“The time has come,” the walrus said, “to talk of many things; Of shoes and ships – and sealing wax – of cabbages and kings” and, with apologies to Lewis Carroll, of my retirement plans. After 6 ½ years as Editor of Celtic News, it is time for me to go. This edition is the last issue of Celtic News.

It has been an immense privilege to edit this Newsletter. Of course, I could not have done this without the support of Pat Lonergan and the creativity of Julie Clement at Glen Innes Services Club. Thanks also to Garry Kiefer for being such a great generator of ideas.

To all of the wonderful people who have contributed to Celtic News, an enormous Thank You! Last, but certainly not least, thank you to all of you who have read this Newsletter.

This edition of Celtic News is traditionally the one that features all of the photographs from The Australian Celtic Festival. You will find them scattered throughout the Newsletter.

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And it’s all over for another year. I must say that I saw and heard three nights of fabulous music over the Festival weekend. As always, Murphy’s Pigs provided rollicking good fun and entertainment. The Piglets, the touring dance troupe who are part of the Cape Byron Dance Group, added that extra element to the show.

Seeing Darren Coggan on the Saturday night was a highlight. I think he enjoyed making a cameo appearance with Murphy’s Pigs after his solo set as well.

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I’m starting to count down sleeps until the Celtic Festival weekend. After so much disruption, it feels really good to be able to look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones in an atmosphere of great music and culture.

You will find all the latest on the Australian Celtic Fringe Festival in this Newsletter. The theatrical and art gallery activity in this area continues to astound me. There is so much to see and do. I have included performance details by a number of musicians, of course.

The most recent event in Glen Innes was GlenFest which is one of two events to be held by this group in 2021. Here is their report.

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It has been quite a while since I have been able to send you a monthly update on items of interest. Let’s hope this is a sign that we are getting back to a more normal cultural life.

I am writing this introduction on 6th March, the day after the tsunami warning in New Zealand. In my in-box this morning was the information about Medieval Madness from the hard-working Allie Fry who said in her email “Crazy day here with earthquakes, tsunami warnings and evacuations. We are elevated so fed, watered and toileted a lot of extra people today. It was good to be able to help, and no harm done anywhere in the end. Never a dull moment!” All I can say is well done! The information and poster are a bit later in this Newsletter.

Thanks also must go to Alastair Kneale, President of the London Manx Society, for his very interesting article on St Columba. This is of particular interest since we are celebrating Ireland and The Isle of Man at the year’s Celtic Fringe Festival.

I have all the latest on the Australian Celtic Fringe Festival for this Newsletter. In addition, there are several theatrical events, as well as art exhibitions to tell you about. Of course, there is a lot of music as well. I do hope you find lots to see and do after reading this edition. First up, some Gig information.

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Welcome to a new year. Even though the pandemic continues to impact many events, there are several new things to tell you about this year.

I have also seen an interesting snippet posted by Colin Edwards of Platform 9¾. This was completely new to me. Henry Stanley, famous for the line “Dr Livingstone, I presume?” was Welsh by birth.

Henry Morton Stanley was born John Rowlands on 28th January 1841 in Denbigh. He was a journalist and explorer, famous for his search for David Livingstone and his part in the European colonisation of Africa.

His parents were not married, and he was brought up in a workhouse, so in 1859, he left for America as a worker on a ship. Jumping ship in New Orleans, he decided to change his name. He fought on both sides in the American Civil War, before becoming a journalist with the New York Herald, persuading the paper’s editor to commission him to go to Africa to find David Livingstone, who he located on Lake Tanganyika on 10th November 1871. It was his reports on this expedition that made him famous.

Stanley went on to explore vast areas of central Africa, following the Congo River from its source to the sea and with the support of King Leopold II of Belgium. He returned with plans to develop the region and worked to open the lower Congo to commerce by the construction of roads, although his methods of using forced labour during this time have stained his reputation in recent histories. On his return to Europe in 1890, he began a worldwide lecture tour. He became the Member of Parliament for Lambeth and was knighted in 1899. He died in London on 10th May 1904.

