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Highland Games of the Quad Cities - Celtic Festival and Highland
Map of Gaelic Speaking Celtic Nations Celtic Festival & Highland Games of the Quad Cities September 15, 2012 Cornwall Ireland Scotland Kernow Erie Alba Wales Island of Man Cymru Celtic Festival & Highland Games Asturias Galicia Brittney (Spain) (Spain) Breizh Mannin Ellan Vannin www.celtichighlandgames.org 1 The People Who Make All This Possible Bleyarts Tap The River Center Lundgren Family Chiropractic www.celtichighlandgames.org City of Davenport Parks and Rec Levee Improvement Commission Mint Green Boutique 2 Who and What We Are The Celtic Festival and Highland Games of the Quad Cities celebrate ALL Celtic Culture and their contributions to our world. Our Celebration is through music, dance, food, athletics, story-telling, and more. The Celts, a group of people who were spread across Europe before the Roman expansion, formed the first civilization north of the Alps. At its heights in the third century BC, the Celtic culture (language, religion, art, …) whether by migration or diffusion, dominated from Spain to the Black Sea. By mid-1st millennium AD, following the expansion of the Roman Empire and the Great Migrations of Germanic peoples, Celtic culture had become restricted to the fringes of Western Europe. Celts /kelts/ or /selts/ There is two ways to pronounce the word Celt as the initial consonant of the English words Celt and Celtic can be realized either as /k/ or /s/ (that is, either hard or soft ⟨c⟩), both variants being recognized as "correct" in prescriptive usage by modern dictionaries. Pronouncing is based on usage. In general, when talking about people and culture, the hard “c” ( /k/ ) sound is used. When talking sports teams, the soft “c” ( /s/ ) is used such as in the Boston Celtics. So either /kelts/ but sometimes /selts/ is used. Celtic Knot Celtic knots are a variety of knots and stylized graphical representations of knots are perhaps the most recognizable artwork in Celtic history. These knots are most known for their adaptation for use in the ornamentation of Christian monuments and manuscripts. They had its origins in the artwork of the late Roman Empire They started appearing in history after about 450 AD; the, with meanings that are sketchy at best, because there is little written history documenting their purpose. Today, there are 6 traditional Celtic Nations, which are defined by their culture and whether a Gaelic Language is still spoken. These are Brittany, Cornwall, Ireland, Isle of Mann, Scotland, and Wales. In addition to these nations, are the Celtic Nations of the Iberian Peninsula: Asturias and Galicia. A fact sheets for each Celtic Nations appears further in this program. www.celtichighlandgames.org 3 Main Stage Main Stage Schedule Our featured act for 2012 is Wylde Nept Wylde Nept is a cast of colorful characters that specialize in charging up a crowd with raucous pub tunes from all over the Celtic and seafaring world. Whether the band is playing classic tunes of rebellion, mirthful ballads, maritime sea chanteys, popular originals, or just good, old-fashioned drinking songs, the goal is always to give the crowd a rollicking evening of friends, music, and merriment. Over the past ten years, Wylde Nept has built a loyal following around the fresh, youthful energy they pump into the classic songs of the British Isles. 12:00 - 12:30 Parade of Tartans 1:00 – 1:15 Ghrá Na Gaeilge Irish-Dance 12:30 – 1:00 1:15 – 2:00 2:00 – 2:30 2:30 – 2:45 2:45 – 3:30 3:30 – 4:00 The Beggarman Ghrá Na Gaeilge Irish-Dance The Beggarman 4:00 – 4:15 Ghrá Na Gaeilge Irish-Dance 5:00 – 8:00 Wylde Nept 4:15 – 5:00 The Beggarman Our opening act is The Beggarmen. In 2011 The Beggarmen celebrated their tenth year as one of the region’s best Irish music ensembles. Since their first performance at a small pub in Iowa, the band has gone on to headline at folk festivals and concert halls throughout the Midwest, greeting audiences with their unique style of Irish folk music. www.celtichighlandgames.org 4 Clans Clan Cochrane Clan Cornish Welsh Clan Davidson Clan Donald - Iowa Clan Donnachidh Clan Dunbar Clan Irwin Clan MacLaren Clan Macpherson Clan Thunderlord Scottish American Military Society (SAMS) Scottish American Society of the Quad Cities (SAS-QC) Sons of Norway Merchandise AMES British Foods A Celtic Tradition Courses and Castles Dark River Pottery Highland Kilt Co. Keltic Karavan Scentsy Shamrock Imports Carri Williams, Fantasy Artist Thank Yous Exelon Generation Quad Cities Station Diversity Council Andrew Thomas Exelon Generation Quad Cities Station Diversity Council Chic and Tye Thompson Scottish American Society of the Quad Cities Mike Olsen Carri Williams, Graphic Designer Chuck and Vicki Teas What is with the Celtic Lion Playing the Harp? Part of the culture of a people in a certain place is their emblems and symbols. This is as true if not more true for the Celtic people. The harp playing Celtic Lion is our games logo. The harp is one of the many symbols of Ireland and the Rampant Lion is the same for Scotland. The founder of the Games, Mr. Bill Gillies, skillfully melded these symbols together to represent the diversity of all Celtic Cultures, which are separate, yet intertwined. Food Infamous Welsh Cookie Highland Glenn www.celtichighlandgames.org 5 Irish Soda Bread Ireland Celtic Name People Population Language Competent speakers Area Coast Line Diaspora Eire Irish 6,400,000 (67.6% in Republic and 32.3% in Northern) Irish (Gaeilge) Republic: 41.4% of population Northern: 10.4% of population 32,599 square miles about the size of Indiana 1,738 miles 50 to 80 million people are of Irish Descent in Great Britain, United States, Australia, Canada, Argentina, Chile, Jamaica, Trinidad, South Africa, New Zealand, Mexico, France, Germany, Brazil, … Ingredients: • 3 1/2 cups flour • 1 teaspoon sugar • 1 teaspoon salt • 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda • Between 8-10 fluid ounces sour milk, or buttermilk Directions: Preheat the oven to 450 F. Sift the dry ingredients together several times in a big bowl. Make a well in the center. Pour