April 25, 2006 Source: :
http://www.stfx.ca/media/04_2006.htm#gaelicwebsite StFX website brings Scottish Gaelic folklore back to life Website contains thousands of valuable Gaelic folklore, songs and hymns ANTIGONISH, NS --- Captured years ago on tape, Gaelic folklore and songs from families living in Cape Breton has been revived through the digital age. St. Francis Xavier University's Gael Stream/Sruth nan Gaidheal (www.gaelstream.ca) is a digital resource of Nova Scotia's living Gaelic tradition. Included is the very significant Cape Breton Folklore Collection; consisting of approximately 2,000 digitized audio files preserving the oral traditions of Cape Breton. As well, there is textual material outlining various aspects of Scottish Gaelic history, such as immigration, everyday life, industry, education, religion and politics. "The idea for the website was influenced by a similar Gaelic website project at Scotland's Gaelic College Sabhal Mor Ostaig, located in the Isle of Skye," said St. Francis Xavier University Celtic Studies Professor Dr. Jamie MacDonald. "The Gaelic folklore and songs originated from reel to reel recordings done by Dr. John Shaw between 1977 and1982. Dr. Shaw currently teaches at the University of Edinburgh," said StFX Archivist Kathleen MacKenzie. "This website project carries on the StFX tradition of community outreach, added Ms. MacKenzie. The Gael Stream/Sruth nan Gaidheal website project is dedicated to preserving, salvaging, digitizing and making available material in all forms. Researchers will find digitized publications, photographs, images, and textual records. New material will be added to the site and other relevant information for researchers. The Gael Stream/Sruth nan Gaidheal project, a joint project of the Angus L. Macdonald Library and the Celtic Studies Department, was accomplished with the help of an almost $36,000 grant received by Dr. Jamie MacDonald, Celtic Studies Department, and Kathleen MacKenzie, University Archives, Angus L. Macdonald Library, from the Canada Memory Fund, Library and Archives Canada, Department of Canadian Heritage. The website will be launch from StFX on April 29 at 4 pm Hall of the Clans, Angus L. Macdonald Library. The public is welcomed to attend.
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