Welcome to the Online Clann Tartan Newsletter for July 2007

DUN GOWAN WORK WEEKENDS

We have a couple upcoming work weekends.

We will be preparing for Tactical the weekend of June 30th and July 1st.

For the weekend of Aug 11th & 12th, we will continue working on the first house in the village, which we started last year.

No construction experience is neccessary. Just bring your enthusiasm.

Contact Don Chesney (218-721-4501 or DLChsny@aol.com) or David Vavreck (612-378-1973 or baethan1630@yahoo.com) for further details.

A map to the site is in this newsletter.

Tenth Annual Dun Gowan Tactical, July 12-14

A tactical is basically a live chess game. One member of Col. Gaffneyis will be chosen to lead each side, and will funciton as a captain of their own company against the other. Because there are no scripts, or a battle to recreate, everyone involved, from commanders to soldiers to civilians, can make the decisions and take the actions they think best benefit them and their side.

Members who do not have an interest in portraying military characters are encouraged to attend. We always need impartial messangers, hostages, and civilians to protect and capture, and the long weekend is good for practicing new recipies, visiting, and trying out new demo items to see how they work in camp without the public there to see if it doesn't.

Set up begins Wednesday the 11th and goes through Thursday the 12th, all day both days. Friday is a training day, to be sure that everyone is comfortable using and firing all weapons we will be using. The entire event is closed the to the public, but a period camp is expected as soon as you set up.

Directions:

From Duluth, Minnesota- Take US Highway 53 northwest out of town - take a right turn on the Ugstad Rd./Lavaque Rd. Bypass, and travel north about ten miles. Take a left turn on the Fish Lake Road, and travel west about 3/4 miles. At this point I am the only house on the right hand (north)side of the road.

From Mineapolis/St.Paul, MN- Travel north on Interstate 35 out of the Cities for about two hours or so. After you pass the Esko/ Thompson exit, but before you get to Duluth, take the Midway Road exit. Turn left on the Midway road, which will head you north. Continue north on the Midway Road for about 12 miles or so; crossing three stoplight intersections, and then you will come to a stop sign. Turn right there onto County Road 9, the Martin Road. Travel east on the Martin road for three miles and take a left turn onto the Lavaque Road. Travel north on the Lavaque Road, for about 7 1/2 miles until you come to the Fish Lake Road. Make a left turn there, and travel west about 3/4 miles. At this point I am the only house on the right hand (north) side of the road.

5261 Fish Lake Road. Large grey garage, small grey house.

White Oak Rendezvous at Deer River, MN is Aug 1 - 5.

Although we are contracted only for the three public days (Friday the 3rd - Sunday the 5th) the 1st and 2nd are well worth attending. In addition to the above, various workshops are provided by and for living historians with a nominal fee at most. Some that have been done in the past are birch bark canoe making, glass bead making, various weaving techniques, fur trapping workshops, and blacksmithing. Check White Oak's website (see below) to check what workshops are scheduled for this year - more will be added as the event draws nearer.

Drive on hours are Monday and Thursday 7 am - 10 pm, Tuesday & Wednesday 7am - 10 am and 7pm - 10 pm, and Friday and Saturday 7am - 9:30am.

The site opens to the public at 10am all three public days and closes Friday and Saturday at 7pm and Sunday at 4pm.

This event takes historical accuracy more seriously than most events we do, so please be extra careful in keeping modern items out of sight.

To keep abreast of additions to the workshop listings, or find out more details about the rendezvous, go to http://www.whiteoak.org/index.shtml

Please let Staff know that you are coming to this super event (mia_mcdavid@comcast.net), and we'll see you there!

