1. Fall Preview
CRIDHE NA GHÀIDHLIG
(THE HEART OF GAELIC)
An t-Albannach had the opportunity to interview the
three Gaelic teachers at the Gaelic Song & Language
Week (July 6-11, 2014) at Grandfather Mountain, North
Carolina, and what an opportunity it was! Our intervie-
wees, Christine Primrose, Angus MacLeod, and Nicholas
Freer had many interesting insights to impart.
Christine is a well-known singer of Gaelic originally
from the town of Carloway on the Isle of Lewis, who now
lives on the Isle of Skye, and teaches at Sabhal Mòr Os-
taig, Angus MacLeod hails from Nova Scotia, Canada,
and Nicholas Freer, from Virginia.
We first asked if any of the teachers were native Gaelic
speakers, or if not, how did they come to learn the lan-
guage and manage to maintain it.
Christine said she was a native speaker of Gaelic.
“Where I grew up on the Isle of Lewis, the most north-
western island of Scotland, everyone in my family and in
my village spoke it. They did not teach Gaelic in school,”
until, she added, her own generation, when reading and
writing in Gaelic was taught.
Nicholas said that he came across Scottish Gaelic in his 20s,
when he was traveling in Scotland which inspired him to begin
learning it in 1988, floundered with limited material, then found
Catriona’s book (Gàidhlig Troimh Chomradh by Catriona Par-
sons, a Scottish singer and teacher now living in Nova Scotia)
and met her thereafter. He went to the summer sessions at the
Gaelic College in St. Anns, Nova Scotia for four years, and then
to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig’s summer sessions in 1995.
Angus MacLeod began learning to speak Gaelic in 1995. His
parents were native speakers, but they would never speak Gaelic
to the children. Nevertheless, Angus always had an interest in
the language. A desire ignited when he appeared in a kilt at the
San Diego Comic-Con and he met people who knew more about
his culture than he did. When he returned home to Nova Scotia,
he immediately set about to seriously study Gaelic.
While Christine is able to use Gaelic everyday as a native
speaker, the non-native speakers have to continually maintain
their Gaelic in various ways. Nicholas and two other acquain-
tances keep up the Gaelic, where he lives in Virginia, while
Angus said that living in Nova Scotia was an advantage, where
Gaelic is still spoken. Teaching helps all of the teachers keep up
the Gaelic with their students and themselves. Christine also
Scottish
Gaelic
Classes
start
Sept. 9th,
2014!
An t-Albannach Interviews Three Scottish Gaelic Teachers
An t-Albannach
The Newsletter of the New York Caledonian Club
August 2014
Left to right: Angus MacLeod, Christine Primrose, and Nicholas Freer.
PhotoCredit:B.L.Rice
Article continued on page 6
Kilted
Bowling
Oct. 4th,
2014!

2. the area, and we hope that we can get a large contingent to attend.
Our Scottish Studies Program begins in September, with three
classes in Gaelic.
The Club will have a tent at the Medieval Festival, at Fort Tryon
Park on Sunday September 28th
.
Our third Annual Kilted Bowling will be on October 4th
, at
FRAMES. This is a blast, and we sold out last year, so book early.
And last (for now) but not least, the Club will be attending the com-
edy show of Scottish-born comedian Danny Bhoy, on November 5th
.
Details on all these events are on the Club’s website, and will be
mailed to those without email.
I hope that we can see as many of our members as possible at these
events. It makes the Board feel that we are on the right track.
On a serious note, all these events and the planning and control of
everything that we do, requires volunteers. We are asking for your
help. If you would like to volunteer please drop us an email at volun-
teer@nycaledonian.org, or leave a message on the Club phone at 212-
662-1083.
Yours Aye;
Chief John
August 2014 www.nycaledonian.org Page 2 of 7
- Chief’s Letter -
HAIL FROM THE CHIEF
Chief John MacDonald
PhotoCourtesyofJohnMacDonald
The summer is half way over, and in truth, it
hasn’t been as bad as some recent ones. The
Caledonian Club continues to be very busy this
time of year.