about three-quarters of the buttermilk or sour milk and begin to stir. Add more liquid sparingly if you need it - dough should be raggy, soft and dryish. Blend ingredients. Then knead dough, only for around half a minute. Shape the bread into a circular flat piece and put on a baking sheet (lightly dusted with flour). With a sharp knife cut a cross across the top. Place in oven. For the first 10 minutes at 450 F, then decrease to 400 F. Diaspora in America in 2000 Martial Arts Musical Instruments Sports National Symbol National Holiday Folklore/Legends Foods and beverages Irish Stick Fighting, Boxing, and Collar and Elbow Wrestling World-renowned Irish tenors, uillean pipes, fiddle, flute, tiompan, … National sports of Gaelic Football and Hurling Shamrock and Harp among others St. Patrick’s Day, 17 March Leprechauns, Faeries, Finn McCool, Pookas, Changelings, Banshees whiskey, stout and porter, cream liqueurs, colcannon, Irish stew, corn beef and cabbage, boxty, black pudding, potato, … www.celtichighlandgames.org 6 Chicken in Hard Cider Sauce Recipe Brittany Celtic Name People Population Language Competent speakers Area Coast Line Diaspora Diaspora in America Martial Arts Breizh Bretons 4,300,000 Breton (Brezhoneg) 5% of population 10,505 square miles (about the size of Maryland) 1,696 miles Quebec and French Antilles Upper New England, and Louisiana ( for those evicted by the British from Cape Breton). Gouren Wrestling bombarde (similar to an oboe) and the Breton bagpipes (biniou kozh) pictured below Musical Instruments National Symbol National Holiday Folklore/Legends Foods and beverages Ermine are the spots on Brittany’s flag the Feast of Saint Yves – 19 May Ankou or the "Reaper of Death". Chouchenn (Breton mead), Chistr (cider), Fars forn (sweet suet prune pudding), Krampouezh (thin pancakes made either from buckwheat flour), Lambig (colorless apple brandy) Cook’s note: Hard ciders from France are usually from Normandy and Brittany. If you have the choice, buy a Cider Doux, or sweet cider. Demi-Sec and Cider Brut are much too strong and dry for this recipe. Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 30 minutes Total Time: 35 minutes Ingredients: 8 chicken tenderloins 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt 1/4 teaspoons black pepper 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons butter, divided ½ cup chopped white onions 1 cup hard cider Preparation: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Preheat a large skillet to medium-high heat. Season the chicken with the salt and black pepper. Carefully avoiding spatter, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in the hot skillet, and then brown the seasoned chicken for 3 minutes on each side. Transfer the chicken to a small roasting pan. Add the remaining butter to the pan, and allow it to melt. Sauté the chopped onions over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they become soft and slightly brown around the edges. Add the hard cider to the skillet and bring it to a boil for 4 minutes, making sure to scrape any brown bits from the bottom of the skillet. Makes 4 servings. www.celtichighlandgames.org 7 Cornish Pasties Cornwall Celtic Name Language Population Competent speakers People Area Coastline Diaspora In the US Martial Arts Musical Instruments Sports National Symbol National Holiday Folklore/Legends Foods and beverages Kernow Cornish 535,300 0.1% Cornish 1,376 square miles – just a bit larger than Scott and Cedar County, Iowa 258 miles About 6–11 million of Cornish descent worldwide United States, Canada, Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa… Copper Country of northern Michigan, southwestern Wisconsin and the Iron Ranges of northern Michigan and Minnesota, Grass Valley, California. Cornish Jacket Wrestling male voice choirs and Brass Bands Cornish Hurling, surfing Saint Piran's Flag, Saint Piran's day (March 5) giants, mermaids, Bucca, piskies Cornish pasty (meat in a pastry shell), Clotted Cream, Cornish Ice Cream, Cornish Fudge cider, wine, and mead Ingredients 1 pound beef sirloin tip steak, diced 3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced (3 cups) 3 green onions with tops, thinly sliced 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper Dash nutmeg Pastry: 4 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons salt Pinch baking powder 1 cup shortening 2 tablespoons butter 2/3 cup cold water 1 egg, lightly beaten 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream Directions In a large bowl, combine the beef, potatoes, onions and seasonings; set aside. For pastry, in a large bowl, combine the flour, salt and baking powder. Cut in shortening and butter. Gradually add water, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball. Turn onto a lightly floured surface. Divide dough into 12 pieces; roll each into 6-in. circles. Moisten edges with water. Place about 1/2 cup filling on half of each circle. Fold other half over the filling; press edges together with a fork to seal. Cut several slits in each pastry. Place on a baking sheet. Combine egg and cream; brush over pastry tops. Bake at 400° for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350° and bake 40-45 minutes longer or until golden brown. Yield: 12 servings. If Cooking for Two: Freeze unbaked pasties on baking sheets until firm, then wrap and store in the freezer. When ready to bake, defrost and bake as directed above. Originally published as Cornish Pasties in Reminisce September/October 1991, p37 www.celtichighlandgames.org 8 Triskelion Isle of Man Celtic Name People Population Language Competent speakers Area Coast Line Sports National Symbol National Holiday Folklore/Legends Foods and beverages Mannin, Ellan Vannin Manx 84,000 Manx 2.2% of population 221 square miles 99.4 miles Cammag – similar to Scottish Shinty and Irish Hurling three legs of Mann (Triskelion), Manx cat, Manx long horn sheep Tynwald Day (National Day) July 5 ruled by Manannán mac Lir, a Celtic sea god, the Buggane (a malevolent spirit), fairies, Moddey Dhoo (a ghostly black dog) National dish Spuds and Herrin, boiled potatoes and herring, ubiquitous chips, cheese and