Des Moines Renaissance Festival

Clann will be participating in the Des Moines Renaissance Festival Saturday and Sunday, September 9-10, during their "Vikings, Knights & Bravehearts" weekend--lots of warriors. Their show hours are 10-7. This will be the second year Clann has participated in this event. Last year the show had some interesting demos and at least one dealer with far more interesting and appropriate things than are usually found at a RenFaire. The site has permanent structures, with more facilities being built for this year, including new public restrooms. There is no reason to expect a repeat of last year's demo of why Noah's Flood was a popular theme in medieval art and drama. For more information see the Fair website: http://dmrenfaire.com/index.shtml

Maps, directions, and more details in upcoming newsletters.

Captain's Authoris Award

Best Research Article

The award for Best Research Article will be awarded to a research article on any topic in Clann's period related to Scotland or the Thirty Years' War. Topics can include social, military, religious, or any other subject. See the members' manual or past newsletters for ideas—research articles can be on very narrow topics like the history of the fork or very broad topics like religion in the Highlands. Articles in this category should use a minimum of three primary sources and can have an unlimited number of secondary sources. (A primary source is one produced in our period, like a song, picture, or document, and a secondary source is one produced by a modern writer analyzing our period.)

Best How-to Article

The award for Best How-to Article will be awarded to a non-research article that clarifies how to do or make something, or how some part of our organization works. Topics can include anything from how to cook a period dish, documentation of a personal project, how to belt and wear a plaid, or anything else. Articles in this category may use primary and secondary sources, but the primary purpose of these articles should be original writing of the how-to sort.

Best New Writer

As I mentioned above, we've had a number of good articles in the past few years. To encourage newer members or older members who've never written for the newsletter before to put out new work, this category will give an award to a writer who has never before been published in the newsletter. The winning article can be about anything, and be research or how-to, so long as the author has never before published an article in the Clann newsletter.

To be eligible to win, the article must be submitted to the Clann newsletter editors by October 15, 2007, so that they may appear in the November newsletter. Articles may be submitted at any time between now and then. At the heading of each competing article, the author should state whether they are submitting it for the Research Article category or the How-to Article category. All articles by new writers will be automatically considered for that category.

After all articles have been submitted, everyone who submitted an article will be invited to the Captain's Award Banquet, which our VP Cate Hesser has graciously volunteered to be in charge of cooking for. Date, time and location to be determined, but good food, good company and good conversation are guaranteed. All winners will be announced at the banquet.

GAFFNEY'S SUTLER SEEKS WARES

You can either bring your goods to Heidi at events, or entrust them to her beforehand. We ask that items be small and not terribly fragile if Heidi is to transport them.

Thank you for your support of Clann Tartan.

Staff Announcements

The online store can be found at www.cafepress.com/clanntartan.

Board Minutes

Clann Tartan Board and Membership Meeting.  May 5, 2007

Board Members Present: Marty Byers, Mary McKinley, Glenn McDavid, 
Bruce Yoder, Diana Steben, Cate Hesser.  Excused Absence: Sean McCanna

Staff Present: Julie Yoder, Mia McDavid, Maeve Kane, Betsy Bolton, David
Vavreck, Eric Ferguson

Members Present: Joe Ring, Haddayr Copley-Woods, Hellen Ferguson, Anthea
Cross, Mary Dean

Meeting called to order at 12:02 PM.  Minutes of the April meeting were
accepted as corrected.

TRAILER:  The new, extra-strong axle was installed by Kremer.  Herb is
finishing up the fenders and the electrical system.  The trailer is at
his house.

VICE PRESIDENT:  Working on recruiting new members in Southern Minnesota.
Especially looking for younger members.

TREASURER:  The Fiscal Year ended on 3/31 and we are now a month into
the new year.  The current budget has a deficit of about $2300, as
opposed about $1000 the last two years.

The Insurance bill is unchanged.  We have $500,000 in liability.
The standard performer agreement with Twig calls for $1,000,000 in
coverage for dangerous acts.  They do not provide a definition of a
dangerous act and have not asked us for greater coverage than we
currently have.     

April 2007 had no income from events, but a few membership renewals.
The trailer and other expenses came to about $1300.

