About Féis Mhàbu

Comunn Féis Mhàbu is a dynamic organization whose purpose is to facilitate the progressive development of Gaelic Language and Culture in Mabou and the surrounding area. Our mission is to ensure the long sustainability of Gaelic culture by investing in its community base. We offer a wide range of programs to educate residents about the value of Gaelic language and culture and provide opportunities for the transmission of cultural skills in intergenerational social settings. Although we are based in Mabou, our programs draw participants from the surrounding area, and in some instances, from all over Cape Breton and beyond. 

For the past 19 years Féis Mhàbu has been a leader in community based cultural development. We have provided leadership in the field of language instruction through our work to develop and apply the Gàidhlig aig Baile (GAB) methodology. Féis Mhàbu was one of the first groups in the province to train GAB language instructors and to offer immersion classes at the community level. We are currently the only organization in the province adapting the GAB model for youth Gaelic immersion.

Our organization has taken a leading role in nurturing young traditional musicians. Since its founding, Féis Mhàbu has presented an annual weekend of workshops in traditional music, dance and Gaelic. For some, the workshops provide an opportunity to try a new discipline, while others may hone their skills under the tutelage of a professional musician. More recently, we are focusing on nurturing young traditional musicians and Gaelic singers by providing opportunities to be mentored by well respected tradition bearers in the intimate setting of the home.

One of the unique features of Féis Mhàbu is that we are an organization without a building. This allows us the freedom to hold our programs in the venues that best suit them.  By hosting programs in various venues, Féis Mhàbu contributes to the maintenance of public spaces and ensures that financial resources are directed toward programming, instead of overhead.

Program & Events Highlights

Éirich Air!

First offered in 2008 and repeated in 2009, 2010 and 2011, "Éirich Air!" supports an eight week Gaelic song mentorship program. This new program invites Gaelic tradition bearer guests to act as Gaelic song mentors along with a Gaelic host to facilitate a song learning session. In order to create a learning opportunity that is authentic, the sessions are held in a home where Gaelic song and Gaelic language has its roots. At each session, a Gaelic instructor designates a Gaelic area in the home for Gaelic song mentoring, Gaelic Tea, and Gaelic greetings. All other areas of the home are bilingual. These sessions bring Gaelic language learning and Gaelic song learning together in a natural and communal fashion.

Beginner Fiddle Classes

Féis Mhàbu partnered with Inverness County Recreation and Tourism in 2008 and 2009 to offer eight week beginner fiddle courses for youth and adults out of Dalbrae Academy in Mabou. Féis Mhàbu arranged for fiddle rentals for the beginning students and contributed to the rental expense.

Féis Mhàbu's Thanksgiving Weekend Workshops

These workshops are held over the opening weekend of Celtic Colours International Festival. There are many workshops to choose from, with local instructors provided by Féis Mhàbu and international artists provided by Celtic Colours.

Gaelic Song Circle

Féis Mhàbu holds the Gaelic Song Circle event during the opening weekend of Celtic Colours International Festival.  This event features Gaelic singers in an intimate and interactive setting. The singers are unamplified and the audience is encouraged to ask questions and join in choruses. The event is held annually at the Mabou Gaelic and Historical Society's building, An Drochaid, and features local and international talent.

GAB Gaelic Immersion

These classes are taught in homes in the community through GAB instruction, with emphasis on making learning relaxed and fun. Instructors and participants use body gestures, repetition and props to help communicate with one another in the "Gaelic only" environment. Reading and writing are not taught in this program. Participants learn Gaelic as they learned their first language. A GAB program is currently in progress with 15 students enrolled.

The Gàidhlig dhan Oigridh (Gaelic Youth) Program 

This program took place in Mabou July 24-29, 2006.  Féis Mhàbu was pleased to be one of the host organizations that partnered with Culture Division and Highland Council to organize and operate this program. Forty children participated, and each day at least five parents were on hand to help with the classes, while another 5-10 parents participated in Gaelic language classes for parents.

The Gaelic Instructor in Residence Program

In response to the Gaelic Youth Program, parents and community requested a more consistent Gaelic learning opportunity for their children. Consequently Highland Council MOU and Nova Scotia MOU assisted our organization in locating a Gaelic instructor. Joy Dunlop of Connel, Scotland taught Gaelic and Gaelic song in our community from March until August in 2007. As part of the Gaelic Instructor in Residence Program, a 10 week after school program was offered out of Bayview Elementary School in Port Hood, NS. The after school program offered Gaelic language and song, Cape Breton step dance and square dance, physical activities/sports and arts and crafts components. One hundred and eight children were registered in this program.

The Mabou Musical Mentorship Program 

2011 marked the sixth year that Féis Mhàbu offered its' Musical Mentorship Program for young musicians. This unique program uses house sessions and jam sessions to bring together talented young performers of Cape Breton music and dance with well established tradition bearers. The relaxed, informal atmosphere of the sessions is well suited for the passing on of music, dance and stories.  Between 2006 and 2011 the Musical Mentorship Program presented community concerts and events in Mabou Parish Hall, St. Anne’s Gaelic College and the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre that featured youth participants and some of the mentors.

