Newton and MacKinnon to reprise performance @Colaisde na Gàidhlig July 11
#kitchenfest is in full swing and in the midst of it all, Colaisde na Gàidhlig is taking advantage of having both Michael Newton and Lewis MacKinnon in the area to have a special performance of excerpts from recent of their books: Newton’s Seanchaidh na Coille / The Memory-Keeper of the Forest: Anthology of Scottish-Gaelic Literature in Canada and MacKinnon’s new collection of Gaelic poetry: Ràithean airson Sireadh / Seasons for Seeking (Bradan Press).
Michael Newton is the author of numerous books of Scottish-Gaelic scholarship, and Lewis MacKinnon (Lodaidh MacFhionghain) is a Nova Scotia Gaelic poet, and singer-songwriter (in addition to his role as Director of Nova Scotia’s Office of Gaelic Affairs). From 2011 to 2015, MacKinnon was poet laureate for Gaelic Scotland (Bàrd of the Royal National Mòd), the first such honour for someone from outside Scotland.
When Seanchaidh na Coille was launched in Toronto and University of Waterloo (2015), the two collaborated on a performance of readings and songs from the book, in Gaelic and English. In addition, in 2016 the book was shortlisted for an Atlantic Book Award and they performed during that festival in Halifax, Sydney and Charlottetown.
The July 11 performance will precede Colaisde na Gàidhlig’s weekly Wednesday night ceilidh in Taigh Ceilidh (the ceilidh house) on the College grounds at St. Ann’s, at 6 p.m.
Michael Newton published three books with CBU Press, Seanchaidh na Coille, The Naughty Little Book of Gaelic: All the Scottish Gaelic You Need to Curse, Swear, Drink, Smoke and Fool Around (2014), and Celts in the Americas (2012).
CBU Press published two of Lewis MacKinnon’s Gaelic poetry collections: Famhair: agus dàin Ghàidhlig eile (Giant: and other Gaelic poems) (2008) and Rudan Mì-bheanailteach is an Cothroman, Dàin : Intangible Possibilities, Poems (2014). His newcollection, Lodaidh MacFhionghain (Lewis MacKinnon) – a new collection of Gaelic poetry: Ràithean airson Sireadh / Seasons for Seeking is published by Bradan Press.