We held our Annual General Meeting on June
22nd
. We said goodbye and thank you to outgo-
ing Director Dr. Ray Cooper, and welcomed new
Director Lee Harwell. Speaking of members of
the Board of Directors, long-time Director Dr.
George Chall will be leaving New York shortly, and with Victoria,
will be starting a new chapter of their lives in North Carolina.
Thank you George for everything, and here’s wishing them con-
tinued happiness, and many trips back to New York.
Three days after the A.G.M., we co-hosted a lecture given by
MacDonald & Rees, from Edinburgh, entitled “So You Think You
Know Where You Come From?” This was the second in our lec-
ture series, and we hope to have more in the months to come.
In July we had a bus to the Round Hill Games in Connecticut.
Later in July, we had a large attendance at the British Societies
Garden Party. It was a beautiful evening, and for the first time
in a long time, we were actually able to have the party outside in
the garden.
On August 2nd
, a group of Caledonians traveled to CitiField,
to watch the Mets beat the San Francisco Giants. It’s not the Yan-
kees, but everyone had a good time.
Later this month, on August 23, we will run a bus to the Long
Island Highland Games. This is the largest Highland Games in
UPCOMING NYCC EVENTS
For more information or to pay for tickets via PayPal for any of the upcoming NYCC events listed below, visit
the website www.nycaledonian.org, or call (212) 662-1083 or email Christy MacPhedran at events@nycaledon-
ian.org. To inquire or send checks or money orders by regular mail for tickets, made to the order of NYCC (note
which event!), write to: The New York Caledonian Club Inc., P.O. Box 4542, Grand Central Station. New York,
NY 10163-4542.
Saturday, August 23, 2014 – Long Island Scottish Festival and Games
Departure: 8:45AM at 6th Ave. & 44th St., Manhattan; return to Manhattan
after last event. The Long Island Highland Games are coming up at Old
Westbury Gardens. Take the bus with NYCC, roundtrip $35 (does not include
admission to the games). Admission: $17, adults; $15, seniors; children and
Old Westbury members, $8; and free for children 6 and under.
Sunday, September 28, 2014 - Fort Tryon Medieval Festival
11:30AM-6PM, in Fort Tryon Park, next to the Cloisters in northern Manhattan. This is a free event with all
things medieval and fantastic. Visit the New York Caledonian Club’s tent – we will be there! For more infor-
mation, visit website: http://www.whidc.org/festival/home.html.
NYCC events continued on page 7.
Opening of 2013 L.I. Scottish Festival &
Highland Games
PhotoscourtesyoftheL.I.S.F.&H.G..

3. August 2014 www.nycaledonian.org Page 3 of 7
Travelogue
PhotocourtesyofSuzannePresent
I
n the year 1300, during the period of time which
later became known as The Wars of Independence,
King Edward I of England invaded Galloway,
which was one of the areas of Scotland that was mount-
ing a strong resistance to English takeover. With eighty-
seven knights and three thousand men, the king
marched to Caerlaverock castle and set up camp outside
the castle walls. He then had siege engines brought in
from the castles of Lochmabon, Carlisle, Roxburgh,
Jedburgh and Skinburness and commenced to besiege
Caerlaverock.
Though the Scots fought fiercely and valiantly, after
two days they were forced to surrender. To the surprise
of the English, they discovered that the garrison was
comprised of just sixty men. Adetailed account of these
events comes down to us due to a poem called “The
Roll of Karlaverock” or alternatively “The Siege of
Caerlaverock” which was composed by one of Edward
I’s heralds who was present at the assault.
Caerlaverock was subsequently regained by the Scots
but then ordered demolished by Scottish King Robert
the Bruce to prevent it from falling into English hands
once again. Eventually, in the late fourteenth century it
was rebuilt.
Today, one can see the remains of the site where the
sixty brave Scots made their last stand, as it is open to
the public.
One of its most interesting features is that it is neither
square nor rectangular but triangular. Caerlaverock,
which means fort of the skylark, is uniquely Scotland’s
only triangular castle. Built for defense, there is a tower
on both the south easterly and south westerly corners
and a double tower flanking the gatehouse on the north-
ern corner of
the triangle.
