2016 event program here - Celtic Festival and Highland Games

Celtic Festival and Highland Games
of the Quad Cities
September 16-17, 2016
www.celtichighlandgames.org
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Sponsors
Sponsors
Friends of the Festival
The Celtic Cultures Alliance of the Quad Cities
and the planning committee for the Celtic
Festival and Highland Games of the Quad Cities
would like to thank all of our sponsors, without
whom this event would not be possible.
Kyle Hans
Mark McVey
Ken Ohr
Sandy Swanson
Andrew Thomas
Chick and Ty Thompson
Platinum Graphics
Colona Chiropractic
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Schedule
Celtic Festival and Highland Games Schedule
Friday
Beornve Belegarth medieval Combat Society
Blacksmithing Demonstrations
Family Activities
Third Iowa Cavalry
Clan Displays
Vendor Booths
Exorna
Turas
Strongman Demonstrations
Truck Pull for QC Operation Military Kids
Davenport Library Celtic Heritage Trail
Barrule
Living History
Living History
Family Area
Living History
Vendor Area
Vendor Area
Main Stage
Main Stage
Athletics Area
Vendor Area
Workshops Tent
Main Stage
3:00PM
3:00PM
3:00PM
3:00PM
3:00PM
3:00PM
3:00PM
5:00PM
5:15PM
5:30PM
6:00PM
7:00PM
7:00PM
7:00PM
7:00PM
7:00PM
6:00PM
6:00PM
4:30PM
6:30PM
7:30PM
7:30PM
7:00PM
9:00PM
Living History
Living History
Living History
Living History
Vendor Area
Family Area
Athletics Area
Athletics Area
Vendor Area
Family Area
Main Stage
Workshops Tent
Workshops Tent
Dance Tent
Animals Field
Vendor Area
Main Stage
Workshops Tent
Dance Tent
Dance Tent
Animals Field
Dance Tent
Vendor Area
Family Area
Dance Tent
Dance Tent
Athletics Area
Main Stage
Workshops Tent
Dance Tent
Dance Tent
Animals Field
Workshops Tent
Dance Tent
Dance Tent
Vendor Area
Main Stage
Workshops Tent
Dance Tent
Animals Field
Dance Tent
Workshops Tent
Dance Tent
Dance Tent
Main Stage
Main Stage
9:00AM
9:00AM
9:00AM
9:00AM
9:00AM
9:00AM
9:00AM
9:00AM
9:00AM
9:00AM
9:00AM
9:00AM
10:00AM
10:00AM
10:00AM
10:30AM
11:00AM
11:00AM
11:00AM
11:30AM
11:30AM
12:00PM
12:00PM
12:30PM
12:30PM
12:45PM
1:00PM
1:00PM
1:00PM
1:00PM
1:30PM
1:30PM
2:00PM
2:00PM
2:30PM
2:30PM
3:00PM
3:00PM
3:00PM
3:00PM
3:30PM
4:00PM
4:00PM
4:30PM
5:00PM
7:00PM
7:00PM
7:00PM
6:00PM
6:00PM
5:00PM
5:00PM
5:00PM
5:00PM
5:00PM
11:30AM
10:30AM
10:00AM
11:00AM
10:30AM
10:30AM
11:15PM
12:30PM
12:00PM
11:30AM
12:00PM
12:00PM
12:30PM
12:30PM
2:00PM
12:45PM
1:00PM
4:00PM
2:30PM
2:00PM
1:30PM
2:00PM
2:00PM
2:30PM
2:30PM
3:00PM
3:15PM
4:30PM
4:00PM
3:30PM
3:30PM
4:00PM
5:00PM
4:30PM
5:00PM
6:30PM
9:00PM
Saturday
Blacksmithing Demonstrations
Third Iowa Cavalry
Beornve Belegarth medieval Combat Society
Society for Creative Anachronisms
Clan Displays
Family Activities
Scottish Heavy Athletics Competition
Special Highland Games
Vendor Booths
Pony Rides
Lilywren
Introduction to Hammered Dulcimer
Davenport Library Celtic Heritage Trail
Introduction to Highland Dance
Sheep Herding Demonstration
Black Hawk Pipes and Drums
The Beggarmen
Introduction to Irish Language
Introduction to Highland Dance
Iowa State University Celtic Dance Society
Sheep Herding Demonstration
Introduction to Highland Dance
Parade of Tartans
Pony Rides
Celtic Princess Contest
Bonnie Knees Contest
Tug of War Competition
The Gothard Sisters
Introduction to Bagpipes
Iowa State University Celtic Dance Society
Champagne Academy of Irish Dance
Sheep Herding Demonstration
Introduction to Highland Dance
Laural Almquist
Colleen’s School of Clogging and Celtic Dance
Black Hawk Pipes and Drums
Barrule
Introduction to Irish Language
Laural Almquist
Sheep Herding Demonstration
Champagne Academy of Irish Dance
Introduction to Hammered Dulcimer
Laural Almquist
Mayer School of Irish Dance
Exorna
Wylde Nept
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Athletics
Clachneart & Braemar Stone
These ancient events are evolved into the modern
day shot-put. A stone is used instead of a steel ball.