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2020 has been a momentous year, bookended by bushfires and floods. My heart goes out to all of you who have copped both.

COVID-19 continues to impact us all, even with the eased restrictions, but I do have some events to tell you all about.

I recently received an email from Dicky Deegan – 2020 International Celtic Artist.

Julien Temple (director) and Johnny Depp (co producer) have just produced a new film on Shane McGowan called ‘A Crock of Gold – a few rounds with Shane McGowan’. The film was released worldwide on 7th December.

Dicky’s Uilleann Pipe playing features several times through the first part of the film. He recorded the Uilleann Pipes for the Crock of Gold movie last year in London shortly after returning from the Festival Interceltique in Lorient, Brittany, France.

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It seems such a long time since I last sent your Celtic News. COVID 19 restrictions are slowly changing with the latest announcement allowing up to 500 people at an outdoor event. This announcement has come too late for the Tamworth Country Music Festival, which has been cancelled, as has the Toyota Star Maker competition.

Restrictions are altering planning for our own Australian Celtic Festival and the Australian Celtic Music Awards. Please keep up to date by following both on their websites. I am sure that there will be further developments as we go forward.

There are some “green shoots” beginning to show in the arts scene. I have included everything that I am currently aware of, but please do let me know of any other developments that you come across, so that we can share with everybody.

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Due to Covid 19 restrictions having such a huge affect on the entertainment industry, the Australian Celtic Music Awards will not be presented in May 2021.

Our research shows a large number of artists won’t have items ready for nomination for the 2021 awards.

As we would like to support our Celtic artists during this difficult time, awards management has decided to hold off awards judging until the following year.

To continue our support, The Glen Innes Services Club will instead hold an extra concert on the Saturday night in place of the Awards Dinner in 2021.

Please watch the website for updates.

I had really hoped that by the time this issue was ready, I would be able to report our lives were returning to COVID-normal, but it was not to be. My heart goes out to all of our friends in Victoria and in New South Wales who are being so badly affected.

Of course, between the restrictions imposed by State governments and the closed borders that are now common, most live music is still cancelled, along with several events. So, unfortunately, this Newsletter is pretty much a list of events that have been cancelled or postponed.

As always, there are some bright spots including the very appropriate Glen Innes Art Gallery exhibition, titled Disaster. This really has been a year to endure rather than enjoy.

Let’s start with the cancelled or postponed events.

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I must admit that I have started to write this Newsletter several times. Every time that I feel that I have a handle on the current restrictions, they change! I don’t know how much else will change between preparing this edition and publishing it. Please forgive me if I am out of date by then.

While we are still waiting for life as we knew it to resume, it doesn’t mean that nothing at all is happening. The Australian Celtic Music Awards were presented on line on Saturday 2nd May. Check out the website for the full experience.

On Saturday 6th July, I went out to dinner for the first time since March. Even with social distancing it felt so civilised. The meal at the Hereford Steakhouse was great and the entertainment, by Christine Davis, was terrific. I have really missed live music.

If you have missed Glen Innes as much as we have missed you why not join us for Christmas in July at the Hereford Steakhouse on 25th July. A 3 course Christmas dinner with entertainment by The Mystery Dogs is $50 per person.

At this stage, tickets are limited, so book now on 02 6732 2255.

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Winners List
New Celtic Talent of the Year
Limerick
International Artist of the Year
Dicky Deegan
Celtic Instrumental of the Year
String Loaded for Cock of the North/100 Pipers/Bonny Dundee
Celtic Song of the Year
Ella Roberts for Siuil a Ruin
Celtic Group of the Year
String Loaded Celtic Fiddle Band
Celtic Album of the Year
Sadie & Jay for A Passing Of Seasons
Celtic Album Producer of the Year
Alan Kelly & Mark Paltridge for Irishtown
Celtic Female Artist of the Year
Ella Roberts
Celtic Male Artist of the Year
Peter Miller
Australian Celtic Artist of the Year
String Loaded Celtic Fiddle Band