gravy. Triskelion of three legs conjoined at the thigh is the national emblem of Isle of Man. It is been called the "three legs of Mann" (Manx: Tree Cassyn Vannin). The Manx triskelion, which dates with certainty to the late 13th century, is of an uncertain origin. It has been suggested that its origin lies in Sicily, an island which has been associated with triskelions since ancient times while others suggest that its origin lies with the emblem of the 10th century Norse-Gaelic dynasty which ruled the island at the time. The Manx triskelion may be reflected in the island's motto, Latin: Quocunque jeceris stabit. The Latin motto translates into English as "whichever way you throw, it will stand" or "whithersoever you throw it, it will stand Spuds and Herrin (boiled potatoes and herring) is traditionally the national dish of the Island. This plain dish is chosen because of its role supporting the subsistence farmers of the island, who crofted the land and fished the sea for centuries. www.celtichighlandgames.org 9 Scottish Eggs Scotland Celtic Name People Population Language Competent speakers Area Coast Line Diaspora Alba Scots 5,000,000 Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) 1.2% 30,414 square miles 6,158 miles 48 million in United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, Brazil, Netherlands, Poland, France, Caribbean, Scandinavia, … Based on 2000 Census data: Diaspora in America Martial Arts Musical Instruments Sports National Symbol National Holiday Folklore/Legends Foods and beverages Backhold wrestling, Broadsword, Dirk & Targe, Single-stick fighting the Great Highland Bagpipe, Highland games, curling, Shinty, Rugby the thistle St Andrew's Day, 30 November Banshee, Brownie, Kelpie, Selkies, Trowes, Baobhan Sith Haggis, Meat Pie, porridge, Scottish Eggs, stovies, Scotch, ale Scotch eggs are hard boiled eggs wrapped in sausage, breaded and fried. Definitely not diet food! Makes 8 eggs Ingredients Bulk pork sausage -- 2 pounds Hard-boiled eggs, peeled -- 8 Flour -- 1/2 cup Eggs, beaten -- 2 Breadcrumbs -- 1 cup Oil for deep frying Directions: 1. Divide the sausage into 8 equal portions and flatten each portion into a patty. Place an egg in the middle of each patty and mold the sausage up around the egg to enclose it. 2. Place the flour, eggs, and breadcrumbs in three separate bowls. Roll each egg first in the flour, then in the egg, then in the breadcrumbs to coat. 3. Heat the oil in a deep fryer or 1-inch deep in a large skillet to 365°F. Drop the eggs carefully in the hot oil and fry until they are golden brown, about 5 minutes, turning occasionally so they brown on all sides. 4. Serve warm, or chill and serve with a side salad or at a picnic or party. www.celtichighlandgames.org 10 Welsh Cookies Wales Celtic Name People Population Language Competent speakers Area Coast Line Diaspora Diaspora in America Martial Arts Musical Instruments Sports National Symbol National Holiday National Motto Folklore/Legends Foods and beverages Cymru Welsh 3,064,000 (2011) Welsh (Cymraeg) 18.9% 8,023 square miles 750 miles USA, Canada, Argentina, former British colonies, … but no hard numbers can be found Estimated 1.98 million or 0.6% of population in the 200 census but 3.8% has Welsh surnames. None can be found but when you have the long bow, is one needed? telyn deires (triple harp), fiddle, crwth, pibgorn (hornpipe), and human voice Rugby daffodil and the leek Saint David's Day 1 March Cymru am byth (Wales for ever) Laver (edible seaweed) bread; bara brith (fruit bread); Cawl (a lamb stew); cawl cennin (leek soup); Welsh cakes; and Welsh lamb. Ingredients 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 pinch salt 1/2 cup white sugar 1/4 cup butter 1/4 cup shortening 1/2 cup dried currants 1 egg 1/4 cup milk 1/3 cup granulated sugar for decoration Directions 1. Mix flour, baking powder, salt and the 1/2 cup sugar in medium bowl until well blended Cut in butter or margarine and shortening with a pastry blender until mixture is crumbly. Toss in currants. 2. Beat egg and milk with a fork in a 1-cup measure; add to flour mixture; mix gently with fork, just until blended. Dough should be consistency of pastry dough. 3. Roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness with floured rolling pin on lightly floured pastry cloth or board. Cut with 3 inch floured cookie cutter 4. Heat greased griddle or large heavy skillet over moderate heat until few drops of water jump when dropped on surface. Cook cakes, a few at a time, 3 minutes, or until golden brown. Turn with pancake turner and cook another 3 minutes, or until golden brown on second side. Remove to wire rack. Sprinkle with sugar. Let cool completely, then wrap in plastic bags to store. Can also be frozen. www.celtichighlandgames.org 11 Non Gaelic Speaking Celtic Nations The Iberian Peninsula was an area heavily influenced by Celtic culture, particularly the northern part of Spain and Portugal. Galicia and Asturias still claim a Celtic heritage or identity. Because of the extinction of Iberian Celtic languages in Roman times, Celtic heritage is attested in place names, ancient texts, folklore, myths, legends and music. Galicia Asturias Scots-Irish The Scots-Irish (Scotch -Irish) do not form a Celtic nation. However, those with Scots-Irish roots are proud of their heritage and the impact the Scots-Irish had on forming this nation. Reflecting their forefather’s fiercely independent streak, people with this ancestry often reject the label of Irish, Scottish, Ulsterman, or Orange. As you will see, these people are most certainly Celtic in character and some say are the first Americans. The Scots-Irish are the descendants of Presbyterian and other Protestant dissenters from the Irish province of Ulster who immigrated to North America before 1800. Most of the ScotsIrish were descended from Scottish and English families who colonized Ireland during the Plantation of Ulster in the 17th century but they also include Welsh, Flemish, German Palatinate, and French Huguenots families. The term ScotsIrish is rarely used outside of North America. Despite repeated invasions and occupations of Romans, Visigoths, and Moors, the