The stone must be 'put' from the front of the
shoulder using only one hand. The contestants are
judged on the longest of the three throws.
A 16 to 22 pound stone is used for the Clachneart,
which allows a seven-and-a-half foot run-up to a toeboard. The Braemar stone is a standing throw using
a heavier, 22 to 30 pound stone.
Sheaf Toss
The Sheaf Toss uses a hay fork to toss a 16 to 20
pond sheaf (burlap bag full of twine) for height.
Competitors can launch the sheaf over 30 feet in the
air. An unusual aspect of this event is that any
competitor may use any other competitor’s fork. The
highest toss wins. It can be easily believed that this
event comes from farmer tradition of launching
sheafs of grain into the loft of a barn.
Weight Toss
Weight Throw
This event is often called the Test of Champions as
it is usually the last contested and tests the athlete’s
endurance and mental fortitude to dig down and find
that little extra. The 56 pound weight used for
distance event is also tossed for height. This event is
periodically appears in the World Strongest Man
Competition. With heights thrown over 15 feet, this
event is akin to throwing a car battery onto a
highway overpass. The highest toss wins.
Scottish Weight throws are the origin of the NCAA
track weight throw. The weight throw was also
contested in the Olympics until the 1920 Games. A
heavy (56 lbs) and light (28 lbs) metal implement is
thrown for distance. The weight is thrown onehanded from behind the toe board with a nine-foot
run up allowed. Any style may be used, but the most
popular and efficient is to spin like a discus thrower.
The contestants are judged on the longest of the
three throws.
Chiropractic Services to Heavy
Athletics provided by
Dr. Jennifer Levan of Natural Health
Improvement Center of the Quad Cities
Massage Therapy Services to
Heavy Athletics provided by
Marge Gast, of NuLooks Day Spa
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Athletics
Caber Toss
The Caber Toss is the signature event of heavy
Athletics. This event requires raw strength, balance,
and coordination to pick up a 15-20 foot tall tapered
pole weighing 90 to 140 pounds and flipping it end
over end. This event is done for accuracy not
distance or height. The best turn of the caber is
when the smaller end held by the competitor is
propelled end over end and lands directly away from
the competitor as if it was a clock hand pointing at
12:00.
Hammer Throw
The Scottish hammer is metal ball weighing 16 or 22
pounds (9 and 12 pounds for women) on a 50-inch
long shaft and is thrown for distance. The
contestants are judged on the longest of three
throws. The hammer is thrown over the shoulder
with the competitors back facing the field. The
hammer is whirled in circles about the competitor’s
body from over his head to down in front of his feet,
each time picking up speed until the release.
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Living History
Beornve Medieval
Combat
Beornve is a Realm of the Belegarth Medieval
Combat Society located in the Quad Cities (Iowa/
Illinois). This sport is intended to recreate Medieval
fighting in such a way it is safe, fun, easy to learn,
and easy to play. Belegarth is a FULL contact sport
using foam based weapons that meet a strict safety
standard.