Click on images to view in lightbox

Celtic Song of the Year
Ella Roberts for Siuil a Ruin – Finalist
Ella Roberts for Errigal – Finalist
String Loaded for Wild Mountain Thyme – Finalist

Celtic Album of the Year
Barleyshakes for Irishtown – Finalist
Sadie & Jay for A Passing Of Seasons – Finalist
String Loaded for Continuous Line – Finalist

International Artist of the Year
Sophie Mosser – Finalist
Dicky Deegan – Finalist
Celkilt – Finalist
Clan Celtica – Finalist

Celtic Group of the Year
Limerick – Finalist
Gone Molly – Finalist
String Loaded – Finalist

Celtic Album Producer of the Year
Alan Kelly & Mark Paltridge for Irishtown – Finalist
Raymond Blissett for Continuous Line – Finalist
Peter Miller for Simplicity – Finalist

Celtic Female Artist of the Year
Gabi Blissett – Finalist
Ella Roberts – Finalist
Norma O’Hara Murphy – Finalist

Celtic Male Artist of the Year
Stu Tyrrell – Finalist
Michael Fix – Finalist
Peter Miller – Finalist

Celtic Instrumental of the Year
String Loaded for Cock of the North/100 Pipers/Bonny Dundee – Finalist
Peter Miller for Road To Ardfield – Finalist
Barleyshakes for Jessica’s – Finalist

Winners to be announced May 2nd 2020

Even though the Australian Celtic Awards Dinner is not going ahead due to the COVID-19 restrictions, the Celtic Music Awards management team would still like to announce the finalists and award the winners via the website

Finalists to be announced April 16th 2020

Winners to be announced May 2nd 2020

Good luck to all the nominees

Stay safe and well

(Please note: In the event of total lock down these announcements may be delayed)

Sadly, I must now tell you that the 2020 Australian Celtic Festival has been cancelled, due to the COVID 19 virus. If you have already purchased tickets, you will be contacted soon to have your refund processed.

Of course, the Australian Celtic Festival is not the only one to be impacted. Following is a list of all the other cancellations that I am aware of at this moment in time:-

• Bundanoon is Brigadoon has been postponed until later in the year
• Ringwood Highland Games has been postponed until October
• Australian Pipe Band Championships, Maryborough, VIC have been postponed until October
• Maclean Highland Gathering has been cancelled
• Scottish Week in Sydney is under review
• Blue Mountains Music festival has been cancelled
• Yackandandah Folk Festival has been cancelled
• Fairbridge Festival has been postponed until October
• National Folk Festival – awaiting an announcement
• National Celtic Festival – awaiting an announcement
• Eleanor McEvoy’s Australian Tour has been cancelled
• Moshe’s Bagel Tour has been cancelled
• Colum Sands Tour is awaiting an announcement

The Australian Celtic Music Awards

Judging is well underway for the 2020 Australian Celtic Music Awards. I will be able to give you more information soon about the arrangements that we will make around presenting the Awards and letting you all know who the Finalists and Winners are.

In the short term we are all very disappointed that we won’t be seeing you in May. However, rest assured that we will be back again, bigger and better than ever, in 2021.

We are, of course, now on the countdown to The Australian Celtic Music Awards and The Australian Celtic Festival so you will find a whole lot of news and profiles in this month’s edition. That certainly doesn’t mean that there isn’t a massive amount of other stuff to tell you about as well. I hope that you find lots of interest to you.
 
Many of you will remember the beautiful photograph of the bushfire which I published back in December. Well, it was a beautiful photograph, even if the subject matter was terrifying. The photographer, Will Redden, has told me that photograph was published in the January edition of Racing NSW Magazine.
 
Will has also recently been exhibited in the exhibition “The Beauty of Earth” at the Blank Wall Gallery, in Athens, Greece (28th February to 1st March).

