Thank you. Thank you very much! My name is Max MacDonald and I was born and raised on Cape Breton Island.  Many don’t realize that in order to qualify for Cape Breton citizenship, you are required to live and work for a while in either Ontario or Alberta. I did my time in Toronto but Lake Ontario was no Atlantic Ocean and no one greets you by name or waves from a passing car on Yonge Street. The other thing I missed terribly was the music…. ah the beautiful, soulful music of Cape Breton.

Music is a huge part of Cape Breton's Celtic culture and much of our history is shared through song. The Celtic Heart of North America wants to share our music and history and is pleased to welcome Max MacDonald to the blog team.

A’Cholaisde Ghàidhlig / The Gaelic College is St. Ann's proudly offers programming in Gaelic language, culture and music for all ages. The College places particular importance on its role of educating the next generation of Gaelic singers and speakers.

As a World-renowned fiddler, a Grammy© nominated recording artist,a farmer and a mother of a growing family, Natalie MacMaster is quite the multi-tasker these days. Add to that list author and publisher and you can see how busy and accomplished she really is.

On a warm Saturday evening during a recent trip home, Natalie invited friends, family and fans to the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre in Judique to help her celebrate the launch of her book CAPE BRETON AIRE The Story of a Musical Life and Place.

Given the opportunity many would “pack the truck” and “get away” for the weekend. After all, that seems to be the thing to do, right? Pack up the kids, spend hours preparing suitcases and entertainment for them for the drive, don’t’ forget the snacks, dvds and water bottles……….Been there, done that, will likely do it again, but not this summer.

What a refreshing place to be……..  It had been too long since my last visit.  The drive over was relaxing in itself, but the moments that followed as I drove up the driveway, parked and entered the grounds, were really moments of “awe” and total appreciation for the beauty that surrounded me.

'S e cleachdadh làidir a bh' aig na Gàidheil bho chian nan cian a bhith ag aithris sgeulachdan, seachadas a bha air dol á cleachdadh ann an Ceap Breatainn bho chionn greis. Nan rachadh duine do cheilidh, is cinnteach gun cluinneadh e ceòl na fìdhle, ceòl na clàrsaiche móire, agus a bu dòcha òrain agus innealan ciùil eile 'gan cluich, ach sgeulachdan...? 

The world of summer school…….a really unique kind of summer school…….not the summer school that a child might be forced to take part in if they didn’t quite acquire all of those credits they had hoped for.  I’m talking about the type of summer school where you are able to move in for a full week, fiddle, step-dancing shoes, AND your Gaelic scribbler in tow.  Summer school at the Gaelic College!

'Nuair a dh' éisdeas daoine ri ceòl Ghàidhlig, cluinnear gu bheil iomadh òran air a dheasachadh air an aon fhonn. Bidh cuid de dhaoine a' smaointinn gur e fàilligeadh nam bàrd a th' a's coireach ach chan e sin a' chùis.

Cape Breton music offers many soulful elements.  Our airs in particular will offer you an experience that has often been described as Holy; they will fill your heart and soul. Some of the oldest of these are Gaelic airs; they’ll pull on your heart strings, bring about that “lump’ in your throat, give you goose bumps and could make a tear drop from your eye.