May 2007.  We already have the check from Charles City (end of April).

Savings Account.  ING does not do business accounts, so after some
hassles we ended up at Univest as of May 1.

Mary noted that we have not yet been paid for Ramble in February.  The
money is tied up in grants and Ramble Management is working on the
paperwork.

QM REPORT (via Mary).  The Quartermaster is working on an inventory of
equipment.  Please send him any notices about things that need repairs.
Also, please let him know whenever anybody fulfills a muster
requirement.

CAMP AND COMPANY REPS -- No issues to report (no news is good news).

MUSIC GUILD -- David is working on arrangements.

DANCE GUILD -- Wednesday dance has moved to the Yoder house.  This is
working well.

FIBER GUILD -- There will be a wool waulking at Farmington.  Mia is
working on arrangements with Norman Kennedy (VIP) and his associate Ross
Sutter.  Communications are difficult but they are under way.

HISTORIC SITE -- Planning work dates.

SWORD GUILD -- Moving outside, trying to schedule dates.

UPCOMING EVENTS
===============
Scottish Fair -- contracted.  Trailer going down Thursday.  Setup 
Friday night.  Hoping for $450.  The 42nd will not be there.  We don't
know about the Vikings.

Twig -- contracted
Tactical -- contracted
Deer River -- Contract is late, but that is normal for this event.
Perham -- Contract coming.

Des Moines.  The possibility of doing a 2nd weekend there was mentioned,
but that is very uncertain.

Big Island
Mankato

Big Muddy (Winona).  The management of this event has reverted to Luke.
We would like some indication of payment for last year before
undertaking this again.

OLD BUSINESS
============
Sold some paper dolls at Chas. City, and other things as well.  A good
event for the Sutlery.

Cookbooks -- We will try to get them reprinted.

Big Yellow boxes -- We need to get rid of them. Staff will check with
Herb.

Mary Dean said her van will be available for transportation in June.

Bruce noted that we need to be cautious about using multiple vehicles
to carry gear to a show because multiple reimbursements for the same
show could easily exceed the cost of renting a van.   

OTHER BUSINESS:  Mia asked anybody with Clann stuff to go to the garage
after the meeting.

Next Meeting: 6/19 at Yoder's.

Meeting adjourned at 12:38 PM.

Board & Staff

If you need to contact someone associated with Clann Tartan, here is where you find out how. If you are unsure who to contact, you can always email us at: info@clanntartan.org

Guilds

Contact:
Marty L. Byers
orthodoxdruid@gmail.com
651-483-1173

MUSIC!!!!!!!!!!

We will sing and play music of many styles and places from our period. Bring your voice and/or your instrument(s). Neither need be period correct.

The Yoders have graciously offered to host music once a month. We will meet at their house at 4736 12th Ave S, Minneapolis, date and time TBA.

To contact the Yoders, call 612-825-4519 or email to Julieyoder@juno.com.

To contact your Music Chair, call David at 612-378-1973 or email to baethan1630@yahoo.com

Thanks, and I look forward to making some noise with y'all!

David

Dance

Questions? call Mary at 651-699-6853 or Julie at 612-825-4519

2nd & 4th Tuesdays
Saint Christopher's Episcopal Church, 2300 N Hamline Ave. in St. Paul.

It is at the northeast corner of Highway 36 and Hamline Avenue (Hamline is between Snelling and Lexington). The church is actually encircled by the highway entrance ramp.
The Dance Guild gathers weekly from 7PM-9PM to learn and practice historic Scottish country dances.
For more information call:

Mary at 651-699-6853 or Julie at 612-825-4519

It's a great place to meet people!

Other Guilds

For our group, so what is possibly the more important question than what. We all have a basic understanding of the time period, the causes of the war and daily life, or are working on improving that basic knowledge or a specialization within our period. And I assume every member of Clann Tartan has joined because they wish to both acquire that knowledge and share that knowledge with others.