culture survived as these groups did not find mountainous territory easy to conquer, and the lands along Spain's northern coast never fully became part of any of these empires. They still retain some of their Celtic culture. However, they have lost their Gaelic language. The history and experience of the people in Ulster through the 17th century diminished the differences that had existed between the original settlers, whither Scots, English or others. A distinct Protestant Ulster identity, recognizably unique and distinct from the sources of origin began to immerge. With the absence of outmoded feudalism, still present in Scotland, looser kinship ties, and a freer labor market, the Ulster Protestants began to develop in an unanticipated direction. If anything religion provided the common bond, rather than race, uniting dissenters of differing faiths, though it is also true to say that the Scots settlers had acquired a cultural domination over their other counterparts. Though loyal to the crown, they were a people who, through decades of adversity, had become self reliant, and never quite lost the feeling that they were surrounded by a hostile world. In 1704, the government of Queen Anne, dominated by the Anglican High Church party, passed an act that had a direct bearing on Presbyterians. All office holders were obliged to www.celtichighlandgames.org 12 take communion in the Established Church, a measure which at a single stroke virtually wiped out much of the civil administration in the north of Ireland and leading to full discrimination against Presbyterians, which was not finally ended until the middle of the nineteenth century. This combined with expiring farm leases and their unaffordable rent increases, whole communities, led by their ministers, began to take ship for the Americas rather than submit to these new conditions. As the years passed thousands of people crossed the Atlantic from Ulster, just as their ancestors had left their home countries a century or more before. However, by 1750 the pace of migration began to slow, as relatively normal conditions returned to Ulster after years of economic dislocation and the Irish Great Frost of 1740-1741. The period of calm was all too brief. In 1771, a fresh wave of migration began, once again induced by the greed of the landlords, which was arguably to have serious consequences for the security of the British Empire in North America. Faced with a fresh series of rent hikes, local people at first mounted some resistance, gathered together in an organization known as the Hearts of Steel; but the landlords had the law and the army on their side. In the short period left before the outbreak of the American Revolution a further 30,000 Ulstermen left for the colonies, joining some 200,000 who had already made their homes there earlier in the century. The contemporary image of the Ulster Protestant is most commonly that of the Orangeman, with all of his exaggerated loyalty to Britain and the Crown. For the dispossessed of the 1770s the opposite was true: they had lost everything, and came to America with an intense hostility towards all things British. Valley into Virginia, the Carolinas and across the South, with a large concentration in the Appalachian region; others headed to western Pennsylvania. Before long these ‘backwoodsmen’, distrustful of all authority and government, had established a hold on the western wilderness, fighting wolves and Indians in much the same way that they had once fought wolves and woodkern (Catholic robbers and outlaws in Ulster Province). In Pennsylvania, the Scots-Irish established an almost complete domination of the outer reaches of the old Quaker colony. With the outbreak of the Revolution in 1775, the Scots-Irish, in interesting contrast to many of their Scottish cousins, were among the most determined adherents of the rebel cause. Their frontier skills were particularly useful in destroying Burgoyne’s army in the Saratoga campaign; and George Washington was even moved to say that if the cause was lost everywhere else he would take a last stand among the Scots-Irish of his native Virginia. Serving in the British Army, Captain Johann Henricks, one of the much despised ‘Hessians’, wrote in frustration “Call it not an American rebellion, it is nothing more than an Irish-Scotch Presbyterian Rebellion.” It was their toughness, virility and sense of divine mission that was to help give shape to a new nation. Scots was added to “Irish” to distinguish themselves from the next wave of Irish immigrants who were mostly Catholic and poorer, but also greatly shaped this nation. Source of much of the above comes from http://www.ulsterancestry.com/ulster-scots.html For many years, these people had lived on a frontier in Ireland, and it seemed natural for them to push on to a new frontier, where land was both plentiful and cheap, and they were far from the British dominated coast, often with German immigrants in between. The largest numbers of “Irish” as they were called, went to Pennsylvania. From that base, some went south down the great wagon road through the Shenandoah www.celtichighlandgames.org 13 Families Activity Tent Face Painting Miniature Golf Ames Celtic Dance Society Decorate your own sword and shieldMini Caber Toss Mini Irish Stone Toss Sheep Herding Demonstrations Black Hawk Pipes and Drums Irish Dance Demonstrations by Ghrá Na Gaeilge Irish Dance www.celtichighlandgames.org 14 Highland Dancing Scottish Highland Dancing is a celebration of the Scottish spirit. The dances are a spectacular combination of strength, agility, movement, music, and costume. Unlike other dance mediums, Highland dances are generally danced solo and in competition. Dancers typically dance to traditional Scottish music such as Strathspeys, Reels, Hornpipes and Jigs all played by an accompanying bagpiper. The dances are made up of different parts, called steps and there are usually four or six steps to a dance. The dances are great fun and anyone, not just those with a Scottish heritage, who thrills to the sound of the bagpipe can join in and learn the dances. Highland dancing was traditionally performed by men but is now