeòid, agus mar a thàinig e nam aire a-bhòn-uiridh. Tha boireannach Stacey Solemslie a' fuireach an Seattle; is ise té-dheasaiche na litreach-nuachd airson Clann MhicFhionghain an-seo. Dh'fhàg i teachdai-reachd air làrach-lìn Slighe nan Gaidheal agus ise a' sìreadh eadar-theangachadh agus sgrùdadh air dòr-lach de phàipearan Gàidhlig a fhuair i bho a sean-sea-nair nach maireann Alexander MacKinnon, seòladair na mara à Gleann Dail san Eilean Sgitheanach. Choin-nich sinn ann an Taigh-tì Kuan Yin a-chum is gum b'urrainn dhomh sùil a thoirt air na pàipearan. Nam measg bha duilleag air an do sgrìobh cuideigin sìos na faclan de dhàn le Iain Dubh, "Òran a' Chean-naiche." Bha an làmh-sgrìobhaidh beagan doirbh a leughadh, ach an déidh beagan rannsachaidh fhuair mi lorg air leth-bhreac soilleir clò-bhuailte ann an seann iris de Ghairm, leis an Urr. Iain MacAonghais. Is dàn inntinneach e, làn spors is grinneis; seòrsa "litir" a sgrìobh am bàrd do "fhear" An Ceannaiche. Anns an fhìorachd is e "An Ceannaiche" ainm a thug daoine na nàbaidheachd air "creig àrd chas ri oir a' chladaich eadar Gob na h-Eiste agus Loch Pholltil" mar a sgrìobh an t-Urr. MacAonghais; àite faisg ri Gleann Dail far an d'fhuair na bràithrean Iain agus Niall an àrach. Tha an dàn làn de cainnt-chluich 's fealla-dhà, a dèanamh mas fhìor gu bheil "An Cean-naiche" na fhear-cheannaiche ann am bùth. Tha e ann an cruth comhraidh eadar am bàrd agus an "cean-naiche." Fhuaradh a' dhuilleag seo còmhla ri leabhran beag ann an leabhar bho shean-seanair Stacey; mar tha-chair, b'e an leabhar seo ceud eagran den leabhar aithnichte "Clàrsach an Doire" le Niall MacLeòid. Agus an leabhran na bhroinn, b'e dàn clò-bhuailte e, air a chur ás leth "Iain MacLeòid" agus an tiotal air, "Òran a' Chogaidh." Bha sinn a' smaoineachadh math dh'fhaodte gum b'e dàn neo-aithnichte le Iain Dubh, bràthair Néill. Thuirt mi ri Stacey, ma tha, 's dòcha nach eil leth-bhreac eile ann am bith agus bu chòir dhi am fear seo a ghleidheadh slàn sàbhailte. Co-dhi-ubh a chionn 's gu robh ar aire air an dàn eile, "Òran a' Cheannaiche" aig an àm, agus air na b'urrainn dhuinn faighinn a-mach mu bheatha 's obair Iain Duibh, dh'fhàg sinn gu latha eile e. Sin mar a bha cùisean gus an do thachair Stacey air sanas air an eadar-lìon mu chuimhneachan ann an

