Today’s Celtic Highland Games in Davenport will feature feats of physical strength and traditional foods from Ireland and Scotland, but there’s also a host of entertaining, educational workshops. Linda Shoesmith, the festival’s workshop coordinator, says many of the mini-seminars focus on making Celtic music.
Shoesmith says, "We have several hands-on workshop, beginning tin whistle, Irish flute, beginning Irish fiddle, bodhran, mandolin and we have a singing workshop for Irish singing." Other workshops include genealogy, a special focus on the Scots-Irish and learning the art of clogging.
One workshop, called the Invasion of the Vikings, will focus entirely on the Vikings influence on the Celts. Shoesmith says another featured workshop is called: "Beyond Danny Boy – Maintaining the Minstrel Tradition." She says it will be a musical discussion, with performances, of playing Celtic and Celtic-influenced music in modern times — all of it tracing back to the bards.
She says the bards had the task of transferring the history, culture, laws and customs of all the Irish people, making them more important and respected than the king. The tenth annual Scottish and Irish fair takes place at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds in Davenport, with workshops and other day events running from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. and an evening music and dance party from 6 P.M. to midnight. For more details, visit the Celtic Games website .