performed by men and women. It is one of few arenas where men and women compete equally. In most competitions, the number of women competing far exceeds the number of men. There are two styles of Highland Dances: the traditional Highland Dances and the graceful National Dances. Highland Dances inspired by the sight of a deer prancing on a hillside. The upraised arms and hands in the dance represent the deer’s antlers. Sword Dance (Gillie Callum) Legend has it that the initial Gillie Callum was created by Malcolm Canmore, a Celtic Prince who fought a battle in 1054. Triumphant, he crossed his opponent’s sword with his own and danced over them celebrating his victory. It is also said that the warriors danced the Sword Dance prior to battle. If the warrior touched the swords, it was considered an omen symbolizing injury or death in battle. Seann Triubhas (Old Trousers) This dance originated as a political protest dating back to 1745 when the wearing of the kilt was an act of treason. Pronounced "shawn trews", this Gaelic phrase means "old trousers". The beautiful, graceful steps reflect the restrictions imposed by the foreign trousers. The lively quick time in the dance recreates the Highlanders’ celebration of rediscovered freedom. The Reels The Reel O’Tulloch is said to have started in a churchyard on a cold winter morning when the minister was late for his service. The parishioners tried to keep warm by stamping their feet, clapping their hands and swinging each other by the arms. Highland Fling Likely the oldest of the traditional dances of Scotland, the Highland Fling signifies victory following a battle. The warriors made this dance a feat of strength and agility by dancing on their upturned shields which had a sharp spike of steel projecting from the center. Dancers learned early to move with great skill and dexterity. Others say the Highland Fling was www.celtichighlandgames.org 15 National Dances The National Dances are more modern than the Highland Dances and were developed so women could participate. The costume worn by women is called the Aboyne dress named in honor of the Aboyne Highland Games in Scotland where women were forbidden to wear the traditional Highland outfit. The National Dances are much more rhythmic and balletic; however, they still require quick and precise movements. Some of the dances are the Scottish Lilt, Village Maid, Blue Bonnets and Scotch Measure. Several National Dances are performed in the kilt since they were originally men’s dances such as The Highland Laddie, and Wilt Thou Go to the Barracks, Johnny? Men, of course, also perform all of the dances, but they wear the traditional Highland outfit. Irish Jig The Scottish version of the Irish Jig is meant to parody an angry Irish washerwoman when she finds out some neighborhood boys have knocked all of her clean wash to the ground. Another version describes a woman who shakes her firsts and flounces her skirt because she is furious with her husband who has been out drinking until the wee hours. Sailor’s Hornpipe What is Heavy Athletics? Heavy Athletics is a term referring to the throwing events in Highland Games. It is made up of six athletic endeavors, which test the performer’s strength and agility. Many of these have been seen in the Olympics, NCAA Track and Field meets, or in World Strongest Man competitions as Heavy Athletics is the father of modern day strength sports. The term heavy has to do with the heavy or strenuous effort required to perform these feats not the weight of the implements thrown or the stature of those who throw them. This is in contrast to light athletics such as running and jumping events, which are contested in Scottish Highland Games as well as the Dance competition. The endeavors that make Heavy Athletics are: Stone Throws These ancient events are evolved into the modern day shotput. A stone is used instead of a steel ball. Stones are not thrown, they are put, which comes from the Scottish term "put", Gaelic word butadh, or Middle English term puten, all meaning to push and thurst. Clachneart (Stone of Strength) uses a 16 to 22 pound stone, which allows a seven-and-a-half foot run-up to a toeboard. The Sailor’s Hornpipe requires strength and stamina to mimic in dance a variety of shipboard tasks including swabbing the deck, climbing the ship’s rigging, standing watch and hauling in rope. The Hornpipe is danced in a British sailor's uniform and derived its name from the fact that usually the musical accompaniment was played on a hornpipe rather than bagpipes. The above is from http://www.fusta.us/ Braemar stone throw is a standing throw using a heavier, 22 to 30 pound stone. Braemar is the Scottish city which hosted the first Modern Highland Games in 1832. The contestants are judged on the longest of the three throws. www.celtichighlandgames.org 16 Weight Throws Scottish Weight throws are the origin of the NCAA track weight throw. The weight throw was also contested in the Olympics until the 1920 Games. A heavy (56 lbs) and light (28 lbs) metal implement are thrown for distance. The weight is thrown onehanded from behind the toe board with a nine-foot run up allowed. Any style may be used, but the most popular and efficient is to spin like a discus thrower. The weights are based on “stone” weights of the old imperial measuring system, often used in agriculture. The implements thrown developed from yard weights used to balance scales. A “stone” weighs 14-pounds, which means the athlete is throwing 2 and 4 stone weights. The contestants are judged on the longest of the three throws. Hammer Throws The Scottish hammer is the precursor to the Olympic wire hammer throw and most likely comes from throwing black smith hammers or “mells”. Today, the Scottish hammer is metal ball weighing 16 or 22 pounds (9, 12, and/or 16 pounds for women) on a 50-inch long cane or PVC shaft and is thrown for distance. The hammer is thrown over the shoulder with the competitors back facing the field. The hammer is whirled in circles about the competitor’s body from over his head to down in front of his feet, each time picking up speed until the release. The competitor's feet may only move upon the