3 July 2007 Cultural Connection Combine for Music and Dance Fest
Folk tradition is alive and well in the nation’s capital this evening, as Scotland, Appalachia, and the island of Ireland collaborate to host an evening of music and dance that draws together common cultural ties from these distinct regions in the final chapter of the Rediscover Northern Ireland program. The Northern Ireland Bureau, in partnership with the Embassy of Ireland and the Scottish Affairs Office will welcome more than 300 guests to Washington’s University Club for a traditional gathering of fun, fellowship, music and dance.
This event, known as a ceili (or ceilidh), was historically enjoyed at house parties and corner road gatherings throughout the countryside. More recently, the term has come to mean a party in which a band of musicians plays live folk music while guests perform traditional dances. Tonight, however, this gathering will take place in downtown Washington, against the backdrop of Northern Ireland’s participation in the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Performing this evening are the Baltimore-Washington Ceili Band and Fox Hunt from Martinsburg, West Virginia. They will be joined by an authentic ceili dance troop and a dance caller, courtesy of Greater Washington Ceili Club.
Welcoming guests this evening, Tim Losty, Director of the Northern Ireland Bureau said, “It is my distinct pleasure to be working with our colleagues from the Irish Embassy and Scottish Affairs Office to use music, dance and common traditions to highlight our cultural, economic and political ties.”
The Embassy of Ireland was represented by its Cultural Affairs Officer, Aoife McGarry, who told the assembled crowd, “
Stuart McLean of the Scottish Affairs Office concluded the evening by declaring, “We are delighted to be co-hosting this event with our Celtic cousins. The new head of the Scottish government has made much mention recently of his wish to see Scotland interact with the countries that sit in what he calls the "Arc of Prosperity" - the countries of Northern Ireland, Ireland, Iceland and those in Scandinavia. This is an early opportunity for us to work together and showcase some genuine Scottish and Irish culture."
The ceili brings the Rediscover Northern Ireland program to a close. This four month program included more than 60 events across the region spotlighting Northern Ireland culture, business and tourism.