You may contribute news and photos by email to Info@BlackHillsCelticEvents.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bill Knight has been doing some research to satisfy a personal interest and is excited about sharing what he has learned.  Don’t miss our September 20^th General Membership meeting!

 

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.dakotaclans.com/            

 

Look forward to enjoying:

 

Highland Games Athletics

Celtic Music

Irish Dancing demos and workshop

Children’s Celtic Music Competition

Ceili

Celtic Foods

Vendors

Celtic Pet Contest

Pipers

British Cars

 

 

AGENDA FOR GATHERING OF THE CLANS CELTIC FESTIVAL:

 

Friday, August 31^st:  12:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Vendors, Highland Games demo, Piping Demo, musicians String Thaw, Kids Celtic Music Completion, Ceili

 

Saturday, September 1^st, 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Vendors, Workshops & Demonstrations, Parade of Tartans, Winners of Kids Celtic Music competition, Piping/dance demo, Pet contest, Ceili Dance Set,

Best Celtic Costume/Best Knee, Wilson & McKee (musicians), Ceili Dance Set, piping/dance demo, Athletics Awards Ceremony, Dakota Voices (singers)

 

Sunday, September 2^nd, 9:00 a.m. – mid afternoon

Kirken of the Tartan, Dance & Piping Demos, Parade of Tartans, Wallace Sword Finals, Vendors

 

See their web page for more complete information:

                  http://www.dakotaclans.com/             

   HIGHLAND GAMES ATHLETICS

 

              

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                The Scottish Athletes will be treating us to a variety of different competitions, all steeped in history!   I’ll be forwarding a separate e-mail with a PDF attachment talking about the “History of the Highland Games” – very interesting reading courtesy of Mike and Holly Lemay!

 

 

 

MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT:                         Willson & McKee

 

Known for engaging their audiences with an energetic blend of traditional and contemporary acoustic music, Wilson & McKee have performed throughout the country

 

This very talented pair from Colorado combines original and traditional songs, and they have mastered quite a range of instruments to back their fine vocals. Kim McKee is featured on accordion, hammer dulcimer, guitars, folk harp, mountain dulcimer, bodhran, stories and a wonderful bit of Ceili dance! Ken Willson can be heard playing guitars, Irish Bouzouki, bagpipes (on occasion), storytelling, and some mean Ceili swing himself. They play traditional Scottish and Irish songs, along with lots of their own well-crafted tunes, which are written and played in Celtic style. Their harmonies are outstanding and not to be missed!

 

For more info, go to:  www.jigheads.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DANCING ENTERTAINMENT:

Molly Bennett Dancers

 

Molly Bennett started her career in Irish dance and music in San Antonio, TX when she was 30. The music actually came first - it was through her membership in the band St James's Gate that she was introduced to the San Antonio Irish Dancers.

Molly toured with St James's Gate, which went to Ireland in 1986 and won the All-Ireland Championship for Groupi Ceol. It was Molly's last gig with the band, since the family had already moved to Denver. The female Bennetts enrolled in the Shamrock School of Irish Dance, eventually luring her husband Bill to join them. When the Shamrock School moved out of town, its adult students were left without a home, so Molly started the Denver Ceili Club for informal Irish group dancing and was also a founding member of the City of Denver Pipe Band's Irish Dance Section.

As her daughters advanced up the competition ladder in Irish dancing, they reached the point where they needed the beautifully embroidered solo dresses which girls and women wear. With the "I can do that!" spirit she has always had, Molly made the dresses herself and then turned it into a business. Her company, It's Knotwork to Me, Inc., produces school costumes and solo dresses for a nationwide clientele.

In 1996, Molly earned her accreditation as an Irish dance teacher, a "TCRG" in the jargon of the trade, allowing her to enter her students in sanctioned competitions. That fall, her 8-hand team won first place in Adult Mixed Ceili at the Western Region Oireachtas, the regional competition.

Molly and her family founded their Irish dancing school for all ages, the Heritage Irish Stepdancers, in 1998. In the summer of 2000, they built their own studio complex, the Friendship Irish Dance Center in SE Denver. The Bennett School was formed in January 2002 following a split in Heritage.

Molly has stayed active in Irish music and teaches classes and workshops at the Swallow Hill Music Association, the California Traditional Music Association, and other groups. She and two friends produced an album of traditional bawdy (but not vulgar) songs, "The Bawdy Beautiful". She also teaches introductory classes in Irish dancing through Colorado Free University several times a year.

