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www.celtic-connection.com
SEPTEMBER 2002
SCOTTISH NEWS ROUND-UP
Putting Islay on Gaelic Map
A new u2 million education centre for the Gaelic language and culture opened on the island of Islay this week. Over 700 years ago, Islay was the location of the court of the Lord of the Isles at Finlaggan and wTas the heart of Gaelic culture at that time. Over the years, the Gaelic language has struggled on Islay, with the number of speakers falling from 50 percent in 1971 to around 80 percent today. The education centre will be linked to the University of the Islands and will be overseen by Sabhal Mor Ostaig, the Gaelic College on Skye.
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Former First Minister Bows Out
Henry McLeish, the former First Minister in the Scottish Parliament resigned last November in the midst of a scandal over office expenses - described by McLeish himself as "more of a muddle than a fiddle." There has been a continuing controversy over his decision to continue as a Member of the Scottish Parliament, with many former colleagues believing that his continued presence was an embarrassment.
He has finally announced that he will not stand at the elections next May. He has put his house in St Andrews on the market and there is speculation that he may take up a lecturing role in the U.S. McLeish has a great liking for the country, has made a number of friends in Oklahoma (including the former governor and head of the university in the state) and spends a lot of time there. He has said that he regards it as a "second home."
'Great Chieftain of the Pudding Race' Voted Down
Burns may have eulogized about haggis as the "Great Chieftain o' the Puddin' Race" but a poll by the BBC Good Food magazine has voted it the eleventh most revolting dish in Britain, worse than tofu, semolina and anchovies. The top hate in the poll was tripe (the stomach lining of an ox, cow or pig), followed by snails, oysters and black pudding. Of course, the survey was conducted across the UK and so local delicacies (like haggis) may have been rejected by people who had never even tried them. But peanut butter came nineteenth on the list and the most disliked vegetable was Brussel sprouts, twenty fourth on the list.
12 Million Treasures
An audit by the Scottish Museums Council covering items held in more than 400 sites across the country has shown that there are 12 million items classified as being of "national importance." The survey shows that it is not just the major museums in Edinburgh and Glasgow that are guardians of these items. The survey showed that 13 million people visited museums in Scotland in a full year.
But as Clifford, a noted specialist in Italian decorative art, was rummaging through a group of sketches purchased by the gallery in 1942 for 860, his unerring eye spotted the drawing of a menorah which he was sure was by Michelangelo. Since then, a number of other experts have confirmed his findings. It is thought to have been done between 1530 and 1540 and is in pristine condition. It is estimated to be worth around 812 million.
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Sick Woman of Europe
Festival of Wales Offers a Four-Day Celebration
The chief medical officer in Scotland has warned that Scotland is rapidly becoming the "sick woman of Europe" as Scottish women are now ranked among the worst for obesity, smoking, drinking and lack of exercise. In contrast, there are some signs that Scottish men are heeding advice about giving up cigarettes.
Twenty two percent of women in Scotland are now clinically obese compared to 19 percent of men, and 70 percent of women (60 percent of men) have an increased risk of a heart attack and stroke because of lack of exercise. But there are some encouraging signs - there is an increase in the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables. The biggest impact of ill health is still to be found among the poorest communities in the country.
Many of the items are unique - a one guinea note at the Burns Museum in Alloway has a poem written in Robert Burns' own hand; a swastika flag from Hitler's staff car is held by the Gordon Highlander's Museum in Aberdeen; the oldest football in the world, found in Stirling Castle and dated to 1540, is held by the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum; even Billy Connolly's "Big Banana Boots" in the People's Palace were included in the list.
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Scottish Gallery Director Uncovers a Michelangelo
When Timothy Clifford, director-general of the National Galleries of Scotland, was invited to spend a busman's holiday examining the art works at the Smithsonian Institution's Cooper-Hewitt collection in New York, he certainly did not anticipate uncovering an unknown drawing by the great Italian
Lawyer's Client Steals His Car
Lawyer Douglas Wright worked hard to get his client, Colin Leonard, bail at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court. And all the thanks he got was his client stealing the keys of his BMW and departing in it minutes after leaving court. The criminal was quickly caught - the lawyer later identified him entering his car when viewing closed circuit TV and gave the police his client's address. Leonard was back in court within 24 hours - and asked Douglas Wright to defend him again! Understandably, Wright refused. Another lawyer was found and Leonard pleaded guilty to the theft of the u21,000 car. He was put behind bars to await sentence.
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Royalty at Big Yin's Birthday Bash
Billy Connolly (known affectionately as the "Big Yin") celebrated his sixtieth birthday in style in a marquee in the grounds of his Highland home at Candacraig Castle. Among the 200 invited guests were the Prince of Wales (accompanied by Lady Camilla Parker Bowles), Prince Andrew, Sir Bob Geldof, motor racing champion Sir Jackie Stewart, film stars Steve Martin, Robin Williams, Ewan McGregor and Dame Judi Dench, and Labour minister Lord MacDonald (who worked with Connolly in the Clydeside shipyards when he was plain Gus MacDonald).