Gleann Dail a bha coisrigte dìreach am bliadhna, don triùir bhàrd Niall 's Iain Dubh MacLeòid agus an athair Dòmhnall MacLeòid, Dòmhnall nan Òran. A bharrachd air a' chuimhneachan bhitheadh leab-har nùa air a fhoillseachadh, "Bàird Ghleann Dail" le eachdraidh-bheatha na triùir comhla ri eòlas is aithrisean agus eisimpleirean de na dàin aca. Is i Meg Bateman, bana-bhàrd-air-mhuinntireas aig Sabhal Mór Ostaig, an té-dheasaiche is té-rannsaiche an leab-hair còmhla ri Anne Loughran, co-oileanach Mheg nuair bha iad le chéile anns an oilthigh 'sna '80-an. Bhuel cheannaich mi an leabhar air ball, is fhuair mi gun dàil (cleas-fhacal a dh'aona-ghnothach!) an e-leabhar air an Kindle agam! Tha e làn de dh'eachdraidh 's de dh'eòlas, cuid mhath dhiubh nach robh ri fhaotainn ann an clò roimh seo. A réir na tha Meg a' sgrìobhadh, chruinnich i a h-uile dàn le Iain Dubh a mhair ann an clò no ann an cuimhne gus an latha an diugh. Chan eil "Òran a' Chogaidh" anns an leabhar idir, no eadhon iomradh air. Chuir Stacey S. dhomh leth-bhreac pdf a rinn i den leabhran bheag bho a sean-seanair. 'S e a' cheud rud a mhothaich mi gur e dàn mun Chogadh Boer a th'ann, "air a' sgrìobhadh 'n déigh blàr Abhuinn a' Mhodder" mar a tha air a' dhuilleig-aghaidh. Ghabh an cath seo àite an 1899 eader na Boers fo shenarail Piet Cronje agus roinn-fheachd Bhreatannach fo shenarail Lord Methuen. (Faodaidh tu a h-uile sìan a fhaighinn ann an Uici-peid ma tha ùidh agad ann.) Thàinig mi dhan cho-dhùnadh nach eil e ro choltach gur e Iain Dubh á Gleann Dail a sgrìobh an dàn, seach Iain MacLeòid eile 's dòcha. (Tha fhios nach eil an t-ainm 'Iain MacLeòid' ainneamh sna h-Eileanan!) Anns a' cheud dol a-mach, fhuair Iain Dubh bàs an 1901, nas lugha na dhà bhliadhna an déidh Blàr Abhainn a' Mhodder, agus cha robh Iain na dheagh shlàinte aig an àm sin. Chan eil sgeul ann cho fad 's a b'urrainn dhomh faighinn a-mach mu cheangal sam bith eadar Iain Dubh agus Cogadh nam Boers. Ach a' bharrachd air sin, tha bardachd Iain Duibh sporsail, grinn, aotrom, ach a-mhàin nuair tha e a' sgrìobhadh loighnean pearsanta, faireachail do neach shònraichte na bheatha. Chan eil a' chainnt ann an "Òran a' Chogaidh" pearsanta idir. Cuideachd, nam bheachd-sa co-dhiubh, cha robh ughdar "Òran a' Chogaidh" cho ealanta no sgileil an coimeas ri bardachd Iain Duibh á Gleann Dail. Co-dhiubh no co-dheth sgrìobh mi dìreach gu Meg Bateman aig SMO mu seo uile, agus chuir mi chuice pdfs de "Òran a' Chogaidh" agus an duilleag làmh-sgrìobhte de "Òran a' Cheannaiche" bho shean-seanair Stacey S. Tha facal no dhà ann an "Òran a' Cheannaiche" eadar-dhealaichte bho na faclan a bha aig Meg. Bha i toilichte na pàipearan a fhaicinn, agus a chluinntinn mar a fhuair Stacey iad. Tha Meg ag

Jean Hilde, Seumas Gagne, and Margaret Salmi listen as Donnie "Large" MacDonald sings a song he wrote using his mother's poetry at his Gaelic Song Workshop held in the home of Margaret and Gary Salmi on December 7th.

Above: Carolina Coleman, Chas Talbot, Ted Neveln, Jeanie Macintosh, Nancy Neveln, Jen-nifer McClure, and Nan Pardew listen as Donnie shares the stories behind the songs he taught during his Gaelic Song Workshop.

Left: Donnie MacDonald shared a weekend of Gaelic language and song with us on December 6th and 7th.