Blacksmithing
Mitch, with iron running in his veins, has been
blacksmithing for over 20 years. An engineer by
day, he believes that blacksmithing is what he
was put on earth to do. His continuing education
with many smiths over the years has inspired
him to teach aspiring and experienced smiths
alike.
The Society for Creative
Anachronism
The Society for Creative Anachronism is an international
organization dedicated to researching and re-creating the
arts and skills of pre-17th-century Europe. Our “Known
World” consists of 20 kingdoms, with over 30,000
members residing in countries around the world.
Members, dressed in clothing of the Middle Ages and
Renaissance, attend events which feature tournaments,
royal courts, feasts, dancing, various classes &
workshops, and more.
3rd Iowa Cavalry
Our unit, portrays the troopers of Company D,
one of the twelve companies of the Third Iowa
Cavalry Volunteer Regiment. We have those
with horse (mounted) and those without
(dismounted). At events we portray a garrison
style camp, so you'll find the trooper's ladies,
wives and children in camp as well.
Our unit is one that reveals what is sometime
hidden within the folds of history. Within one of
those folds, you'll find the woman soldier. Our
unit strives to honor that woman soldier and her
service to her country. We do our best to blend
in with the boys. At events, we try to maintain a living history environment within our camp to use as
a medium to help educate people on the lifestyle and conditions of the 1860's. Such as open fire
cooking, care and firing of period weapons, maintenance of equpiment and uniforms, sewing, even
period card and children games. Not quite sure what we mean by, "maintain a living history
environment", well to best explain it, a Living Historian, is an amateur historian who interprets and
teaches in a whole new way. As a living historian, you become that soldier or civilian, a time
traveler so to speak. And as you go through the day to day activities as they would of done back
then, you teach with the 5 senses: sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste. Which can leave a
haunting impression of life during the Civil War, upon those who experience it at an event.
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Family
Family Activities
Celtic Princess Contest
Visit the family activities tent for a variety of kidfriendly Celtic fun! Take some time to decorate
sugar cookies. Craft your very own sword and
shield to take with you. The Celtic Mini-Highland
Games will be featured this year, be sure to
bring the little ones by to try their hand at the
min-caber toss, stone throw, and sheaf toss.
Ride ponies with the Quad Cities Pony Club,
and get your face painted while waiting in line.
For girls 13 and younger. Dress in your
Celtic finest! The winner will be chosen
based off of whoever best embodies the
Celtic spirit. Winner will receive crown,
scepter, sash and will be in the parade of
tartans in 2016! The Celtic Princess Contest
will be held on the Dance Tent Stage
starting at 12:30 pm.
Celtic Festival and
Highland Games
Bonnie Knees Contest
Come Back Next Year
September 15-16, 2017
Centennial Park
Davenport, IA
www.celtichighlandgames.org
Sheep Herding
Come watch a demonstration of the art of sheep
herding by Claycreek Farm. A well-trained
herding dog works in partnership with its handler
and obeys commands to perform its job.
Properly trained, the dog is able to move the
sheep just about anywhere. Good herding dogs
control sheep with calm authority and without
excessive "commotion." A poorly trained dog
has the opposite effect on the sheep.
In this competition, the contestants will be
be hidden with only their legs showing and a
winner will be chosen by applause. The
bonnie knees contest has become a regular
part of many worldwide Scottish games
competitions in a number of countries. The
Bonnie Knees Contest will be held on the
Dance Tent Stage starting at 12:45 pm. All
participants must be 21 or older.
Black Hawk
Pipes and Drums
of the Quad Cities
THE BAND began in 2000, under the initial
sponsorship of the Scottish American Society of the
Quad Cities and we are now in our thirteenth year of
parades and concerts in the Iowa/ Illinois region
known as the "Quad Cities" and other surrounding
communities.