But I ask you, so what? Some members of our group and some members of the public share a love of knowledge and history for history's sake. And that enthusiasm certainly helps infect others--a passion for what you speak to our public about is essential for holding their interest. But beyond that is the look we see on many faces during school days, or even from adult visitors on public days: so what? Why should they care? And beyond that even, for each of us personally, so what? Why should we spend so much time, and money, and energy, and devotion recreating a past we never saw, of people who never knew us, of a place and time many of us would rail against and revile if we found ourselves in, only to teach it to people who may or may not care--or even remember?

History is not, and should not, be for its own sake. It should tell us something about ourselves, it should tell us something about the way people are, and were, and can be, and the why and how of all of those things. It's all well and good to tell someone that the average soldier in the Thirty Years' War ate so much meat or got so many Reichstalers a month or pikes were so long, but so what? As a historical organization, we should endeavor to send people home from our demonstrations with more than historical trivia, or even with a sense of excitement for history and a wish to learn more or the memory of how haggis looks and smells. We want to help them make connections between the lived experience of the people we portray, their own lived experience, and the lived experience of people anywhere, anytime. Not a small task.

We do that by asking ourselves, so what? We do that by connecting what are admittedly our own small lives and the small lives of the people we portray to broader human universals like poverty, death, birth, life, hunger, happiness and the problem of living in society. So Highlanders were willing to fight other people's wars for clothes, shoes, food, and some coins. So what? Why does that fact matter? What does that say about their lives, their priorities in life, their goals, and their families? The connection to the lived experience of the patrons you're speaking to need not be made explicit--we don't need to tell the public, Highlanders had bills to pay and families to support just like you do--but the context, the reasoning should be made clear, and patrons can draw their own connections in a way that is most meaningful to them.

And for ourselves, why do we care? I care because the conflict of the Thirty Years' War is to me emblematic of the emerging capitalist system, its problems, its successes, and its justifications, as well as the first death knell of the old dynastic system. Why, then, care about the details like lace, or style of clothing, or religious phrasing? Because those things provide examples and concrete illustrations of the hows and whys of broader themes, the causes and effects of larger social changes.

Asking ourselves so what will help us, the members of Clann Tartan, more accurately and passionately portray the members of Colonel Gaffneyis Regiment and its civilians, and convey that passion to the public. So why do you care?

Your Captain,

Maeve Kane

Under Canvas The Nature and Nurture of Clann's Tentage

Here's what you need to know about our tents—there is news here for everyone as changes have been made in lumber and canvas.

The Inventory:

One cooks' tent; an A-frame tent with a bell back. It is large, old, and dirty and four of the loops are painted blue. The lumber has blue stripes.

One cooks' fly; this is essentially a huge flat piece of canvas. On the back are five stake loops; these have steel rings sewn into them for extra durability; the rings are the easiest identifying mark. Some of the loops are also painted blue and yellow. The fly is supported by two pairs of uprights and two cross beams; they have blue and yellow stripes. Two ropes per upright for a set of eight; the ropes are bound at the ends with black sinew. One set of uprights is taller than the other; the taller uprights go in the middle and the shorter ones in front. The dirty side of the canvas, the side with the ties for one of the ridgepoles, goes down.

One tavern consisting of: A roof; one cross beam and two uprights; many small poles to support the outer edge of the roof; and four walls, two long and two short. There is also a short wall with an opening for a stovepipe; this is not used as of this writing. There should be one rope for each of the small peripheral poles and an extra one for each corner pole. The tavern roof has red edging; the uprights and roofbeam have red stripes; the peripheral poles are white. The side walls all have ties marked with daubs of red paint.

Six troopers' tents; all A-frames. One, two, and three are very large and new and have doors in both the front and back. Four is fairly large and has a bell back. Five and six are small and smaller; six is only used for storage unless we are very crowded. Each trooper is marked, near the ground, with green tick marks indicating the number. Lumber for each trooper is also marked with green stripes of the appropriate number. (Six is marked with yellow stripes; don't ask..)