 

For more info, go to: 

www.bennett-school.com/Bennett-School/Home.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Father of the Pipers:  Jack Knowles being recognized at the Festival

 

Jack Knowles has taught many young pipers over the course of the past decades.  In recognition of these efforts, the Festival Board wants to present Mr. Knowles with a token of appreciation.  There will be a collection at our next general meeting.  Please consider donating.  Mr. Knowles will also be our Clan Parade Marshall.

 

  John Savery is expected to make an appearance at the Festival on his way from Afghanistan to a family reunion.  Keep your eyes out for a JOHN sighting!  J

 

 

 

NOTE:  We had attempted to get the Renaissance Scots for our Festival, as reported in our last newsletter.  Unfortunately, we didn’t raise as much money as we were hoping and had to cut them from this year’s roster.  Hopefully they will be present at next year’s festival.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HELP NEEDED FOR THE FESTIVAL:

 

The Festival is looking for volunteers to help with the hospitality booth, the food booth, etc.  If you’re interested in helping, please contact Carole Conrad at 342-6406 or carolec@rapidnet.com.

 

For more info on the Gathering of the Clans Festival, go to:

www.dakotaclans.com

 

 

           

 

 

Aug 2	7:00 p.m.	Board Meeting
Aug 16	7:00 p.m.	General membership Meeting, American Legion Post 22, Rapid City PROGRAM:  Festival preparation
Aug 30-Sept 2		Gathering of the Clans Celtic Festival at Memorial Park
Sept 6	7:00 p.m.	Board Meeting
Sept 20	7:00 p.m.	General membership Meeting, American Legion Post 22, Rapid City PROGRAM:  The Role of the Irish in the Wars (Bill Knight)

 *American Legion Post 22, 818 East St. Patrick St, Rapid City

 

 

 

 

 

Siaryn Duggan, owner of Celtic Connection in downtown Rapid City, gave us this update on her new store:

 

Siaryn shared the following information:

She just received a new shipment of clothes consisting of a few dresses, sarongs, long scarves from Ancient Circles so they are priced right!!  She also has some hand decorated canvas carry bags (save our resources - bring your own bag to the grocery store!!)  Sally brought in some of her Fairy Doors which are sweet.  We will also be selling the SIS Cookbook at the store.  New Celtic Art Sayings from yours truly and also some framed maps - the Scottish Isles and Map of Ireland with Family Names.  Sign is up too!  Customers just have to walk through the garden to get to us!  Thursday nights is late night opening through the summer but we are working "Rally hours" this week – 9:00 ‘til 9:00!

 

Let her know you’re a S.I.S. member when you drop by and listen to her sweet Irish accent and her “Siaryn-isms”!

 

As a reminder, there is free parking at all the leased parking lots on Saturdays and after 6 p.m. on weekdays!

 

 

 

 

            A Festival Time of Year

 

Where has the summer gone? It seems like we just finished with the Mid Summer’s Eve party, breezed through the Gillette Celtic Festival and introduced our presence at the Heritage Festival. Each event was unique and fun in its own way. Mid Summers Eve being a more intimate gala begs us to relax with great food, cold drink, music and best of all to chat it up with our friends. The Gillette Festival introduced us to new friends who may have been unaware of SIS and the fact that Rapid City does indeed have a “Celtic Festival” while the Heritage Festival allowed SIS and COA to spread the word within our community that there is culture here particularly Celtic Culture. But the crown jewel of our festivals is fast approaching, the Labor Day weekend is right around the corner and “The Gathering of the Clans” is thundering down upon us. Many hours of work, phone calls, personal visits and the usual begging have taken place by many individuals and with time short the call for help goes throughout the land. Once again the more the merrier, it takes a lot of folks not only to plan and organize this event but also to insure the event runs smoothly and that requires bodies. So I say to you if you want to help us out by volunteering at the Gathering of the Clans and enjoy the festival at the same time, SIS, COA and The Festival Committee needs you!  Come and enjoy and help us celebrate our proud Celtic Heritage. See Ya There!!

 

Bill Knight

President/SIS

 

 

 

 

 

Your Input Needed

            This newsletter would be far more interesting with your input:  news, events, culture, history, photos, new Celtic businesses, anything.  Submit your articles in MS Word doc and photos in jpg format.  E-mail to info@BlackHillsCelticEvents.org .

