CELTIC PERFORMERS Terry Williams, Kendra Bailey, Xavier and Chanda Leahy Up and down the country roads, the mail boxes of the old families in the area shout out the Celtic heritage of the people of this land.

The Irish and the Scots came here all through the early days of the 1800’s making their way along the rugged trails; they built their homes and created their farms. There are properties and farms still owned and run by descendents of those tough, brave pioneers.

Canadian by birth, with the “British” ties nearly forgotten, the notion of being “Celtic” seems to float to the surface of our inherited memories, as though “Celtic” is apart from nation, a culture that is a part of our basic personality make up. Yet, there is no event, no annual coming together in this region marking that inheritance.

So thought Terry Williams, a local resident since the early 1990’s. The idea of creating a Celtic Festival occurred to him during one of the rehearsals he was doing with the group, SODA – South Ontario Dulcimers Association. A dulcimer is a many-stringed musical instrument, usually, but not always, played with hammers. It is an ancient musical device originating in Celtic British Isles and Europe, sometimes referred to as the predecessor to the piano forte.

Anyway, SODA was playing and playing, but just for themselves, and it dawned on them that they should perform in a venue for others. One idea leading to another the way they do and a plan for a Celtic Festival, a celebration of the Celtic culture, was SPORTS sprung. As Terry observes, “St. Patrick’s Day has been taken over by the pubs – it’s become just another reason for a drinking night. We wanted to take it back to a family-based time. Basically, it’s a non-alcohol event although there is a bar – but that’s not the focus.”

The venue for such an event was the first consideration. Terry had a chat with Jeremy Grant, coowner of the Alton Mill, and they struck a deal for the festival to be a held at the mill. If there was going to be an evening of Celtic music, dancing and poetry, there might as well be a whole day of other Celtic oriented activities happening at the mill.

It is such a beautiful place and a perfect setting for the Celtic theme, it only made sense to use as many hours as the day could provide.

On Saturday, March 20, therefore, beginning at 8:00 a.m., a collection of workshops, classes and presentations fills the day until the evening’s Gala.

Outside, Doug Bell

519-994-7396) will begin the day with his Irish dry stone wall construction. The cost of this all day workshop is $100, including SPORTS lu nch. At th e end of the day, participants will have learned enough to build their own stone dry wall.

Inside, there are several music and dancing workshops and classes. All of them carry a cost but all promise to be equally informative.

The music classes will centre on the bodhran (an Irish hand drum). Les Starkey (of the Chieftains) is the instructor and will lend, lease and sell bodhrans for your budding musical career. The flute and fiddle are likewise part of the music classes and theses are led by Jason Pfeiffer.

At the end of the music workshops, the afternoon is to be spent playing them in

jam session. Fun for the students, fun for the audience, from 3 to 5 p.m. By the end of it all, Terry Williams says, “They (the people attending the workshops) will be able to play simple tunes and join in a band without embarrassing themselves. They’ll be good as beginners.”

Orangeville’s Chandra Leahy and Woodgate are both offering dance classes. There are charges for these too, to cover the costs of bringing the classes to the mill.

During the course of the afternoon, I have been invited to give a talk on the history and stories connected to Celtic designs. That’s just a story time, free of charge.

All day long, the cafe in the mill will be open for business.

With a two-hour break between the jam session and the evening’s Gala, there is time to catch our breaths and begin again.

Starting at 7 p.m., what an evening it will be.

As Terry Williams put it: “We won’t be playing any American/Irish songs – we’re not going to have any that pop stuff – it’ll all just be traditional Irish music.”

Steafan Hannigan and Saskia Hannigan, champion fiddle and pipe players; Les Starkey and Jason Pfeiffer

the Chieftains); Celtic Crossing ; SODA: all these musicians will fill the Millrace room downstairs at the mill with the most traditional Irish/Celtic music there is.

Between the acts, the Irish dancers are on, from Chandra Leahy and Woodgate.

“It’ll be so wonderful,” says Terry Williams, “how will it ever end?”

Tickets are available from the Alton Mill Gallery and Terry Williams at 519- 942-3272. Tickets and preregistration for the workshops can be had at Broadway Musical, 232 Broadway, Orangeville.