releases of the hammer over his shoulder. The contestants are judged on the longest of the three throws. An often-repeated story of the origin of this event claims that it comes from medieval mace being throwing at mounted knights: a romantic but completely false story. Sheaf Toss The Sheaf Toss uses a hayfork to toss a 16 to 20 pond sheaf (burlap bag full of twine) for height. Top competitors can launch the sheaf well over 30 feet in the air. An unusual aspect of this event is that any competitor may use any other competitor’s fork. The highest toss wins. It can be easily believed that this event comes from farmer tradition of launching sheaves of grain into the loft of a barn. An amusing myth states the origin of this event was from medieval castle sieges where the knights would use a hay fork loaded with animal droppings and bedding material, which was lite on fire and thrown over the castle wall to set buildings on fire. Weight Over Bar This event is often called the Test of Champions, as it is usually the last contested and tests the athlete’s endurance and mental fortitude to dig down and find that little extra. The 4 stone or 56-pound weight used for distance event is also tossed for height. This event periodically appears in the World Strongest Man Competition. With heights thrown over 15 feet, this event is akin to throwing a car battery onto a highway overpass. The highest toss wins. Caber Toss The Caber Toss is the signature event of heavy Athletics. This event requires raw strength, balance, and coordination to pick up a 15-20 foot tall tapered pole weighing 90 to 140 pounds and flipping it end over end. www.celtichighlandgames.org 17 This event is done for accuracy not distance or height. The best turn of the caber is when the smaller end held by the competitor is propelled end over end and lands directly away from the competitor as if it was a clock hand pointing at 12:00. There are many myths surrounding this event but common sense eliminates all of them as the origins of the caber toss. Myth 1: The caber toss grew out of the practice of flipping a pole up against a castle wall to breach its defenses. If this was true, the practice did not last long as there would be a high mortality rate from men with long bows picking off lumbering invaders caring a tall pole across the battlefield! Myth 2: The caber toss grew out of the practice of lumberjacks launching newly harvested logs into a stream allowing them to float down river. Usable lumbering logs are much thicker and longer than the size of the biggest cabers. In addition, the weight of freshly cut logs make it impossible for a single man to lift let alone lift it in the most awkward way and then throw them into a river. Myth 3: The caber toss came from a military tradition where the logs where thrown in a manner allowing the troops to traverse a stream. This is why they are thrown for accuracy. However, if a military united wanted to cross a stream, they would do it in a much less strenuous and more accurate manner, such as standing the log up and push it over! Challenge Events Challenge events are often performed at the end of the normal Highland Games Contest and do not count towards the winner of the various divisions. The Irish Keg toss and Two Handed Stone Throw, along with the Farmers Walk are the most frequently seen of these challenge events. Keg Toss A fan favorite is the keg toss. Here in the QC, the ¼ barrel keg is painted in Irish Tri-Colors to give the event an Irish flare. The popularity of throwing kegs has also appeared in Strongman contests. This is an elimination tournament with each contestant allotted a fix number of misses per height with the highest toss over the bar winning the contest. Super Heavy Irish Stone Throw Myth 4: A group of strapping young lads was enjoying a dram of amber nectar in a field by a lane after setting fence posts. Along comes a fine lass and nature took its course. The lads wanting to impress the lass with feats of strength, naturally leading to the invention of the caber toss. This is the only plausible explanation I have ever heard as to the origin of this event! The Super Heavy Stone Throw, with its strong Irish Heritage, is practiced across many European countries. This event is a true challenge, as the stone must weigh over 112 pounds or 8 stone for men and a “mere” 56pound stone for women. After the stone is hoisted up to chest height or over the head for the more adventurous throwers, a short run is made and the massive stone is heaved forward landing with a ground-shaking thud. Distances are not great, but seeing the contestants lift this boulder off the ground can often be amusing. This event has earned the nickname “Stupid Stone Throw” for a www.celtichighlandgames.org 18 variety of obvious reasons. Lightweight National Championship Farmers walk This year the Celtic Festival and Highland Games of the Quad Cities is honored to host the 14th Annual Lightweight National Championship. The Lightweight Division is for throwers who weigh in under 190 pounds on the morning of the event. For the public’s entertainment pleasure, we have procured some lighter stones, which can be tried in an open to public challenge event. A test of endurance, grip strength, and mental toughness, the farmers walk is a timed event in which the contestant carries a heavy implement in each hand over a course that is down and back. Often the weight is over 200 lbs for Highland Games Athletes but much more in strongman events. The contestant cannot set or drop the implement. The fastest time wins. The Lightweight Division was started in the late 1980s by Mr. Greg Bradshaw of Rocky Mountain Highland Games Association (RMSA). It was initially used as a Developmental Class for younger (and/or entry) level throwers. Over the years, the Division has taken on a life of its own growing far beyond a Developmental Class. The Lightweight Division is now for throwers of any experience and any age as long as they are under 190 lbs. Veterans of this division have moved on to becomes Masters World Champions and top ranked amateur throwers (with several on the field today), while others remain in this division