Presenters & Exhibitors
Meet the exhibitors & presenters of the 2024 Samhain Celtic New Year Festival
All-Ireland Cultural Society of Oregon (AICS)
The All-Ireland Cultural Society (AICS) is an all-volunteer, non-political, non-sectarian organization that actively promotes social opportunities, Irish entertainment, and Irish cultural events in Oregon and SW Washington, and has done so for over 80 years. Learn more at www.oregonirishsociety.org and www.facebook.com/AICSOregon/
Amica L. Grimberg
As a face paint artist, I enthusiastically return to this year’s Celtic New Year celebration. Using various inspirations, these designs are selected specifically to reflect Celtic art for the New Year’s Festival and a jovial atmosphere. I have provided face art for Salem Art Fair, Girl Scouts, and various church events.
Workshop Description:
Hand and arm painting provided for festival attendees. My booth is for patrons to visit without a set schedule – if there’s a wait, they can look over the design collection or watch as others get their wrists, or hand-painted. Paints used are non-toxic, fragrance and paraben-free. They are suitable for sensitive skin.
Capital Calligraphers
Capital Calligraphers is a Salem-based organization dedicated to the teaching, history, and appreciation of the lettering arts. Our guild welcomes people of all skill levels and experience to attend our meetings and workshops. Learn more at www.capitalcalligraphers.org and www.facebook.com/groups/www.capitalcalligraphers.org
Workshop Description:
Writing keepsake name cards using Uncial script in a variety of styles and tools.
Celtic Knots with Rope
Carl enjoys the history of rope and knots. He has studied and used many types. He has been teaching this knot class at the Samhain Fest for a number of years. He is a member of Ceílí of the Valley Society.
Workshop Description:
Celtic knots are an important part of the culture. Knowing the correct knots kept your ship afloat and sailing. Many had secret knots only shown to trusted friends. Try your hand at tying a Celtic knot using a loom.
Micheál Ó Domhnaill Branch of Oregon
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCÉ Oregon) is the largest group involved in the preservation and promotion of Irish traditional music. It is a non-profit cultural movement with hundreds of local branches in Ireland and around the world and has been working for the cause of Irish music since 1951.
The Mícheál Ó Domhnaill Branch of Oregon was founded in 2018 in an effort to keep Irish cultural practices alive as previous generations and cultural organizations have done before us. We seek to promote Irish traditional music in all its forms and provide educational opportunities to further it.
Learn more at www.cceoregon.org and www.facebook.com/cceoregon/
Janey Mack and What’s the Craic — Uniquely Irish Expressions
Irish speakers of English have a different way of expressing themselves than English speakers of English! Come learn some uniquely Irish expressions and common slang terms and how to work them into your daily conversation for a touch of blarney for your friends and family.
Emily Bonneau
Emily is a “retired” award-winning Highland Dancer. After taking a break for school, work,and family, she is enjoying dusting off her shoes and getting back into the “fling” of things! She will be demonstrating the Highland Fling, along with fellow Highland Dancer, Hannah Zelmer. Emily will also dance the Seann Triubhas. Both of these dances have great stories behind them…come to the Festival to find out more! Our Highland Dancers will be accompanied by Nate Wahlgren, a piper with the Willamette Valley Pipes and Drums.
Presentation Description:
Emily will be prepared to demonstrate two traditional Highland dances, the Fling and the Seann Triubhas. She will be at the festival all day and can demonstrate these whenever you need her to.
Elisa Chandler
Elisa’s “Celtic” dancing started in 1993 when she and her children joined a group (Dancing in the Isles) performing Scottish Country Dances at the Arizona Renaissance Festival. Her daughter turned her on to Irish Dancing in 2003 (thereabouts) and she was a member of the Celtic Dance Academy until moving to Oregon in 2005.
After moving to Oregon, Elisa & Rick were very fortunate to find the Céilí of the Valley Society and have been having a blast dancing with this great group! They also dance with the Eugene Scottish Country Dancers and take in a Contra Dance when they can in Corvallis. Elisa has had the joy of leading the Céilí of the Valley Tuesday Night classes and the demonstration team for about thirteen years. She is excited to add more Breton dances to her repertoire.
Workshop Description:
Elisa will be presenting something new this year, a workshop on dances from Brittany. These dances are commonly danced at a Fest noz, which is a “night festival” held in Brittany. These are social, group dances, primarily danced in a circle. Different steps and rhythms will be explored and also a little history of Breton dancing. Elisa will be accompanied by Blaz Dañjerus, composed of Channing Dodson, Zac Léger, and Preston Howard Wilde.
