Celtic Life International

Many of our life stories are formed around the tables that we share with family and friends - over laughter, long conversations, and memorable meals and moments. Food has always been more than mere nourishment - it is history and tradition served on a plate. And the story of food is fascinating - from seed to soil to savoury creations that make their way straight to our senses. Truthfully, I find nothing more captivating than a great food biography: a book that tells the origin tale of a specific food item and then traces its journey around the globe. My revelation came after I stumbled across Salt: A World History, Mark Kurlansky's riveting story of how salt shaped our civilization. It should be no surprise that the ancient Celts settled in parts of the world…

When most people consider culture, they tend to think of an aesthetic, a sense of style characterized by a particular feel or collection of intangibles. This is because the word 'culture' comes down to us from the Latin word cultura, meaning "things about to be tended and venerated." As such, a given culture relates to so many things: language, clothes, art, music, and - of course - food and mythology. One's cultura are the collected choices you are about to make. What songs will you choose to sing? What language will you choose to speak? What food will you choose to eat, and what stories will you tell? Mentality is both knowledge and a collection of perceptions that inform one's culture, and identity can be understood as its outward reality. Your…

De Tha Dol 1 Scotland- France Link A new ferry linking Scotland and France is slated to set sail this spring. The planned route goes from Rosyth to Dunkirk, including both cargo and passenger services. The service is expected to run three return trips per week. According to The Guardian, the ferry will become one of the longest sea journeys in Europe if all goes as planned, with trips taking about 20 hours. There is a chance the ferry launch could be delayed, however, due to the need for a new border control post facility in Rosyth. 2 Irish Horror Film Irish filmmaker Damian McCarthy's latest film, Hokum, will be released in theatres this May. Adam Scott leads the cast as protagonist Ohm Bauman, an author who travels to an…

Niela Nell Kalra Niela Nell Kalra is a knitwear-focused designer and maker based in the Shetland village of Hoswick. Born in Canada to an Indian father and Scottish mother (the latter from whom Kalra learned about textiles), Kalra eventually moved to Aberdeen to study law. She worked as a criminal defence solicitor until a visit to Shetland College sparked her career change. She studied contemporary textiles at the college and, after graduating, founded Nielanell. Her knitwear label is influenced by a blend of cultures, including the clothes worn by the Indian members of her family. What started as a studio in Kalra's garage has grown to take up "a cluster of historic sheds and small croft houses" in Hoswick. Her goal is to create wearable art, experimenting with a variety…

44tH ANNUAL SMOKY MOUNTAIN SCOTTISH FESTIVAL & GAMES TOWNSEND, TN MAY 16-17, 2026 NEW FOR '26! Home of the SouthEast Highland Regional Dance Championship nd largest competition in the entire U.S.! PRO HEAVY ATHLETICS · KIDS ATHLETICS PIPES & DRUMS · LIVE MUSIC · 3 STAGES SCOTTISH FOOD & VENDORS · BEER WHISKY TASTINGS · SHEEP DOGS DEMOS · AXE THROWING 60+CLANS OVER 10,000 ATTENDEES FROM ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD. MORE THAN 22,000 FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS AND MANY MORE ACROSS ALL MAJOR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. SMOKYMOUNTAINGAMES.ORG TENNESSEE'S LARGEST SCOTTISH CULTURE CELEBRATION! Northern Nevada Celtic Ceilidh May 16 Reno, NV www.irishnevada.org This spring, the Sons & Daughters of Erin (SADOE) host the 4th Annual Northern Nevada Celtic Ceilidh in a new venue; the Reno Public Market, located in Midtown…

I have always had a passion for history," shares Ewen Booth, head of Tours Chardon, based in Quebec. His enthusiasm is well placed, given the enduring Scottish and Irish heritage that still runs through the predominantly French-speaking province. As a lifelong lineage explorer, Booth recently established his tour company to provide indepth Celtic cultural experiences of the region. "As a student, I used to work at the Military and Maritime Museum on St. Helen's Island in Montreal," he recalls. "I dressed in the uniform of a Fraser Highlander, and busloads of tourists watched us fire muskets, cannons, play bagpipes, and conduct tours." Booth also shares the legacy he promotes. "My father moved to Canada in 1952. He was proud of his Scottish heritage and served with the Black Watch and…