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Wow! We’ve had rain. It is quite amazing to see how quickly it greens up, but I think we’re all a bit cautious and not celebrating too soon. For some of you, it may have been too much of a good thing, with local flooding. It’s a little strange to think that last month we were worrying about fires, most of which are now out, and now we’re awash with water.

There’s a huge amount happening once again this month. Let’s Go Dancing is back for the New Year. There are more profiles of Celtic Festival performers and Australian Celtic Music Awards Nominees.

This month’s Newsletter has a distinctly Irish flavour, which is appropriate given that the Australian Celtic Festival is celebrating the Year of Ireland and The Isle of Man. Information about the Annual Symposium at the Festival has been provided by Nigel Brown.

So with no more ado…………

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I hope that, for most of you, it has indeed been a happy New Year. I have spoken to a couple of regular Celtic News readers who have been impacted by the current disastrous bushfires. All that I can say to you is that we wish you well. Please stay safe!

Despite fires burning across the country, there is still a great deal happening out there. So take a little time to go out and have some fun.

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Many of you will remember the excitement as we prepared for and delivered Outlandish 2018 Outlander Fan Gathering in October last year. We had a wonderful time, but more importantly so did the 600 Attendees at he event. Outlandish proved an international tourism success with people coming, not only from all over Australia, but from New Zealand, the USA, Germany, Scotland and Afghanistan. This outstanding event couldn’t have taken place without the resources and support of Glen Innes Services Club.

The Club’s submission for the ClubsNSW Clubs and Community Awards was accepted a few months ago. I am delighted to announce that Outlandish 2018 won the Award in their category of Arts and Culture. Several members of the Team were able to attend the event in Sydney on 2nd November.

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Last month, I wrote about the Peter Allen Festival in Tenterfield, which was held during the weekend on which the major fires in that district had started. Unfortunately it has continued to be a dire situation in the Northern New England.

We have finally had a decent rainfall event so most fires are now well and truly under control. This month I have news of two events that are supporting the residents of our area who have been impacted by drought, as well as raising funds for the organisations that are giving practical aid.

Why not attend both of these events and make a weekend of it? This is a practical and enjoyable way to demonstrate your support for our communities.

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It’s been a busy month here in the Northern New England area. One of the nicest things that happened during the month was a call from Al Buchan of fRETfEST, following on from the story about the statue in Ayr. Turns out that Al was born in Ayr and he had quite a story to tell, so I’ve included that in this month’s newsletter.

Tenterfield hosted the Peter Allen Festival last weekend. Of course, that became a bit dicey with the town threatened by bushfires. But the show must go on, and it did, despite power outages and smoke-filled air. Tim Dillon from the Commercial Boutique Hotel, which was one of the focus points of the Festival, tells me that many of their guests on Saturday evening were locals who were really grateful that they could find a place to relax and have somebody else cook their meal after a stressful day. Well done to everybody in Tenterfield, not least our wonderful Fire Crews.

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I have received so much input for this month’s Newsletter. It’s really good to find out how much is going on around the place. First up here’s some news from Ayr in Queensland.

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There is a great deal to include in this month’s Newsletter. We are beginning a new article on the History of Scotland’s forests. I have found this article absolutely fascinating, especially as it relates to a period of climate induced deforestation exacerbated by man’s impact. There is a good news story, though when we get to the third section.

There’s another new column this month – Let’s Go Dancing. So many of you are interested in attending ceilidhs that it seems like a good idea to let you know about them And I have a little more news about the Irish and Celtic Festival in Yass as well. So with no more ado………….

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I love this edition. It allows me to bring you the flavour of the Festival in pictures. So let’s start with the Parade.

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It’s all over for another year. The Australian Celtic Festival weekend is inspiring, celebratory, entertaining, educational and exhausting! Congratulations to everybody who worked so hard to make it a reality.

We finally got some rain which might have put a dampener on the whole thing, but somebody must have got the message about “don’t rain on my parade” and the rain stopped three minutes before kick-off on Saturday morning!

It always takes a while to get all the photos in to show you all. I have a couple to add into this month’s edition but you can look forward to the photo edition in June.

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