There are two important points in setting up and taking down these tents. The first point is that, any time a roofbeam is raised or lowered, every care should be taken to make sure that both uprights move together in lifting and lowering it. If one side lifts and the other doesn't, the resultant torque is just about bound to splinter out some of the lumber, in spite of reinforcements, and a roofbeam with its pinhole busted out means an unusable tent. If you are unsure how to lift or lower a tent, please find someone more experienced to help you.

The second important thing has to do with folding the canvas. Tents and parts of tents are marked so that, when the trailer is loaded, we can easily pull out the equipment we want. Please fold and shelve tents so that their identifying loops, rings, tick marks, or whathaveyou are not hidden deep within the folds; the poor sods trying to do the next trailer load do certainly thank you.

How to Fold a Trooper

Our goal is to get a tidy package with the green tick marks visible. To achieve this:

1) Carefully lower and unstake the trooper. Lay it flat with the tick marks down and the doors (or back end or bell) pulled out to form a triangle at each end of the main rectangle that is the sides of the trooper.

2) Fold in the doors so you have a rectangle. Take the ridge pole side and fold it down to the ground side. Go to the fold you have just made and fold it again to the ground side.

3) Finally, fold each end into the middle and fold again. The tick marks will be on the outside of the exposed packet.

Now, the next person to deal with this trooper will know instantly what they have on hand. Thank you.

Greetings and salutations all! This is Renee, your Co-HCF with a few notes on HYDRATION.

According to MedicineNet.com, “Symptoms and signs of dehydration include increasing thirst, dry mouth, weakness or lightheadedness (particularly if worse on standing), and a darkening of the urine or a decrease in urination. Severe dehydration can lead to changes in the body's chemistry, kidney failure, and become life-threatening.” (http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=2933)

This website offers the same idea presented on our members site, that the best way to prevent dehydration is to plan for it.

List of pre-show (think day before) ideas to prevent dehydration:
Drink plenty of water
Eat fresh, raw fruits & veggies
Take your vitamins
Know your limits
Watch the booze

List of during show ideas to prevent dehydration
Drink plenty of water. Water is located in the water crock in the kitchen area. Become familiar with its location before a show day. If you see its running low, fill it.
Drink Gatorade or a reasonable facsimile. There is some in the cook's tent in little orange tubs. If you can't find it or don't want to hunt for it, ask one of the kitchen staff to help you.
Eat salted foods (nuts, pickles). If there isn't any out, then ask for them. They should be present.
Eat fresh, raw fruits & veggies
Just eat!
Take your vitamins
Know your limits
Watch the booze

Gatorade facsimile recipes courtesy of Cate Hesser and others. I haven't tried any of these yet, but I will. As folks try them, please post the recipe and your comments so we know what you are talking about.

Recipe #1
10 tbs. sugar (5/8 cups or 120 grams)
1/2 tsp Morton Lite salt
1/2 tsp regular salt
1 package of unsweetened Kool-Aid mix for flavor
Water to make 2 liters (2 quarts)
Nutrition Information (per 8 ounces).
The recipe will give a total of 124 grams of solute which in 2 liters water gives a total of 6.2% concentration.
14.2 grams carbohydrate (6%)
53 calories
104mg sodium
40mg potassium

Recipe #2 (if you wanted to reduce the amount of potassium, or simply didn't want to buy some Morton Lite Salt)
1/2 cup orange juice
9 tbs. Sugar
3/8 tsp Salt
Water to 2 liters
Nutrition Information (per 8 ounces):
14.4 grams carb (6.1%)
104 mg sodium
28.4 mg Potassium
(you could substitute 2 tbs. of lemon juice for the orange juice and it would come out the same - or at least close).