Another in-
teresting fea-
ture is that the
inner eastern
facade’s archi-
tecture bears
small resem-
blance to the
rest of the ruin.
That is because that part was built in 1634 when defense was
no longer the priority. Large windows with elaborately
carved pediments replace the slits seen in the medieval sec-
tions.
Sadly, the Maxwell family, who were the castle’s owners
did not get to enjoy this elegant Renaissance mansion for too
long as in 1640 the castle was partially dismantled by the
Covenanters. Today, no one lives there except for the crows.
Two hundred meters away from Caerlaverock, lie the foun-
dations of a smaller castle. This castle was built in 1220. The
Maxwells lived there for fifty years but due to its tendency to
flood, they had the present castle built. One can reach the old
castle via a picturesque woodland trail which starts just be-
yond Caerlaverock’s western wall.
During an excavation of the old castle, some glass frag-
ments with Arabic writing were discovered. It is theorized
that these were part of an object that was brought back from
Syria during the Crusades. To date, these are the only pieces
of glass withArabic writing ever to be discovered in Scotland.
Just another unique feature of a unique place that is well
worth a visit from anyone traveling in Scotland’s Borders
area.
—Suzanne Present
Caerlaverock Castle
Caerlaverock Castle
Come to the Third Annual Kilted Bowling, Saturday, October 4, 2014!
NYCC sold out early last year, so book early this year!
Admission is $45 for bowlers and admirers alike, and includes bowling
shoes, two hours of bowling, a tower of imported beer at your lane. Loca-
tion is at FRAMES, 550 Ninth Avenue, between 40th
-41st
Streets, Manhat-
tan. Minimum age 21. Come at 7:30PM, and bowling begins promptly at
8PM. There will be prizes galore and an “after party” for you night owls.
Pay online at www.nycaledonian.org/events.php or send a check, with a
note that it is for this event, to the New York Caledonian Club, P.O. Box
4542, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163-4542.
Photocredit:ChristyMacPhedran

4. August 2014 www.nycaledonian.org Page 4 of 7
NYCC SUMMER 2014
The New York Caeldonian Club
at the New York British-American
Societies Annual Garden Party on
Wednesday, July 16th, 2014, in
the garden of Union Theological
Seminary .
PhotosCourtesyoftheSt.George’sSocietyofNewYork/Photographer:MelissaBuray
New York British-American Societies Annual
Summer Garden Party,
and
the Gaelic Song & Language Week at
Grandfather Mountain

5. August 2014 www.nycaledonian.org Page 5 of 7
An Commun Gàidhealach Ameireaganach (ACGA), known in English as the American Scottish Gaelic Society, sponsors the annual
Gaelic Song & Language Week that takes place each July on the campus of Lees-McRae College (Banner Elk, NC) located nearby
Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina. At the end of the week, many go to compete as singers in the North Carolina Gaelic Mòd at
the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. The New York Caledonian Club is proud to have participated in this year’s Mòd by
making a donation.
Lees-McRae College campus in the morning. Morning wake-up call.
The gang is all here! 2014 attendees at the Gaelic Song & Language Week. Center left are New York Caledonians,
John Grimaldi and B.L. Rice.
PhotoCredit:MollyMacRae
Bothphotos:B.L.Rice
The top winner of the 2014 North Carolina Gaelic Mòd
flanked at her left by the 3rd place winner (Kathleen
Mackay holds the cash prize donated by NYCC), and
on her right, by the 2nd place winner.
Winners of the 2014 North Carolina
Gaelic Mòd in the mens’division.
Winners with this year’s adjudicators,
Angus MacLeod and Christine Primrose
All2014MòdPhotos:JohnGrimaldi

6. August 2014 www.nycaledonian.org Page 6 of 7
sings in Gaelic professionally, while Angus performs as
an actor in films, as well as writing books and blogs.
Nicholas does the same in storytelling and singing.
Christine spoke about the attrition of Gaelic in the
1960s when many young men who earned their living as
traditional weavers of Harris Tweed left the Isle of Lewis
for the promise of more money in the oil fields of the
North Sea, and eventually many married non-Gaels.
