Nova Scotian Gaelic poet key speaker at annual Bardic school
Nova Scotian Gaelic poet key speaker at annual Bardic school this week.
Lewis MacKinnon, Gaelic speaker, singer and poet, is the key speaker and visiting bard at the annual Applecross Bardic School this week in Scotland.
MacKinnon, Gaelic speaker, singer, poet and author of Famhair/Giant, a book of original Gaelic and English poetry published by CBU Press (2008) is also Director of the Nova Scotia Office of Gaelic Affairs, and is actively engaged in the language and culture.
In October 2011, Mr. MacKinnon was appointed Bard of An Comunn Gàidhealach’s Royal National Mòd, in Scotland. The post of Bàrd is a great honour which is bestowed on an individual who has contributed significantly to the Gaelic literary world and it carries an ambassadorial role for the language and culture. His appointment made MacKinnon the first bard appointed from outside Scotland in the organizations 100-plus year history.
Applecross district is in Wester Ross in the northwest highlands, overlooking the isles of Raasay and Skye. In an area very active in the development of Gaelic language and arts, Sgoil Bhàrdachd na Comraich / Applecross Bardic School, July 2-6, is one of the area’s most prestigious activities.
The 2011 school included CBU Press-published Gaelic poet Rody Gorman (Beartan Briste, 2011).