Summer Spórs Program

This is a 6-week program for children and youth where children meet twice a week for Gaelic song and dance instruction. Each week culminates with a youth square dance for workshop participants and visitors including instruction in the Inverness County Square Set.

Celtic Colours International Festival Concert

In 2008, 2009, 2010 and again in 2011 Féis Mhàbu hosted the “Mentors and Musical Minds” Celtic Colours Concert at Strathspey Place in Mabou.  This concert provides an opportunity for young musicians and Gaelic singers to perfrom on stage with the artist that mentored them in various Féis Mhàbu programs.

Youth Gaelic Immersion

In 2009 Féis Mhàbu offered a GAB immersion program for youth. The program ran for twelve weeks, alternating between the school and family homes. The youth had the opportunity to be immersed in the Gaelic language while participating in everyday activities such as outdoor work, food preparation and crafts. A summer youth immersion week was held in 2010.

Gàidhlig le Chéile

Féis Mhàbu is currently running a GAB program entitled Gàidhlig le Chéile. This program provides approximately twelve adults with immersion Gaelic language instruction twice weekly using the GAB methodology. In addition to the regular weekly instruction, we will be offering additional immersion events that are aimed at providing participants with additional opportunities to use and hear the language. We are also developing new ways assist students to achieve fluency such as making recordings of the sessions available online. In addition, Féis Mhàbu is planning to improve networking with other groups and the wider community by producing a newsletter about our program to share information and ideas about the development of GAB.

Family Square Dance Lessons with Live Music

Féis Mhàbu presented a series of family square dance lessons with live music in July and August (2009) that featured experienced Cape Breton step dance and square set instructor Kelly Warner-MacLennan.  All ages were invited to come and learn to dance the Inverness County Square Set.    These dance lessons were held at the West Mabou Hall in Inverness County.

Féis na Nollaig: Family Christmas Ceilidh

Feis Mhabu presented "Féis na Nollaig: Family Christmas Ceilidh". 

This event was held at the West Mabou Hall on December 19th, 2009 and featured youth Gaelic instruction, Gaelic singing, family square sets with live music, refreshments and a visit from Santa.

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Thanksgiving Weekend Events

 

Féis Mhàbu Cultural Workshops for Youth

Oct. 8th, Dalbrae Academy, Mabou

10:00 AM - 12:20pm

 

Féis Mhàbu is offering a wide range of cultural workshops for you to choose from. Workshops will be divided into the Preschool (ages 4-7) and Youth (ages 8-14) categories. Prominent local tradition bearers instruct workshops focusing on Gaelic language and Gaelic song, fiddle, step dancing, square dancing, percussion and more!

Preschool Workshops (Ages 4-7): 

$10/ Workshop per participant, $20 / per participant for Day Pass or $50 for Family Pass for 3 or more children

10:00-10:30 -- Kid's Percussion Group, Instructor Neil MacQuarrie 

10:30-11:15 -- Kid's Step Dancing, Kelly MacLennan 

11:15-12:00 -- Kid's Gaelic and Song, Instructor Margie Beaton  

12:00-12:20 -- Square Set, Instructor Melody Cameron

Youth Workshops (Ages 8-14): 

$10/ Workshop per participant, $20 / per participant for Day Pass or $50 for Family Pass for 3 or more children

10:00-10:30 -- Percussion Group, Instructor Neil MacQuarrie 

10:30-11:15 -- Gaelic Song, Instructor Joanne MacIntyre 

11:15-12:00 -- Youth Fiddle, Instructor Michelle LaPointe

11:15-12:00 -- Youth Dancing, Instructor Kelly MacLennan

11:15-12:00 -- Gaelic Music Percussion, Instructor Neil MacQuarrie 

12:00-12:20 -- Square Set, Instructor Melody Cameron 

 

Féis Mhàbu Cultural Workshops for Adults (Ages 15+) 

Oct. 8th, Dalbrae Academy, Route 19, Mabou 

12:00-12:20 -- Square Set, Instructor Melody Cameron ($0)

1:00-2:15 -- Adult Step Dancing, Instructor Melody Cameron ($10)

1:00-2:15 -- Percussion, Instructor Neil MacQuarrie ($10)

1:00-2:30 -- Gaelic Song Workshop, Instructor Joanne MacIntyre -($10) 

* Please note, admission for these events is not included in our preschool and youth day pass or our family day pass.

 

 

Gaelic Song Circle

Oct. 8th,An Drochaid (Mabou Gaelic and Historical Society Building), Mabou

7:00 PM to 9:00 PM   $12

 

This Gaelic Song Circle features Cape Breton Gaelic Singers Joanne MacIntyre and Jim Watson.  The singers will be joined by Mabou-based musicians Derrick and Melody Cameron on fiddle and guitar.  This acoustic event will be held in the intimate setting of An Drochaid, Mabou's Gaelic & Historical Society Building. This is a lovely evening of songs and stories with a few tunes for good measure. Come and sing along! 

Tea will be served after the song circle.

 

All events above are presented by Feis Mhabu in association with Celtic Colours International Festival