Just when Gaelic was beginning to wane, a rebirth oc-
curred as people became aware that there was a very real
possibility of losing Gaelic as a language. At first, after
many centuries of discrimination, a lot of the Gaels could
not understand why any attention was being paid to Gaelic
at all.
“Imagine that! That somebody would deem Gaelic
worthwhile,” said Christine. The government of Scotland
was convinced that it was worth preserving the language.
Gaelic medium schools appeared in Scotland. The be-
ginning level Gaelic medium schools are the equivalent to
U.S. elementary schools. The primary grades are con-
ducted in both English and Gaelic, building up the chil-
dren’s’ ability to read, write, and speak fluently so that all
subjects are ultimately taught entirely in Gaelic on the
upper levels.
The Gaelic medium schools proved so successful, that
now on the university level, academic subjects are offered
and taught in Gaelic.
But as Christine, Angus, and Nicholas pointed out, “We
need teachers!”, and not only in Scotland.
Asked about the best way to promote Scottish Gaelic
that makes it relevant in 2014, the teachers offered their
opinions.
Christine said, “I think that anybody, who wants to
learn the language, is value enough,” and she added in ref-
erence to learning Gaelic music, “The Reverend Sorley
MacLean [Somhairle Mac Gill-Eain] said that, ‘Scottish
Gaelic song is the chief artistic glory of the Scots…and
one of the chief artistic glories of Europe’ ”. The editor
notes here that MacLean (1911-1996) was a poet and cler-
gyman who was and is well-known for his work in both
Gaelic and English.
Nicholas and Angus also point to organizations, annual festi-
vals, and competitions promoting Gaelic.
Nicholas mentioned the An Commun Gàidhealach Ameirea-
ganach (ACGA), known in English as the American Scottish
Gaelic Society (website: http://www.acgamerica.org), that pro-
motes Scottish Gaelic in North America. The Society began in
the Maryland and Virginia area, and was incorporated in 1983.
Its founder, Dr. Ian Cameron, was a POW in World War II, and
was successful in launching the organization and its mission is
still thriving to this day. ACGA also has an annual Immersion
week known as the Gaelic Song & Language Week held in July,
and sponsors the annual U.S. Mòd, a prose and song competition.
In addition, the Fèis an Eilein annual festival takes places
August 19-23, 2014 on Christmas Island in Canada’s Nova Sco-
tia (website: feisaneilein.ca/feis), and is open to anyone of any
age interested in the Gaelic language and culture.
Most of all, while many Americans first learn Gaelic by read-
ing and writing, the teachers believed that this needed to be taken
a step further. Gaelic needs to jump off the textbook page and
into the mouths of Gaelic learners.
Making Gaelic an everyday experience is important. “Gaelic
has to come out of the classroom,” said Angus. “The last census
for Nova Scotia showed that the use of Gaelic has increased and
that’s also true in Scotland. There’s a real need for teachers.
There is a need for Gaelic in music, writing, composing, movies,
that has been barely touched in North America. The audience is
global. So there are real opportunities in the arts, in teaching.”
Lastly, the teachers were asked, what they enjoyed most about
teaching Gaelic.
“To see students come into my class and by the end of the
week, they’re singing a song and loving it,” said Christine.
To Nicholas, seeing his students actually learn and progress
is the ultimate joy. It was exciting to be able to get someone to
fluency and beyond.
Angus replied, “That’s the same for me. The lights coming
on. When they start to understand Gaelic, in Gaelic. It’s a whole
great big beautiful world.”
--B.L. Rice
CRIDHE NA GHÀIDHLIG
(THE HEART OF GAELIC)
Continued from page 1
If you would like to learn Scottish Gaelic, the New York Caledonian Club will be offering classes in Beginning and Conversational
Gaelic from September 9th through November 18th, 2014 in Manhattan. For more information, visit www.nycaledonian.org

7. August 2014 www.nycaledonian.org Page 7 of 7
An t-Albannach, the newsletter of the New York Caledonian Club,
is published several times a year. ISSN#1520-073.
Editor: Barbara Lynn Rice, with contributions from many.