Below: Donnie explains the humor of "An Cat agus an Luch" (The Cat and the Mouse). Left to right: Seumas Gagne, Heidi Buschmann, Jean Hilde, John MacLeod, Mar-garet Salmi, and Donnie Large

Photos by Penny McLeod DeGraff

Benefits of Bilingualism

by Ted Neveln

In The World Until Yesterday: What Can We Learn from Traditional Societies?, Jared Diamond argues that bilingualism is beneficial to human beings, especially for children and he advances several arguments. One is that knowledge of more than one language effec-tively increases a kind of mental agility called execu-tive function. For example, if the rules of a game are abruptly changed after one has gotten used to them, bilingual people can re-adapt to the new rules more quickly. This seems to generalize to many different areas of the intellect. Diamond notes that the onset of Alzheimer’s disease is delayed in bilingual people.

He also points out Cherokee Indians who complete Cherokee language school and remain bilingual in Cherokee and English are more likely to pursue their education, obtain jobs, and earn higher salaries than Cherokees who can’t speak Cherokee. He states that “programs to reverse Native American cultural disin-tegration would be more effective and cheaper than welfare payments” (p 406).

The World Until Yesterday: What Can We Learn from Traditional Societies?Jared Diamond Paperback: 512 pagesPublisher: Penguin Books; Reprint edition (October 29, 2013)ISBN-10: 0143124404ISBN-13: 978-0143124405

Am Bradan FiosaAm Bradan Fiosa4 5

Calendar of Events For the most up-to-date and complete information, always check www.slighe.com/calendar.php

Monday, Jan. 5 Seirm Rehearsal: Singers | Our monthly singers-only rehearsal. New singers are welcome!Monday, Jan. 12 Seirm Rehearsal: Band | Our monthly band-only rehearsal. Dust off your fiddle, pipes,

harp, etc and join the band!Sunday, Jan. 18 Gaelic Education Committee Monthly Meeting | Come join the committee as we design7:00 pm to 9:00 pm and produce the Zero to Gaelic program. Location: A private home; e-mail postmaster@slighe.com for detailsMonday, Jan. 26 Seirm Rehearsal: All | This is Seirm's regular monthly joint rehearsal.Monday, Feb. 2 Seirm Rehearsal: Singers | Our monthly singers-only rehearsal. Saturday, Feb. 7 Zero to Gaelic Intensive Day 4 | The fourth intensive day of the current program year. 9:30 am to 3:30 pm Register for a single day of Gaelic for the cost of only $50. Location: Lake City Presbyterian Church, 3841 NE 123rd St, Seattle, WAMonday, Feb. 9 Seirm Rehearsal: Band | Our monthly band-only rehearsal. Sunday, Feb. 15 Gaelic Education Committee Monthly Meeting | Come join the committee as we design7:00 pm to 9:00 pm and produce the Zero to Gaelic program. Location: A private home; e-mail postmaster@slighe.com for detailsMonday, Feb. 23 Seirm Rehearsal: All | Rehearsal for all members of Seirm. Monday, Mar. 2 Seirm Rehearsal: Singers | Our monthly singers-only rehearsal. Saturday, Mar. 7 Zero to Gaelic Intensive Day 5 | The fifth intensive day of the current program year. 9:30 am to 3:30 pm Register for a single day of Gaelic for the cost of only $50. Location: Lake City Presbyterian Church, 3841 NE 123rd St, Seattle, WAMonday, Mar. 9 Seirm Rehearsal: Band | Our monthly band-only rehearsal. Sunday, Mar. 15 Gaelic Education Committee Monthly Meeting | Come join the committee as we design7:00 pm to 9:00 pm and produce the Zero to Gaelic program. Location: A private home; e-mail postmaster@slighe.com for details

Monday, Mar. 16 Seirm Rehearsal: All | Rehearsal for all members of Seirm.

Monday, Mar. 23 Special: Waulking Rehearsal | Seirm is holding a special waulking rehearsal to practice7:00 pm to 9:00 pm waulking technique as well as the songs. Chas will bring the practice cloth to rehearsal. Location: A private home; e-mail postmaster@slighe.com for detailsMonday, Apr. 6 Seirm Rehearsal: Singers | Our monthly singers-only rehearsal. Saturday, Apr. 11 Zero to Gaelic Intensive Day 6 | The sixth intensive day of the current program year. 9:30 am to 3:30 pm Register for a single day of Gaelic for the cost of only $50. Location: Lake City Presbyterian Church, 3841 NE 123rd St, Seattle, WA

Seirm rehearsals are held from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Lake City Presbyterian Church, 3841 NE 123rd St Seattle, WA unless otherwise stated.