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Dance
Colleen’s Clogging and Celtic
Colleen's Clogging & Celtic (C3) is a group of dancers
who perform the beautiful, fun, and energizing styles of
Irish Step Dance, Scottish Sword Dance and American
Clogging. Colleen’s teaches its dancers the fun and
beautiful dance traditions of Irish Step Dancing, Highland
Sword Dancing, and American Clogging. Our dancers
have performed at private and community events, semipro basketball halftime shows, in Walt Disney World, and
have traveled across the Midwest and toured Ireland
performing live in concert with Celtic music duo
Switchback. Our dancers have won many awards in
national competitions.
Champagne Academy of Irish
Dance
Champagne Academy of Irish Dance is a
performing Irish dance school located in Iowa
City, Iowa with lessons for both children and
adults. Though a new school, they have already
had the pleasure to work with both local and
international
performers
such
as:
The
Beggarmen, PaddyMac, Lunasa, Gaelic Storm,
Cara Butler, and The Chieftains.
Mayer School of Irish Dance
Brother and sister, John and Mary Mayer, started the
Mayer School of Irish Dancing in 1980. Today the
Mayer School of Irish Dancing has over 250 students
in 4 states. Our dancers perform at many functions
throughout the year, such as festivals, weddings,
nursing homes, sporting events and many more. Many
of our students actively compete as well - at the local,
National and International levels. We are proud to say
that our dancers have won regional and national titles,
as well as place at the World Championships each
year.
ISU Celtic Dance Society
The Celtic Dance Society is an organization
whose members share an interest in Irish Ceili
and Scottish Country and other traditional
dances and music of the British Isles. The Celtic
Dance Society is registered as a student
organization with the Iowa State University
Student Organizations and Activities Center.
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Colleen’s photo
Entertainment
The Beggarmen
The Beggarmen have been known as one of the
region’s best Irish music ensembles for over a
decade. Since their first performance at a small
pub in Iowa, the band has gone on to headline
at folk festivals and concert halls throughout the
Midwest, greeting audiences with their unique
style of Irish folk music.
The Beggarmen
features Brad Pouleson, Keith Reins, Tara
McGovern, and Joe Dutcher"
Lilywren
The band Lilywren is a group of 4-6 people that
plays traditional Celtic music on a wide variety of
instruments from hurdy-gurdys to bodhrans.
They started playing in Mount Vernon 3 years ago
under the name Celtic Mosh Pit. There are four core
members (plus an occasional hammer dulcimer
player) who play fiddle, guitar, flute, bouzouki,
bodhran, hurdy gurdy, mandolin, banjo, and tin
whistle. Their music is a mixture of traditional music
from the British Isles and beyond.
Turas
Meaning trip or journey in Gaelic, Turas is, a
journey of friends who gather to share songs,
stories, and good times (what the Irish call
craic).
Playing a wide variety of Irish/Celtic
music, Turas never fails to deliver on good
music and good times. So sit back, draw
yourself a pint, and join us in the journey.
Laural Almquist
Laural first heard the harp when she was 4 while in
Chicago. Instantly there was a connection. She told
her grandma that someday "she wanted to play
angel wing music". She started playing at the age of
10. Don't let this 16 year old fool you. She is
becoming an accomplished Harpist. Last year,
Laural auditioned for IMEA, and competed against
several other harpists and got the role as Harpist in
an advanced Student Orchestra. Her highlight of
2015 so far was producing her first CD, which is
currently being edited and polished.
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Entertainment
The Gothard Sisters
Over the course of nearly 1,000 shows since they formed
as a Celtic band in 2006, The Gothard Sisters – who are
truly sisters – have become internationally recognized as
multi-instrumentalist Celtic-influenced folk musicians,
songwriters, and performers from the Pacific Northwest,
USA.
Regularly performing more than 120 shows a year, the
Gothard Sisters have built a loyal following by connecting
with audiences in a lively, entertaining and touching way.
In 2013, the Irish Music Awards presented the Gothard
Sisters with Best New Irish Artist, and they were awarded
with Album of the Year for Celtic Radio in 2011 for their
with Album of the Year for Celtic Radio in 2011 for their album Story Girl. In addition to their musical endeavors, each of
the sisters are highly trained in competitive Irish dance, bringing the heart-pounding rhythms of Ireland to their live
shows for a dynamic surprise to keep the audience at the edge of their seats.