Although the event was to mark his sixtieth birthday, it was actually several months in advance -Connolly is not 60 until November 24. The centrepiece of the banquet table was an ice sculpture in the shape of his much loved three-wheeled Harley Davidson. The meal was full of Scottish items including haggis, smoked haddock, salmon, black pudding and cranachan. The menu was printed on cards in the shape of a trademark of his early comedy days - bright yellow banana boots.
By EIFION WILLIAMS
VANCOUVER - Planning is already well advanced for the North American Festival of Wales, to be held in Richmond-Vancouver at the end of August, 2003.
The Festival of Wales is the largest annual gathering of Welsh North Americans and people of Welsh descent in North America. It will consist of four full days of celebrating the life, heritage and culture of Wales. This year, it is being held in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and was last held in Canada, in Ottawa, in 1997.
Next year's Festival in Richmond-Vancouver is sponsored by the Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu Association with the support of the Puget Sound Welsh Association and the Vancouver and Victoria Welsh Societies.
The Planning Committee, led by Dr. Alan Upshall of Seattle, has prepared a program designed to appeal to a wide range of interests, with a number of high calibre events and activities.
The Festival of Wales evolved from the Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu, an annual celebration of traditional Welsh hymn-singing. The Gymanfa Ganu is still an important part of the Festival but the Festival itself has now expanded to encompass all aspects of Welsh life and culture.
As a Welsh festival it is inevitable that music will play a prominent part. The organizers have arranged an excellent array of events with a wide-ranging appeal.
One of the highlights will be a Gala Concert at the Vancouver Orpheum Theatre, featuring the Dunvant Male Choir, winners of the male voice competition at this year's National Eisteddfod at St. David's. Their Eisteddfod success boosted the choir's reputation as the best male choir in Wales.
JASON HOWARD
Football First
Billy Connolly kept his fans waiting at the Lonach Gathering in Aberdeenshire - because he was watching Celtic playing Partick Thistle on television. The number of people attending the Lonach Highland Games has increased in recent years as a result of Billy's patronage - there was a record crowd of 14,000 at the event this year.
Billy bought Candacraig Estate, close by, about five years ago, after falling in love with the Braemar area while making the film Mrs Brown. Asked about his recent sixtieth birthday party, he laughed and replied "Aw, it was br-r-r-illiant- every party is a brilliant party. It isn't even my birthday yet, so I'm like the Queen - I get two birthdays." Billy performed the following week at the Clyde Auditorium in Glasgow in the first of two sell-out shows in aid of the victims of the floods in Glasgow in July, many of
The guest soloist will be the popular Welsh baritone Jason Howard. Jason's youthful enthusiasm and eclectic range of music, from operatic arias to Broadway show tunes to traditional Welsh favourites, has wowed audiences in two appearances in Vancouver in recent years.
Another guest making a return visit to Vancouver will be Dr. Haydn James, conductor of the London Welsh Male Voice Choir. Dr. James is probably better known as the conductor of 60,000 fans in Cardiff's Millenium Stadium during international rugby games. He also conducts the annual concert of mass male voice choirs at London's Albert Hall. Dr. James will conduct at the Gymanfa Ganu during the Festival.
Also performing at the Gala Concert will be Ysgol Gerdd Ceredigion, which has the reputation of being the finest youth choir in Wales. These young singers not only won first place for their singing at the 1999 International Eisteddfod but are also adept at clog-dancing!
Also performing at the Festival will be Rag Foundation, an acoustic band that one critic described as "The most dynamic band to
Other Festival activities will include presentations by the Welsh Tourist Board and seminars on business opportunities in Wales.
A representative from the National Library of Wales will be available to provide information on researching Welsh ancestry. Welsh authors and academics will present seminars on a wide range of topics, including famous Welsh North Americans and Welsh industrial history.
The Vancouver Dylan Thomas Circle will also perform during the Festival.
The Festival of Wales promises to be an unforgettable experience, attracting large numbers of visitors to Richmond and Vancouver from all over North America and from Wales.
It will undoubtedly be of considerable economic benefit to the two cities. The organizers also expect that many visitors will combine attendance at the Festival with other tourist destinations such as Victoria, Whistler, Alaska and the Rocky Mountains.
Information on travel, accommodation and ticketed events can be obtained from the Festival office, toll free: 1-800-877-831-0563. Fax: 1-507-933-6284. E-mail: ellis@gustavus.edu.
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BELIEVE IT NOW!
An atheist was spending a quiet day in Scotland fishing on Loch Ness when, suddenly, the Loch Ness monster attacks his boat and tosses it and him high into the air.
As he starts to fall back toward the lake, the atheist sees the huge gaping mouth of the monster, just waiting to swallow him and the boat.
As he sails head over heels through the air, the atheist cries out, "Oh, God!! Please help me!"
At once, the ferocious attack scene freezes. All motion stops in midair. A booming voice comes down from Heaven. "I thought you didn't believe in Me," God says to the atheist
"Give me a break, God," says the atheist. "A minute ago, I didn't believe in the Loch Ness monster, either."_