 

 

 

 

 

We welcome any Scottish or Irish trivia from any member.  Please submit your thoughts to Info@BlackHillsCelticEvents.org

or contact Pat Hamilton, newsletter editor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This will be a regular feature of our Newsletter with your help.  Please share any of your favorite Celtic Shopping locations with our Newsletter editor, Pat Hamilton.  Send any suggestions to info@BlackHillsCelticEvents.org .

 

Dream Shoes (Bald Mountain):  http://www.DreamShoes.com/ 

They have great sandals and shoes for both men and women.

 

Pyramid Collection:  http://www.PyramidCollection.com/

Clothing, jewelry, goblets (mail-order catalog available)

 

Creative Irish Gifts: www.ShopIrish.com

Clothing, trinkets, jewelry, caps, mugs (mail-order catalog available)

 

Cashs of Ireland:  www.cashs.com

Dishes, glassware, clothing (mail-order catalog available)

 

Shannon:  www.ShopShannon.com

Clothing, trinkets, glasses (mail-order catalog available)

 

Sofi’s Stitches:  http://www.sofisstitches.com/ 

Medieval and renaissance clothing

 

Gael Song:  http://www.gaelsong.com/ 

 (mail-order catalog available)

 

Celtic Croft:  www.kilts-n-stuff.com

Kilts, clothing, jewelry, etc (mail-order catalog available)

 

The Celtic Shop:  http://CelticShopDunedin.com

This is our old friend Coleen Coble’s web site.  Check out her wide assortment.

 

 

 

 

Program:

Mike Johnston shared some very interesting facts about the history of the Celts and led an animated discussion.  He tantalized us with the prospect of an upcoming book he wants to publish on the origins and purpose of Stonehenge that he and his brother have worked on.  We hope to have him back in the future.

 

No formal business was conducted (both our esteemed President, Bill and Secretary, Heather were absent).  Overview of discussion follows.

 

1.        Old Business

a.        Storage Locker – OK’d Carole to pay periodically (quarterly, semi-annually or annually)

b.        Shared the need to find another venue for the Burns Dinner (Moose Lodge was suggested).  Folks are keeping their ‘thinking caps’ on.

2.        New Business

a.        New flags and stands – no action taken.  Don’t need immediately, but should budget to replace

b.        Heather & Darrin’s wedding – group voted to support their potluck wedding reception idea; tentative date is November 3, 2007.

 

Submitted by Gary Hamilton (willing substitute)

 

 

 

 

1.  Old business

    A.  Festival Business. 8 venders.  Working on keeping the food cost low.  The hospitality tent will have our brochures.   We can   combine our information with the hospitality tent but SIS needs its own tent.

    B.  Venue for the Burne's dinner.  Canyon Lake Chophouse is not suitable.  Eagle's Club.  Alex Johnson Ballroom?  Heather will check the cost.  If we get a block of rooms we may be able to get a better rate. About 100 people expected.  Quality Inn?  

   C.  Flags and banners need to be replaced.  We will speak with Siaryn. 

 

2.  New Business

   A.  Tartan Ball could still be combined with Samhain. 

   B.   Heritage and Celtic Festival merger?  It sounds like a good idea.  We would need a fair representation of all of the cultures around here.

C. Pat wouldn't mind help with the newsletter.

 

3. Standing Business

   A.  Fund Raising and membership drive and active members.  We want to get new members and to get our members involved.  Would college kids want the experience of helping us out?  I would like to see some older adults and seniors in our group.

 

August Program:  the role of the Irish in the wars.

 

Next board meeting at Jim Byrnes Office

 

Submitted by Heather Payden

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

President                 Bill Knight info@BlackHillsCelticEvents.org  

Vice President         John Burke

Secretary                 Heather Payden (Sally Knight, co-secretary)

Treasurer                 Carole Conrad

Board Members      Aliyah Sanders, Kerry Smith, Jim Byrne, James Marrs, Paul Smith

Past President         Gary Hamilton

Membership           Sally Knight

Web Site                  Gary Hamilton

Newsletter              Pat Hamilton, info@BlackHillsCelticEvents.org  

If you would like to contribute an article or story, list an event, submit a photo, etc. to the newsletter, please email the item to me by the 5th of each month.