The Barbados Celtic Festival is back with live Scottish music from visiting musicians, next week from May 11 to 15.
Pipers and drummers from Scotland and Canada will join the Barbados Defence Force for a colourful street parade through town from 3:30 p.m. (Jubilee Gardens – Golden Square Freedom Park) on Saturday, May 14, moving on to Blakeys on the Boardwalk for a packed evening of free entertainment from approximately 4:30 p.m.
Folk musicians from Scotland and Barbados will play together at Blakeys as well as the pipes and drums, where there will be barbecue food and the regular menu.
On Friday evening May 13, there is the chance to hear more about Irish and Scottish history in Barbados from Mark Callaghan, the son of the author of the book “To Hell or Barbados” which chronicles the history of Irish indentured servants working on sugar plantations in the 1700s.
This takes place at the Barbados Museum. If you want to trace your roots or you have an Irish or Scottish first name or surname, this is a chance to find out more about your own history.
Earlier in the week pipers will feature in the Harbour Lights Dinner Show on Wednesday and Thursday with the chance to perhaps catch a glance of a Bajan or two in kilts.
Sunday morning, May 15, there is the chance to hike in the Scotland District with Hike Barbados leaving from Barclays Park at 6 a.m. with a lime around 9 a.m.
The festival culminates on Sunday evening, from 6 p.m. in a “Celtic evening” at Tapas restaurant on the Boardwalk with the chance to sample some Scottish whisky as well as rums and some more live Scottish music and their regular menu.
“Given the challenges of COVID which have restricted our live events for the last two years we are extremely pleased to be back again live this year 2022 to bring both visitors and musicians to Barbados to enjoy our Celtic Festival.
Celtic Festivals take place all around the world where there are Scottish, Irish and Welsh connections through shared history.
Barbados has so many links with Scotland, not least those people who were purged from Scotland in 1748, brought to work on the sugar plantations and whose descendants are nick-named the “Redlegs”.
“The Barbados Celtic Festival is recognised as a key event in the Celtic world and we have ambitious plans for 2023 and 2024 with visiting Welsh choirs and more pipe bands from Scotland and Canada wishing to take part in our programme.
“I wish to thank our key sponsors for supporting us this year.
“BTMI, Mount Gay, Banks Beer, Drive a Matic and Capital Media HD, and the tremendous support we have had for our events from local businesses.
“We hope to bring joy and good entertainment next week for everyone and fun for the all the family”, said Jeana Leslie, director of the Barbados Celtic Festival.
Leslie and her award-winning band Fara from the Scottish islands of Orkney played in 2016 and 2017 Barbados Celtic Festivals and she brings with her the ceilidh (pron Kayley) band Bahookie from Scotland to play Celtic rock, for dancing at Blakeys on Saturday evening May 14.
“A ceilidh is the equivalent of a Caribbean “jump up” where everyone should enjoy a great time with live music, the chance to dance, and a rich cultural exchange,”
Leslie added.
Follow on Facebook for regular updates @celticfestivalbarbados and on the website at www.barbadoscelticfestival.com Persons can email info@barbadoscelticfestival.com for further information. (PR)
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