The dances learned in the workshop will be danced at the Festival Finale Céilí /Fest noz!
Eric Chandler
Eric will be presenting how to fold the Great Kilt, which is a very unique article of clothing. It has many uses, which he will highlight as he does his demonstration. He will also demonstrate one of our favorite Highland Dances, the Sword Dance. He became interested in learning more about his Scottish Heritage when he was a competitive Highland dancer and a performer at the Arizona Renaissance Festival. When not in the Spinning Room doing his demonstration, you will find him outside helping with the Mini-Highland Games.
Presentation Description:
Eric will perform the Sword Dance and demonstrate the folding and wearing of the great kilt.
Hannah Zelmer
Hannah is a multi-talented member of the Ceili of the Valley demonstration team. She has a background as a Highland Dancer and is excited to share two of her favorite dances at the Festival. She will demonstrate the Flora and the Highland Fling. She will be joined by fellow dancer Emily Chandler for the Fling and Nate Wahlgren will be providing the tunes for the dancers.
Presentation Description:
Two Highland dance demos – The Flora and The Fling.
Murray Irish Dancers
The Murray Irish Dancers are seasoned Irish dance performers and accomplished competitors from the Portland area. They have placed among the top Irish dancers at The Western US Regional Championships (Oireachtas,) the North American Irish Dance Championships and the World Irish Dance Championships.
They have performed throughout the Pacific Northwest at festivals and St Patrick’s Day celebrations and have shared the stage with such performers as: We Banjo Three, Gaelic Storm, The Chieftains, Dervish, Solas, Molly’s Revenge, and Natalie MacMaster.
The Murray Irish Dance Director, Geraldine Murray TCRG, is an accomplished and well-known Portland Irish musician and dance teacher. She has been involved in Irish dance and music for over 40 years and is certified by An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha (The Irish Dance Commission) in Dublin, Ireland since 1995.
Geraldine’s mother and paternal grandmother emigrated from County Donegal, Ireland. Similarly, she was fortunate to spend some time living in Ireland. Her Pittsburgh-area family is known for its dedication to keeping alive the traditions of Irish dance, music and culture. Since moving to Portland over 40 years ago, Geraldine has continued that dedication to fostering Irish music, dance and culture in Oregon and southwest Washington, Idaho and the Pacific Northwest. Learn more at www.murrayirishdance.com and www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054590913113
Presentation Description:
Irish Step Dance Performance by the Murray Irish Dancers.
Workshop Description:
Learn a few basic moves and Irish dance steps to wow your friends and dance at the céili.
Basic Reel and Jig moves and steps will be covered in the workshop taught by Geraldine Murray TCRG.
Oregon Manx Society
The Oregon Manx Society represents the Celtic Nation of Isle of Man. Our group is small, but we enjoy sharing and learning about all things Manx. We especially enjoy holidays.
The Oregon Manx Society will be sharing the Manx holiday Hop tu Naa, this tradition is celebrated during Samhain. Some highlights we are planning to share are turnip lanterns, Soddag Valloo, and information about Jenny the Witch. We are very excited to share a piece of Manx culture for the Samhain Celtic New Year Festival.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/oregonmanxsociety/
ViVoce Women’s Chorus
The women of ViVoce (a co-mingling of Italian words for “voice: and “lively”) perform authentic choral music from around the world and several languages, giving voice to diverse cultural experiences through song and story. ViVoce’s passion is connecting through song to the wider Portland community and to the communities of long ago and far away.
https://www.facebook.com/ViVocePortland/
Presentation Description:
ViVoce women’s chorus presents a performance of traditional songs – lilting, lively, and lovely- from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the Celtic diaspora in America. Our repertoire spans the centuries, from ancient lullabies to modern arrangements of work songs and mouth music. Many of these songs offer glimpses into the lives of women and girls in traditional times; their strengths, passions, love, and senses of spirit.
Welsh Society of Oregon
The Welsh Society of Oregon (WSOR) develops and perpetuates Welsh heritage, culture, and music in Oregon. We strive to sustain: pride in being Welsh, support for learning about Wales and the Welsh language, and exploration of Welsh-American issues by our members and for others in the community. Learn more at www.portlandwelsh.org
We will have a booth with information and Welsh Goodies for sale, including the tasty Welsh Cakes!
