Nova Scotia Gaelic Culture

songs and dance are lively and enjoyable parts of the Irish culture experience in Nova Scotia. Scottish Gaels settled in large numbers in eastern Nova Scotia and throughout Cape Breton Island. The Gaelic language and culture of these early settlers is commonly referred to as Nova Scotia Gaelic and is part of daily living in the province. Fiddle and pipe music and Gaelic song provide a rich musical experience. Dance, storytelling, local history and customs are part of community living. The famous "kitchen party", often referred to as a "céilidh" ("a visit") is a common occurrence and is a great way to share language, song, music, dance and story. Some fun ways to experience Nova Scotia Gaelic language and culture, Scottish culture and Irish

In 1675, ships from the English West Country came in to ports along Ireland's south coast to collect food and servants for the transatlantic fishery. These migrations were seasonal or temporary. Most were Irish young men working on contract for English merchants and planters. They served for a summer or two, occasionally longer, and then went home. It was a large migration, in the 1770's and 1780's when more than 100 ships and 5,000 men cleared Irish ports for the fishery. The exodus from Ulster to America excluded, it was the most substantial movement of Irish across the Atlantic in the 18th century. Asmall number of young Irish women joined the migration. They tended to stay and marry Irish male migrants. Seasonal and temporary migrations slowly evolved into emigration and the gathering of permanent Irish family settlement in Newfoundland. The collapsing of the old migratory cod fishery after 1790, increased Irish immigration, particularly in women, between 1800-1835, this population growth, helped transform the social, demographic, and cultural character of

Most were Catholic. Many spoke only Irish at first, or varieties of English. Elements of material culture - agricultural folkways, vernacular and ecclesiastical architecture, endured to this century, and trace elements remain. With a commercial cod fishery, harsh winter climate, and the presence of so many English transformed their lives; their descendants emerged as fully-fledged Newfoundlanders, which is a unique culture in modern North America.

Irish Catholic settlers of Prince Edward Island came to the island looking for religious freedom and better opportunities for farming and trade. They settled in villages such as St. Mary's Road, Kelly's Cross and Kinkora. Some original family names on the island include: Canning, Murphy, Pendergast, McCarron, Greenan and Clarkin. Once England's penal laws were gone, Irish Catholic settlers were able to vote and hold office however, they still clashed with Protestants of the Orange Order. The Benevolent Irish Society was founded in 1825 and continues to foster unity among all the island's Irish. The organization promotes Irish heritage through sponsorship of Irish music and dance lessons, lectures and festivities leading up to St. Patrick's