The Celtic Junction Arts Center twinned with Armagh’s Aonach Mhacha to bring knowledge, friendship, and fun to their inaugural Deireadh Seachtaine na Gaeilge.
A group of seven travelled from Ireland to the Celtic Junction for the event, but their friendship began a few years earlier by happenstance when paths crossed.
During their visit – the Aonach Mhacha TAP delegation visited the George Floyd memorial, the Ojibe Reservation, Inishfree Equine Farm & Breck High School. They performed, gave talks & workshops & taught Irish.
“In August 2019, I was attending the Minnesota Irish Fair where I met Patrick O’Donnell (Head of Education) from Celtic Junction Arts Center at the scattering, in the final minutes of the fair. From that chance meeting a great cultural exchange and friendship began to grow,” says Réamonn Ó Ciaráin.
“This friendship was very meaningful despite being conducted virtually during lockdown. One highlight was an hourlong webcast dealing with issues of language revitalization, music, and song which can be viewed here,” reflects Ó Ciaráin.
Spring was in the air, and with restrictions lifting and the support from many in Ireland, the group from Aonach Mhacha in Armagh city and Traditional Arts Partnership in South Armagh made their Easter journey to Saint Paul’s, exploring the local landscape and connecting with its land and language.
“We are all very keen to plug into the power of the rich indigenous culture and heritage of Turtle Island, and our shared colonial trauma in particular. We all find this intriguing,” says Ó Ciaráin.
The Irish language weekend tapped into all the authentic resources available at the Celtic Junction Arts Center: language, history, scholarship, music, and dance.
“The Irish delegation brought their own talents and expertise to this first visit, which includes Irish language, music, song, and history” says Ó Ciaráin.
Combined with the stellar cast already in place at the Celtic Junction, this was only ever going to be a showstopping week.
It is hoped that this will be the inaugural first weekend of a 20-year run.