The Gothard Sisters
The Gothard Sisters
The Gothard Sisters pay respect to old traditions with folk instruments, while infusing them with a radiant joy and
reintroducing them through beautiful new arrangements. Although much of the sisters’ inspiration comes with a distinct
Celtic flair, hints of their western American heritage can be heard in what Irish Central calls “an earthiness that gives the
songs a lively, approachable, down-home sound.” Firmly rooted in Classical and Folk music from a young age, Greta,
Willow and Solana Gothard have each developed skills on multiple instruments to express their musical ideas. “We are
on a never ending path of musical discovery,” says Greta Gothard. “Where will it lead? Anywhere is fine with me as long
as we stay true to ourselves and our authentic style.” “What I love about Celtic music is how it is filled with such hope,”
says Willow Gothard. “Even though the songs may be about low or difficult times, there is always that underlying
optimism that is completely infectious and lifts the spirits. It’s wonderful!”
Exorna
Front man Victor McMullan grew up singing with his friends in the pubs of Northern Ireland, and he
understands that when people spend their hard-earned money on a night out, they want to have a good
time; they want to laugh, sing, and be part of the show. For a decade, Exorna has been leaving people
with smiles on their faces, playing music that is authentic and down to earth, singing songs loaded with
humor and sentimentality, fiddlling tunes Irish dancers can dance to, and doing it all on traditional
instruments. Victor and his crew are keeping alive a truly vanishing art form, and have practiced their craft
at pubs, festivals, wakes, public television, and everywhere in between!
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Entertainment
Barrule
Steeped in the history and mythology of its Celtic and
Viking ancestry, the Isle of Man sits quietly in the Irish
Sea. Continuously self-governed since its parliament was
created by Viking invaders over a thousand years ago,
few people outside the Isle of Man know of this singular
culture: a language and music so nearly lost, born through
recent generations on the tongues of a mere handful of
families, it now grows strong again.
On the South of the island lies a summit scarred by the
ruins of a once imposing iron-age hill fort. The old stories
claim that atop this peak, named 'South Barrule', the
Celtic God Manannan Mac Lir once dwelt, casting out his
cloak of mist to shelter the island and its people from invasion. This inspirational landscape embodies the powerful and
striking experience of Barrule in concert.
A fusion of three distinct musical forces – Mabon front-man and accordion wizard Jamie Smith, gifted young fiddleplayer Tomas Callister and versatile accompanist Adam Rhodes (Mabon) on bouzouki – Barrule's fresh approach to
traditional Manx music evokes an atmosphere that reflects the diverse natural beauty of the island: from rousing
marches, jigs and reels to sorrowful slow airs and beautiful songs sung in both English and the Manx Gaelic language.
Stories are told of ancient Celtic Gods, of unrequited love, of the toils of island life. And always the sea is close by.
Formed in 2012, Barrule’s three legs have hit the ground running with major festival appearances including Celtic
Connections, WOMAD Charlton Park, Sidmouth Folk Festival, Festival Interceltique de Lorient and the National Celtic
Festival in Melbourne. Their debut self-titled album won many plaudits and has been awarded ‘Best Debut’ in the Spiral
Earth awards 2014. Recorded in the historic St. Bridget's Chapel on the Isle of Man's Nunnery grounds, the trio's hotly
anticipated second album Manannan's Cloak was released in May 2015.
Wylde Nept
Wylde Nept was started when a few of the guys found each other during a camping trip at a Celtic music festival and
have been playing ever since. Their music, primarily inspired by traditional folk, is lively, fun and sure get your face
smiling and foot tapping. Seemingly with out effort this band is able to take a crowded room of people from all different
back grounds and ages and transport them all to a different place. The music starts and people seem to forget about
their daily problems and issues and raise a glass with someone they may or may not even know and begin to sing along
to an Irish tune. They have been called a folk band, rock band, and have even opened for Fog Hat once upon a time.
But they don’t just perform the music, or try to re-create the songs how they may have originally been presented.
Instead they capture the feeling behind the songs and do an incredible job at putting it to music and sucking in the
audience.
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