Trip to the Mòd in October

by Seumas Gagne

The official invitation came late last year, though we had heard rumors before then that Guth nan Eilean, the Gaelic choir in Victoria, BC, was going to travel to Inverness to the Royal Scottish National Mòd to compete in 2014. It turns out they needed some more male voices, and more fluent speakers. With Doug and me, they got both, whilst using up just one of the hotel rooms in their reservation block. We've known many of the members of the choir since 1997 when they formed, and Doug's hometown is Victoria, so it seemed like a very natural fit.

The first major task was taking our Gaelic assessment tests over Skype. I had taken one of these tests back in 1997 when I went to my first Mòd (also in Inverness that year) so I wasn't too nervous about it. With the eight hour time difference, we wound up scheduling our Skype calls for midnight and 1:00 am. Luckily, we're both night owls! The test consisted of a conver-sation with a native speaker that was being listened to by a third party, who in our case was the talented young singer Seumas Greumach. He was marking off the required skills while we chatted. Within an hour after finishing up, we got the e-mails informing us that we had both gotten gold card, the highest grade.

Guth nan Eilean arranged three Saturday rehearsals over the Summer so that we could attend. We always stay with Doug's mum when we go over to visit, and I think she was happy about the extra time with us. The rehearsals were plenty of fun and it was great spend-ing some time with whole group.

We met up in Inverness on Monday, October 13th, when we checked into the Thistle Hotel. Doug and I had decided not to enter any competitions on our own, and in retrospect I think that was a mistake. We would have met more people and probably had an easier time locating the nightlife if we had!

Rehearsals started the next day. I had felt that telltale tickle in the back of my throat the night before we left Seattle, so I had already gone through my cold and was mostly recovered. Doug, however, was in full throes of it, as was his fellow bass, Alex. We were all nervous about the ill-nesses, but what was there to do, except soldier on.

We were entered into two competitions, the puirt-a-beul, and the Margaret Duncan. The puirt-a-beul com-

petition was at 9:00 am on the Friday, so that was an early start, but everyone made it in plenty of time. All choirs big and small participate in that competition, so when our group—with me pretending to be a tenor and two sick basses—finished in the middle of the pack, I was quite happy.

The second competition, I had thought we were better prepared for, but the judges did not agree. We came in dead last in the Margaret Duncan. However, our Gaelic coach, Anne Riley, could certainly hold her head high—our Gaelic score was 96/100, but our music score was only 92/100. I don't think of us has having lost anything, though, only as having gained. We have renewed, stronger ties with the community in Victoria, wonderful shared memories, and ambi-tions for the future.

The last event of the Mòd is the massed choir, which in Inverness, is held on the esplanade of the castle. It was a glorious, sunny afternoon and the sound of hundreds of voices lifted in Gaelic song is something everyone should hear.

The view from the bass section of the massed choirs up toward the massed conductors and the assembled glitterati of the Gaelic world.

Seumas Gagne and Doug Barr all spiffed up before their first competition at Eden Court.

Enjoying the evening out in Inverness. Left to right: Doug Barr, Elizabeth Bennett, Barbara Christofferson, Irena Jazwinski, Janice Beckett.

Remember to renew your membership!

Slighe nan Gaidheal's membership year runs from November 1st to October 31st, so if you have an annual or family membership, remember to renew promptly every November to get full benefit!

Also, consider upgrading to a multi-year membership. Silver members get six membership years for $125, and Gold members get an even dozen for $250.

A Gaelic class will be starting in

Bellingham in February 2015.

There will be an introductory session on

Saturday, February 14th with weekly classes to

follow. The classes will be relaxed, informal, and

interactive. No previous knowledge of Gaelic is

necessary. For more information, please contact

Carolina Coleman at gaelicbham@hotmail.com.