Recipe #3 (using cups and quarts)
4 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup boiling water
1/4 cup orange juice (not concentrate) or 2 tablespoons lemon juice
3-3/4 cups cold water
1. In the bottom of a pitcher, dissolve the sugar and salt in the hot water.
2. Add the juice and the remaining water; chill. Yield: 1 quart
Nutrition Information (per 8 ounces):
Calories - 50
carbohydrate 12 grams
sodium 110 milligrams
potassium 30 milligrams

Recipe #4 (if you prefer an all fructose drink)
125 mL (1/2 c) orange juice (or other sugar-containing beverage)
125 mL (1/2 c) water
0.25 mL (pinch) salt
Nutrition Information (per 8 ounces):
Calories - 59
carbohydrates 14 grams
sodium - 118 mg

Recipe #5 Lemon-orange sports drink
1 caffeine-free lemon tea bag
Water
2 tablespoons sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons orange juice
Bring 16 ounces of water to a boil.
Steep lemon tea bag.
Dissolve sugar and salt in the tea and let cool.
Combine the tea and orange juice and chill.
Nutrition Information (per 8 ounces):
Calories - 60
carbohydrates - 15g
sodium -130mg

Recipe #6
Lemonade
¼ tsp per 8 oz glass (Depending on how hot the day, I might use almost a ½ tsp. I also use sea salt as opposed to regular iodized Morton salt.)

Recipe #7
8oz sweet pickle juice
1 heaping tsp lemon-lime Gatorade

I had to leave Ireland in a hurry....for reasons of health

Character Sketch of David MacBride by Glenn McDavid

A chairde,

My father, Donald son of Sorley of the MacBrides of Bute, came to Ireland in the third year of King James [1569]. He came with many other Gaels of the isles, as the dowry of Agnes Campbell MacDonald, the sister of MacCailein Mór, when she married Turlough Luineach, the O'Neill of Tyrone. Over the following years he and his comrades fought hard for the O'Neill against his Irish rivals and the English who ruled out of Dublin.

The O'Neill then having his principle residence near Strabane in the west of Tyrone, Donald was often in that part of the country. He married Aoife O'Farrell, whose family had a small holding nearby, in his 8th year of service to the O'Neill. A year later [1578], their first son, my brother, also named Donald was born. Donald Óg [the younger] was killed at Áth Buí--the Yellow Ford [1598]--the greatest victory of the Gaels in those wars--but only after a gallant fight not before sending many Englishmen into their Protestant hell.

I was born seven years later [1585]. I showed an early aptitude for letters and Latin, and was destined for the priesthood. But the world changed. When I was 8 years old [1593] Turlough Luineach stepped down and his cousin Hugh of Dungannon, known to the English as the Earl of Tyrone, became the O'Neill. Hugh chafed under English rule and eventually went into open rebellion.

I was sent to study for the priesthood at a Monastery in Donegal, the O'Donnell being allied with the O'Neill. But after glorious victories in the early years Lord Mountjoy became Lord Deputy and the war turned against the Irish. The English burned the Monastery. I had to follow my brother's path as a warrior. I returned to my father's estate after the O'Neill submitted to the Lord Deputy in the year that the cailleach Queen Elizabeth of England died. My mother had died of a wasting disease. For a while we lived quietly on our small estate. Times were hard after the great wars and I had to do all manner of work. Some of my father's tenants who had survived instructed me in their crafts.

Four years later [1607], not trusting the English, the O'Neill fled to Spain. His lands were forfeited to the crown, James now being King of England as well as King of Scots. King James then gave the lands to the gall, the English speaking Scots. One day three years later [1610] a party of these Scots came to our home. They arrogantly summoned forth my father, and showed him a paper with the Royal Seal. My father knew little of the English tongue, and called on me to read it. I did so. It seemed that in the eyes of the English speakers my father was but a tenant of the O'Neill, and our land was not ours but his. And since the O'Neill's lands were now forfeit, so were ours. These lowland Scots had come to take our land and home.