making it one of the most dynamic divisions being contested in Highland Games. This year we have 10 competitors from across America competing for the National Championship. www.celtichighlandgames.org 19 Lightweight National Championship Competitors David Gibbs Brandon Chisholm Hometown Years Competing Occupation Celtic Heritage Clan Affiliations Recent Achievements Marina Del Rey, California 3 Years Broadcast Engineer at DirecTV Entertainment Scottish Clan Chisholm -1st place at Sonora Highland Games, Phoenix Highland Games, Bakersfield Highland Games San Diego Highland Games Hometown Years Competing Occupation Celtic Heritage Clan Affiliations Other Heritage Recent Achievements Moline, Illinois 3years Machinist The Famous Gibbs Brothers 1st Year competing for Light Weight National Championship -2nd place finish Las Vegas Highland Games -2nd place finish SAAA <200# National Championships Mark Howe Andy Crowley Hometown Years Competing Occupation Celtic Heritage Irish County La Crosse, Wisconsin 4+ Die Cutter Operator Irish County of Cork Recently been engaged Recent Achievements 3rd Lightweight Nationals invites. Hometown Years Competing Occupation Celtic Heritage Clan Affiliations Other Heritage Recent Achievements Records 3rd years as a top ten thrower ranked as high as 5th Cape Coral, Florida 20 years Fire Fighter/Paramedic FT. Lauderdale Highland Games winner of Open A's and LW division Former WR holder in Open & Braemar stone, Light Hammer, Sheaf, and 42lb weight for distance Current WR holder in Weight over Bar and 28lb weight for Distance. www.celtichighlandgames.org 20 Lightweight National Championship Competitors Adam Larson Hometown Years Competing Occupation Celtic Heritage Clan Affiliations Other Heritage Recent Achievements Lacey, Washington 4years Para Educator In Special Education (Currently studying to be a Special Education Teacher) Scottish Mackenzie Swedish, Norwegian, Irish, English Competed in 2011 National Championship and 2011 SAAA World Lightweight Championship. Jim Spalding Hometown Years Competing Occupation Celtic Heritage Clan Affiliations Recent Achievements Records Jeff Thornton Philip Sansotta Hometown Years Competing Occupation Celtic Heritage Clan Affiliations Other Heritage Recent Achievements Records Boise, Idaho 2 years Full time student & Riverside Hotel Bar Banager MacLachlan (on wife's side) Italian Finished 10th in Lightweights on NASGA for 2011. Took 7th in the SAAA Light World Championship in 2011. Numerous field records in Idaho and Oregon. Caber state record holder for Idaho. 30' sheaf toss in 2012. Kirksville, Missouri 10 years Jeweler Scotland Murray Eight time Masters World Champion in Under 200 lb division Holds 5 World Records Masters U200 Division Hometown Years Competing Occupation Celtic Heritage Clan Affiliations Other Heritage www.celtichighlandgames.org Tacoma, Washington 3years Plumber Scottish & Irish Robertson Swedish & German 21 Lightweight National Championship Competitors Tim Pinkerton Hometown Years Competing Occupation Celtic Heritage Clan Affiliations Other Heritage Recent Achievements Records The Athletic Competition would like to thank our sponsors. Jason Clevenger of Clevenger Sheaves, Rockford, Illinois for helping the event with the best Sheaves around. Dr. Jennifer Levan of Natural Health Improvement Center of the Quad Cities, Bettendorf, IA for providing Chiropractic Care for the athletes and volunteers. Bellevue, Nebraska 7years Nurse Recruiter Scotland MacLeod Marge Gast of NuLooks Day Spa, Bettendorf, Iowa providing massage therapy for the athletes. 2011 North America Highlander Association Light Weight Champion Holds the 85 kg World/National records in the U.S.A.W.A. (United States All-Round Weight Lifting Association) for: Clean & Push Press Fulton Clean Jerk Jerk from behind neck Hang Snatch Fulton Snatch Overhead Squat Dan Cleveland of Blue Cat Brew Pub, Rock Island, Illinois, providing some after event refreshments. Kris and Garry Knapp of Celtic Tradition, Urbandale, Iowa, for providing top notch engraved prizes Ryan “the Mad Scientist of Grip Strength” Pitts of Strongergrip.com for providing additional prizes for the Lightweight National Championship. Charles and Vicki Teas Mark McVey Order of Events Traditional order of events is Braemar Stone, Open Stone, Heavy Weight, Light Weight, Heavy Hammer, Light Hammer, Caber, Sheaf, and Weight Over Bar. Since not all division of throwers can follow this order, the audience could see Cabers will be turned most of the day. The Better athletes will be performing this event after lunch. At the end of the day, there will be a Challenge Caber for the Men’s and Master’s division. As well as a keg toss. www.celtichighlandgames.org Stongergrip.com 22 Another “Celtic” Throwing Sports? The game of Quoits is the processor to horse shoes and is played in England, Cornwall, Wales and Scotland. It is also popular in parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Quoits is a game played with metal discs, traditionally made of steel, and thrown across a set distance at a metal. The spike is centrally, and vertically, positioned in a square of moist clay measuring three feet across. There are several varieties of this sport but scoring is about the same closet contestant’s disc to the pin scores. Beornve.com Beornve is back by popular demand!!! Beornve a Realm of the Belegarth Medieval Combat Society located in Davenport, Iowa. This sport is intended to recreate Medieval fighting in such a way it is safe, fun, easy to learn, and easy to play. This sport is a FULL contact sport using foam based weapons, which are available for sale in the Beorne Area. 3rd Iowa Cavalry Reenactors Approximately 516,000 Union soldiers (23.4% of all Union soldiers) were immigrants; about 216,000 of these were born in Germany and 140,000 were Irish-Born. The reasons why members of each immigrant groups served are complex and different. However, the Irish alone were unique. No other ethnic group was allowed to create and field officially designated ethnic regiments as the Irish did. There were numerous regiments in the Union Army that were considered German. But they were German by