GRACEVol. 24. No. 9 N SeptemberT 2008 E S Clanjamfry Celebrates 10 Years OK, so far this year, we’ve had in a prominent location & will be Bryan Student Life Center on the Scottish festivals in Arkansas and THE spot for meeting, greeting, Rhodes College Campus, Satur- Kentucky and North Carolina – and just hanging out. By the way, day, September 20 9:30 am Kilted now it’s our turn! Clanjamfry, our President John Schultz would love Run, 10:00 am Faire, & 7:00 pm very own festival (well, officially it to hear from you if you can help Old Blind Dogs concert, all at belongs to Evergreen Presbyterian staff the tents for an hour or two. Evergreen Presbyterian Church; Church, but it feels like ours), will For full details refer to the Sunday, September 21 10:45 am celebrate its 10th anniversary on brochure mailed to your house, Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans, followed September 19 – 21. To make the or if, you’ve misplaced it, check by Dinner-on-the-grounds for birthday even more special, we’ve out clanjamfry.org . Here’s a brief worshipers. been selected as this year’s honored summary: Friday, September 19 So, mark you calendar & make organization. The Memphis Scot- 5:30 pm - Reception for Patrons plans to enjoy our Clanjamfry! tish Society tents will be situated and 7:00 pm – Ceilidh, both in This year at the Heritage selves sang or played. Likewise, here in the Colonies. Tent we are focusing on the we’ll have tales about Scottish You’ll find a presentation theme “Scots To & Fro – The immigrants and the stories they on bagpipes and a special talk Scottish Migrations”. We’ll shared ‘round their hearths and on the new piping competition cover those who came to Scot- campfires. There’s even a spe- being inaugurated this year at land, specifically the Celts & the cial presentation of Scots in the Clanjamfry. Harpists, singers, Norsemen, and those who car- Holy Land. And we’ll wind up storytellers, dancers, and lectur- ried their Scottish culture to the the theme with a panel discus- ers – you’ll find them all at the ends of the earth. Expect songs sion featuring the contemporary Heritage Tent. & tunes both about the Scottish Scottish immigrant, those native diaspora and those they them- Scots who now live amongst us Memphis Scottish Society, Inc. Board President Secretary John Schultz. 754-2419 Mary Clausi. .753-9494 [email protected] [email protected] Vice President Members at Large Sue Malone. .385-1938 Debbie Sellmansberger. 725-1879 [email protected] [email protected] Jackie Garner . 386-3269 Treasurer [email protected] Louis Garner. 386-3269 Mary Ann Lucas. 725-1879 [email protected] [email protected] www.memphisscots.com Grace Notes 2 September 2008 SCOTTISH CONNECTION In presidential election years it his own father, because he looked Channel 10 on Monday, September is inevitable that we attempt to liken “like a fat little Dutchman” and wore 22 and Monday, September 29 at the proffered candidates to those a Dutch boy haircut.) 8:00 pm (repeated at 1:00 am). But, who have previously held that lofty Here are the facts: Reagan’s great- the temptation is too great to refrain position. If your rumination consid- grandfather John Wilson was born from sharing these Reagan tidbits: ers Ronald Reagan, be aware that our in Paisley, Renfrewshire; Wilson’s though one of the most conservative 40th president has a strong Scottish mother was Amelia Glasgow. Rea- politicians of recent history, Reagan Connection. gan’s great-grandmother Jane Blue was a Democrat until 1962 AND is Yes, it’s true: though Reagan is was born in Nova Scotia, but her the only U. S. President to have ever generally held to be of Irish extrac- parents Daniel Blue and Catharine been the president of a labor union, tion and has solid Irish bona fides, McFarlain had been born in Argyll having held the presidency of the Reagan’s family tree has several and married there. Screen Actors Guild from 1947 to Scottish branches. (To muddy his Reagan’s life history well exceeds 1952 and again in 1959. ethnic background further, those what could be attempted here given When you watch that TV special of elephantine memory may recall space limits, so you are encouraged or find yourself comparing today’s that Reagan throughout his long and instead to catch PBS’s American presidential hopefuls to former presi- public life was often called “Dutch”, Experience: Ronald Reagan. The dents, remember Ronald Reagan and a nickname given him in infancy by 2-part series will be aired on WKNO his Scottish Connection. Hi Folks We’re back! MCAA’s spring concert featuring Emily Smith was a lovely Sunday afternoon of Scottish song and music, and now it seems like so long ago! Our first Fall 2008 event is just around the bend, Sept 7th at 4 PM. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. This will be the only concert in Sep- tember, and we are proud to present the German-Irish group Cara. Vocally rich and instrumentally mischievous, GRACE N T E S they will immerse you in a tidepool Grace Notes is the official publication of the Memphis Scottish Society, Inc. It is published monthly. Like of refreshing music. Their name is the Society itself, the credo of Grace Notes is “to foster education and promote understanding of things Irish for friend. For more information Scottish.” about Cara, you may visit them on If you have something of interest to readers of this newsletter, please submit a typewritten manuscript to the editorial staff. If the article or notice is very brief (30 words or fewer), e-mail or just use the telephone. Grace the web at: www.en.caramusic.com. Notes will accept and publish good quality photographs. Cara will be joined by Amanda The deadline for all submissions is the second week of each month preceding the month of publication. Please Kehoe of County Wexford Ireland. include a self-addressed stamped envelope with each submission, if you want the material returned. She is a Senior All Ireland Champion Editorial Staff Mary Ann Lucas - [email protected]. .Editor, (901-725-1879) on both piano and piano accordion, Sammy Rich - [email protected]. Publisher, (901-272-7159) and she has a unique voice combining Gavin Anderson - [email protected]. .Circulation Editor, (901-682-5485) contemporary and traditional styles. Melissa Gibson - [email protected] . Line Editor, (901 299-3170) With this concert, we are honored Please address all correspondence to: to introduce a new venue that you Grace Notes are sure to enjoy -- The Pink Palace The Memphis Scottish Society, Inc. to foster education and Theater. The theater has been reno- [email protected] promote understanding of vated and has splendid acoustics. See P. O. Box 241934 things Scottish you soon. Cheers for now. Robert Memphis, TN 38124-1934 Campbell www.memphisscots.com Grace Notes 3 September 2008 Have you ever heard of “Shinty” Seems to be the Scottish cousin to have several important differences. In half of Ireland resembled shinty more Irish “Hurling” both being predeces- shinty, a player is allowed to play the closely than the standardised form of sor’s to Golf and Ice Hockey. ball in the air and is allowed to use hurling of today. Like shinty it was Shinty (derived from the Scottish both sides of the stick. The stick may commonly known as camánacht and Gaelic sinteag, although it is referred also be used to block and to tackle, was traditionally played in winter. to as camanachd or iomain in modern although a player may not come down Shinty is also one of the forebears Gaelic) is a team sport played with on an opponent’s stick, this is defined of ice hockey: in 1800, Scottish immi- sticks and a ball. Shinty is now played as hacking. A player may tackle using grants to Nova Scotia played a game on almost exclusively in the Highlands the body as long as this is shoulder-to- ice at Windosor. In Canada, informal of Scotland, and amongst Highland shoulder as in football. hockey games are still called shinny. migrants to the big cities, but it was The sport was derived from the same In the Scottish Lowlands, it was formerly more widespread, reaching root as the Irish game of hurling, and formerly referred to as common/cam- as far as England. is similar to bandy but has developed mon (caman), cammock (from Scottish Whilst comparisons are often different rules and features. The old Gaelic camag), knotty and various made with field hockey, the two sports form of hurling played in the northern other names. Shinty is unique to Scotland and one of the oldest games in the world. The game is similar to games such as hockey and lacrosse in some aspects and has historical roots with golf and ice hockey. As with lacrosse the game is a fast moving aerial game where physical fitness is tested to the limits. However, different from both hockey and lacrosse as in Shinty, feet can be used to stop the ball but not the hands (unless you are the goal-keeper). You can carrry the ball on your caman which can be also be swung above shoulder height.....a skilful eye and a sense of survival are paramount!! Thanks to David Corbett for sending in this article. www.memphisscots.com Grace Notes 4 September 2008 10 More Things You Never Knew About Scotland 31 In the early 19th century a Scottish while on side was baked on a flat iron countries it was blamed for starting engineer John Mac Adam (1756-1836), plate the other side was toasted on the outbreaks of leprosy and syphillis.