As I translated these words I could see my father grow ever more angry. He had his sword with him and drew it. The leader of the Scots fell dead. The second Scot drew his pistol and shot my father dead. I picked up my father's sword and slew him. The other Scots fled.

We buried my father that afternoon. There was no priest to be had, so we trusted to the Almighty for mercy on his soul. Yet as I, and my father's people, walked away from the grave, a neighbor ran up. A party of the King's soldiers were coming, to hang me for murder. I told my father's tenants to take what they could from the house, and then scatter into the woods. I took what I could pick up in a hurry, including my father's sword, and fled to the south. The last thing I saw as I looked back was the fire from my house as the soldiers burned it.

I was a wanted man. I stayed in the south of Tyrone, as far as I could from the settlers and their soldiers. The poor people of that area were willing to grant me hospitality, and I was able to make my way by hidden paths to the MacDonald country in Antrim. I found some of my father's comrades from the wars there and stayed with them for a couple years, earning my keep through various jobs. Yet one day one of them came back from Armagh, where he said the King's men had announced they had come to look for murderers and traitors, including me. No place in Ulster was safe. I had to leave, but where was I to go? James was King of Ireland, Scotland, and England.

One day I was drinking with some of my father's friends. They wanted to help me, but I could not ask them to do anything that would endanger them as well. Then one of them, Duncan Campbell, said he might be able to find a safe place for me. My father had come to Ireland with the Lady Agnes because her late husband was a Chief of the MacDonalds, while others in his company had come from Campbell country, because she was the sister of MacCailein Mór. Duncan was one of those. I was puzzled: MacCailein Mór was a firm Protestant, and as Earl of Argyll absolutely loyal to the crown. Duncan explained that that was precisely why I could be safe there. No one would expect an Ulster Catholic to hide in Argyll, and if I kept my mouth shut no one need know.

Duncan had a cousin, Robert Campbell, who lived over towards Loch Awe. Robert had been crippled in battle, and needed trustworthy men on the estate. Duncan wrote a letter to his cousin, recommending me to his service. Soon I crossed the north channel into Scotland.

Argyll was easier than I expected. Though the true faith had been extirpated the land was thoroughly Protestant, it was still the country of the Gael, and the troubles of Ireland had not touched it. I soon made my to the house of Robert Campbell, and entered his service.

Happy years followed. I was able to help the household in many ways, as a clerk and assisting in the carpentry and leatherwork. There was much to do and a man of many skills was appreciated by Robert.

Robert being crippled, his daughter Sinéad (Jane) was actually in charge of the household. I quickly came to look to her for direction, and she to me for advice. Those were good times.

Those days ended when Robert died. His nephew William inherited the house, and reduced Jane to a dependent. It was no longer the happy place to work it had been in Robert's days, despite his infirmity.

Jane was unhappy as well. We talked long and often, lamenting the sad state the household had been reduced to, yet still able to find some joy in each other's company.

Then we heard that Colonel Gaffney was recruiting soldiers in a village to the west. We determined to flee Loch Awe together. She would stay with the army until we reached the Port, where she could stay with a cousin. I would follow the drum, and go with Gaffney's men to the wars in the Germanies. God and Mary willing, I will return, and we can be together in peace.

Is Mise,
Dáibhídh Mac Giolla Bhríghde (David MacBride)

Notes

cailleach. "Hag", "Crone". A figure from Irish Mythology. In the late 1500's the Irish bestowed this title on Queen Elizabeth, and from the devastation caused by her armies it was well deserved.

MacCailein Mór "Son (descendant) of the the Great Colin", Chief of Clan Campbell, and the Earl of Argyll.

Lady Agnes Campbell was a real historical figure in Elizabethan Ireland. She was married to James MacDonald of Dunyveg and later to Turlough Luineach O’Neill. Her dowry in the second marriage was a contingent of warriors from the Highlands and the Hebrides, who were all too real to the English authorities in Dublin Castle.