membership, officers and sometimes language. They were not officially named German regiments, and no such thing as a 'German Brigade' or 'Karl Schurtz legion' existed. Nor did the German-dominated regiments carry flags emblazoned with the symbols of their ancestral homeland. With the exception of the 116th Pennsylvania, which carried the state flag, the regiments in the Irish Brigade and Corcoran Legion carried the Irish green flag with gold harp, usually with a Gaelic battle cry added for effect. The special consideration extended to the Irish in creation of those units testified to their political power and the eagerness of political figures, from Lincoln down to state legislators, to channel Irish energies into support for the Union cause. Stop by the 3rd Iowa Calvary encampment and learn about the life of a Civil War soldier and learn about Irish soldiers on both sides. Source: http://www.historynet.com/americas-civil-war-why-the-irish-foughtfor-the-union.htm www.celtichighlandgames.org 23 Bagpipe History Bagpipes are thought to have been used in ancient Egypt. The bagpipe was the instrument of the Roman infantry while the trumpet was used by the cavalry. Bagpipes existed in many forms in many places around the world. In each country the basic instrument was the same, a bag with a chanter and one or more drones. Some of these were mouth blown while others used a bellows attachment to supply the air. The bag provided a sustained tone while the musician took a breath and allowed several tones to be played at once. The origins of the pipes in Scotland are uncertain. Some say it was a Roman import. Others believe that the instrument came from Ireland as the result of colonization. Another theory is that they were developed there independently. Historians can only speculate on the origins of the Scottish clans' piob mhor, or great Highland bagpipe, but the Highlanders were the ones to develop the instrument to its fullest extent and make it, both in peace and war, their national instrument. The original pipes in Scotland probably had, at the most, a single drone. The second drone was added to the pipes in the mid to late 1500s. The first written mention of the "Great Pipes" was in 1623 when a piper from Perth was prosecuted for playing on the Sabbath. The third drone, or the great drone, came into use early in the 1700s. Odhar, who lived in the mid-1500s, the MacCrimmon family was responsible for elevating Highland pipe music to a new level, according to historians. This music is called piobaireachd (pronounced piobroch). This classical music is an art form which can compare to the music of any other country and most of it was composed 100 years before the piano and without written notation. As a musical instrument of war, the Great Pipes of the Highlands were without equal, according to historians. The shrill and penetrating notes worked well in the roar and din of battle and pipes could be heard at distances up to 10 miles. Because of the importance of the bagpipes to any Highland army, they were classified as an instrument of war by the Loyalist government during the Highland uprising in the 1700s. After the defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745, kilts and bagpipes were outlawed. From http://www.visitdunkeld.com/bagpipe-history.htm In the Lowlands of Scotland, pipers occupied well-defined positions as town pipers, performers for weddings, feasts and fairs. There was no recorded "master piper" nor were there any pipe schools. Lowland pipers played songs and dance music, as Make sure you catch the performances of Quad was expected by their audience. Over the mountains and glens, Cities very own Black Hawk Pipes and drums!!! however, Highland pipers were strongly influenced by their background of the Celtic legends and the wild nature of the Highlands. The Highland piper occupied a high and honored position within the Clan system. To be a piper was sufficient and, if he could play well, nothing else would be asked of him. As bagpipe use faded throughout most of Europe, a new form of music was starting in the Highlands. Beginning with Iain www.celtichighlandgames.org 24 people with two copies of a recessive gene on chromosome 16, which causes a mutation in the MC1R protein. It is characterized by high levels of the reddish pigment pheomelanin and relatively low levels of the dark pigment eumelanin. Rugby Match We are proud to host a Rugby match between Redheads are common among Germanic and Celtic peoples, with Redheads constitute approximately 4% of the European population. QC Irish Rugby Club and Grinnell Griffins Rugby Club Come out and watch this growing dynamic sport Scotland has the highest proportion of redheads; 13% of the population has red hair and approximately 40% carries the recessive redhead gene. Ireland has the second highest percentage; as many as 10% of the Irish population has red, auburn, or strawberry blond hair. It is thought that up to 46% of the Irish population carries the recessive redhead gene. A 1956 study of hair color amongst British army recruits also found high levels of red hair in Wales and the English Border counties. But which country is blessed with the most red heads? A Most Sensitive Issue: Gingers! Red hair varies from a deep burgundy through burnt orange to bright copper. The term redhead (originally redd hede) has been in use since at least 1510. It is associated with fair skin color, lighter eye colors (gray, blue, green, and hazel), freckles, and sensitivity to ultraviolet light. If you said Scotland or Ireland, you would be wrong. In the United States, it is estimated that 2–6% of the population has red hair. This would give the U.S. the largest population of redheads in the world, at 6 to 18 million, compared to approximately 650,000 in Scotland and 420,000 in Ireland. Cultural reactions have varied from ridicule to admiration; many common stereotypes exist regarding redheads and they are often portrayed as fiery-tempered. Red hair occurs naturally on approximately 1–2% of the human population. It occurs more frequently (2–6%) in people of northern or western European ancestry. Red hair appears in www.celtichighlandgames.org 25