Presentation Description:
Learn the steps of making and cooking Welsh cakes in this interactive demonstration
Willamette Valley Nomads
Willamette Valley Nomads is an Irish cultural club focused primarily on promoting and playing the sports of Hurling, Camogie, Gaelic Football and Ladies Gaelic Football. We compete in the Northwest Division of the US Gaelic Athletic Association in association with Gaeilic Athletic Association based in Dublin, Ireland. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit.
https://www.facebook.com/WVNomads/
Workshop Description:
We plan to showcase the Irish National Sport of Hurling with an interactive opportunity to lift and poc (strike) the sliotar (ball) with the hurl (stick). We also plan to have an indoor exhibit to allow people to ask more questions and see examples of the sport.
Willamette Valley Pipes & Drums
The Willamette Valley Pipes and Drums will open the 2024 Festival with a resounding walk-thru of the Spinning Room, finishing at the Main Stage, where they will entertain us with more pipe tunes. A solo piper, Nate Wahlgren, will pipe for the Sword Dance demonstration, two Scottish Highland dances, and a Scottish Country Dance.
The Willamette Valley Pipes and Drums is a non-competitive performance band with a three-fold mission:
- to serve our community by providing entertainment through Scottish music,
- to develop the musical abilities of our members, and
- to enjoy the friendship that we share because of our love of pipe and drum music.
https://sites.google.com/view/wvpnd/home/
https://www.facebook.com/wvpnd
Will Hornyak | Storyteller
William Kennedy Hornyak is a nationally touring storyteller who performs at festivals, theaters and community centers throughout the United States. Will draws from a deep well of oral traditions from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and beyond to create engaging, entertaining and well-crafted performances. Will toured Ireland for five weeks recently sharing tales and gathering fresh tales and songs for his repertoire.
Storyteller par excellence…boundless wit…endless imagination…draws audiences of all ages into an amazing world of imagination.” —The Oregonian
“Will is a world-class storyteller and master of audience inclusion.” —Joseph Lapidus, Professor Clark County Community College
For more information: WillHornyak.net
Presentation Description:
The Dagda’s Harp and the Wisdom of Finn Mac Cool: Storyteller William Kennedy Hornyak weaves Irish history and mythology together in a homage to the hedgerow teachers of Ireland who kept the spark of learning and tradition alive during the brutally repressive era of the Penal Codes 1695-1771. Will spins a wide web of myths, tales, songs, poems and lore from a variety of Celtic traditions in celebration of Samhain, the Celtic New Year. Not to be missed!
Workshop Description:
William Kennedy Hornyak weaves a wide web of traditional tales into engaging, thoughtful and well crafted performances. A professional storytelling since 1994, he has been a mainstage performance at National Storytelling Festival in Jonesboro, Tennessee and at numerous other festivals, theatres and community centers. He loves to share his passion and knowledge of the storyteller’s art and craft.
More Activities —
Ceili Dancing:
An opportunity to try your hand and feet at Irish Ceili (Kay-lee) social dancing in a fun and relaxed setting to live music by Blaz Dañjerus. This year our Ceili will also be a mini Fest Noz incorporating Breton music and dances along with the Irish tunes and dances. A fest noz is a Breton traditional festival, with dancing in groups and live musicians playing acoustic instruments.
Celtic Pop-Up:
Watch for possible activities such as making a Celtic knot (hands on), Welsh Cake making, Kilt folding, and hurling information. The Calligraphers and Pipe Band will be in that general area too
CVS Store:
Find Festival t-shirts, shirts, and bags for sale, plus Granny Fi’s shortbread cookies, crafts by Liane Kirchne and the Wild Irish Rose quilt raffle.
Craft Area:
From having your hand painted to creating crafts, the kids’ area has an activity for every age and skill. Adults, too, will be drawn to the area, and are invited to enjoy activities alongside their children. Craft stations include: Sculpy clay creations, pumpkin decorating, fairy garden building, coloring, and flag-making using stencils and watercolors.
Food:
Sample soups from Ireland, Welsh, and Scotland, served with salad and soda bread. Scones are also available from Manna Bakery.
Mini-Highland Games:
Safe, fun, and kid-friendly Highland Games outside. You and your kids can try their hand at Welly Throw, Sheaf Toss, and Caber Toss.
Quilt to Raffle:
Custom designed Celtic quilt with beautiful, intricate hand quilted knotwork. Leslie Ficker has created this one-of-a-kind quilt to be raffled at the Samhain Celtic New Year Festival to be held at the Willamette Heritage Center on Saturday, October 19th. Tickets will be $5.00 each, 5 for $20.00. The quilt is 72″ square. Learn more about the quilt here.