Calendar of Events

Event Schedule for the 2007 Season:

The following is a list of the dates of the events that are currently on the schedule for this year. The staff has met and decided to keep this running list of events in the newsletter to give you a chance to get an idea of what is going on this season as well as keep you updated to changes in the schedule.

The column titled status will include the following information.

Tentative- this means that an event organizer or Clann has expressed a strong enough interest in doing this event that it warrants reserving space on the calendar for the event.

Pending- this is the next stage of an event. This means that Maeve has entered serious discussion about Clann doing an event but we are still not committed to the event. You should however if possible think about wether or not you may be able to attend this event.

Scheduled- this level means that the board and staff have approve the event and we are committed to providing manpower to making the event happen. When an event is assigned this level please let Julie know as soon as possible if you can or can not attend this event.

Canceled- This means that for various reasons an scheduled event has been removed from the current season. We will try and give as much notice as we can prior to canceling an event.

If you have any questions about this, please feel free to contact me regarding this matter

Thanks,
Maeve Kane.

Maps

Map to Board Meetings &1st and 3rd Wednesday Dance Bruce and Julie Yoder's Home 4736 12th Av S, Minneapolis, 55407	Map to St. Paul location St. Christopher's- Dance
Map to /Quarterly/Annual Meetings Corcoran Neighborhood Center, 3334 20th Av South, Minneapolis, MN	Map to Marty & Judy Byers home 2821 Churchill, Roseville MN

DunGowan Tactical - Fredenburg MN, July 12-14 2007

DIRECTIONS:

From Duluth, Minnesota- Take US Highway 53 northwest out of town - take a right turn on the Ugstad Rd./Lavaque Rd. Bypass, and travel north about ten miles. Take a left turn on the Fish Lake Road, and travel west about 3/4 miles. At this point I am the only house on the right hand (north)side of the road.

From Mineapolis/St.Paul, MN- Travel north on Interstate 35 out of the Cities for about two hours or so. After you pass the Esko/ Thompson exit, but before you get to Duluth, take the Midway Road exit. Turn left on the Midway road, which will head you north. Continue north on the Midway Road for about 12 miles or so; crossing three stoplight intersections, and then you will come to a stop sign. Turn right there onto County Road 9, the Martin Road. Travel east on the Martin road for three miles and take a left turn onto the Lavaque Road. Travel north on the Lavaque Road, for about 7 1/2 miles until you come to the Fish Lake Road. Make a left turn there, and travel west about 3/4 miles. At this point I am the only house on the right hand (north) side of the road.
5261 Fish Lake Road. Large grey garage, small grey house.

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Perham Pioneer Festival Perham, MN- August 18 and 19 2007
Saturday 10-5, 19 Sunday 10-4

Col. Gaffneyis Regiment will be at the Perham Pioneer Festival August 18 and 19 this year. The Pioneer Festival is located in Perham, MN, about a three and a half hour drive from the Twin Cities. We will be setting up on Friday, August 17. I have not yet received information from them about public hours or drive on times, but I will make that information available as soon as I have it. Please contact staff if you have any questions closer to the date.

Our purpose at this American history/Minnesota heritage festival is to provide a background for why people left Europe for the Americas, and the culture they both left and took with them. In your interpretations, you don't need to worry about addressing American history directly, but think about how and why what we as Col. Gaffneyis Regiment do is relevant or important to German, Scottish, and other immigrants to Minnesota. The festival can be found online at http://www.clanntartan.org/newsletter/www.perhampioneerfestival.com

Directions from the Twin Cities:

Take I-94 West to Exit 167B, MN15 N, toward Saint Cloud.

After about 10 miles, merge onto MN10 West. Follow for about 30 miles, and stay with MN 10 W toward Motley for about another 80 miles.

Turn right on CR 80 and follow for 2 miles.

Turn right on N 1st Ave/CR 8.

End at 230 1st Avenue North.