The New York Caledonian Club, Inc. (Est. 1856), is a
501(c)3 nonprofit, charitable, educational and literary organi-
zation and is open to anyone interested in Scotland and
Scottish-Americans.
Saturday, October 4, 2014 – Kilted Bowling
Begins at 7:30PM; bowling starts promptly at 8PM, at Frames, 550 9th Avenue (between 40th & 41st Streets), Manhattan. Kilted
Bowling is here once again! Minimum age 21. $45 includes bowling shoes, two hours of bowling, and a tower of imported beer at
your lane. And there will be prizes! Just remember to return the bowling shoes.
Saturday, November 8, 2014 - 2014 New York Scottish Ball
7PM, Abigail Adams Smith Ballroom, 417 East 61st St., Manhattan. Note that there will be dance rehearsals TBA prior to the ball
(three rehearsals were scheduled last year). Last year’s admission: Buffet dinner $225 and VIP dinner $275. For more info, email
scottishball@aol.com.
Saturday, November 9, 2014 – St. Thomas Flag Ceremony (Remembrance Day/Veterans Day)
4PM, St. Thomas Church, 1 West 53rd Street (at Fifth Avenue), Manhattan.
Wednesday, November 5, 2014 - Danny Bhoy
7:30PM, Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College, 695 Park Avenue, Manhattan. Scottish comedian Danny Bhoy performs tonight.
NYCC has a limited number of tickets, $25 each. Payment must be made in advance to reserve a seat.
Jacob deGrom and Jake Peavy took no-hitters into the 7th inning during the Club’s outing at CitiField on August
2nd
, 2014. Mets right-hander deGrom (National League rookie of the month for July) helmed the second no-
hit bid in 11 days, following Bartolo Colon’s seven-inning effort in Seattle. Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval
hit a low curveball to left-center to crack deGrom.
At the bottom of the 7th, Daniel Murphy hit to left for a double, and the
Mets went on to score four to end the inning.
Early play was marked by several outfield gems. It was a mild evening,
and the ten Club members and friends in attendance were socializing and ex-
ploring the ballpark. Suspense built up slowly, especially as the superstitious
among us feared jinxing the pitchers by mentioning no-hits. The flurry of Mets
runs added excitement after the initial buildup, and the Giants staged a late-
inning drive to end with 2. The fireworks following the game were synchronized with current pop hits, capping
another successful event.
Caledonians at Citi:
New York Mets-San Francisco Giants
Our name up in lights! Aug. 2, 2014 at the NY
Mets’Citifield.
PhotoCredit:ChristyMacPhedran
UPCOMING NYCC EVENTS
Continued from page 2
THE ISLANDERS WANT YOU! Seinn comhla rinn!
Join the only Scottish Gaelic singing group, The Islanders, in Manhattan! We are a relaxed group of singers who gather together for
the pure enjoyment of singing in Gaelic and English. We occasionally perform in public, but for the most part, we sing together on
Saturdays for the fun of it. You do not need to speak Gaelic fluently. A good basic knowledge of Gaelic is helpful, but not necessary.
Just be able to carry a tune, in an easy-going environment. For further information, email John Grimaldi at iainmartainn@aol.com
Attention An t-Albannach Readers
If you are receiving An t-Albannach already by email, but would also like to be on the mailing list for the hard copy of
the newsletter, please send your request with your name and address via email to the editor, Barbara L. Rice, at
barbaralynnrice@gmail.com.

8. The New York Caledonian Club, Inc.
P.O. Box 4542, Grand Central Station
New York, NY 10163-4542
www.nycaledonian.org
(212) 662-1083
NEW YORK CALEDONIAN CLUB
2014-2015 BOARD OF OFFICERS & DIRECTORS
Officers
80th Chief
John MacDonald
Chieftain
Christy MacPhedran
Secretary
Michael Reid
Treasurer
Kyle Dawson
Directors
Daphne Jay Bell
George Chall
Lesley MacLennan Denninger
Gilbert Green, Jr.
Lee Harwell
Katherine Hendry
Suzanne Present
Barbara Lynn Rice