With a special contribution from Ellen MacIsaac in Ottawa

The theme for the next Clé Abhaile session on Thursday, October 12 will be ‘Across the Broad Atlantic’ to mark the anniversary of Columbus’ first landing in the Americas in 1492. Both Honduras in Central America and Colombia in South America both celebrate October 12 as Columbus Day. So we are looking for songs from or relating to North, Central or South America.

We are delighted that we will be joined by Ellen MacIsaac – a singer, teacher and choral director from Ottawa in Canada – live from the city’s Beechwood Cemetery immediately after the reinterment of the remains of a number of Irish, Scots and French workers who died during the construction of the Rideau Canal almost 200 years ago (as illustrated above). The remains were discovered within the last ten years during excavations for the Ottawa Light Rail Transit System.

Ellen, who is an award-winning Irish language singer in Canada has been invited to perform at the reinterment ceremony. She is no stranger to Dublin – having received a PhD in ethnomusicology from UCD specialising in traditional singing in Irish and English. When the memorial event is over, Ellen will join us in an “outside broadcast” from the cemetery in Ottawa.

We will be inviting performers from the virtual ‘floor’ to sing before and after Ellen’s contribution. While we encourage songs, poems and readings related to the theme, we will welcome contributions on any subject. We also welcome participants who prefer to listen rather than perform.

For links for this Zoom session, please contact info@cleabhaile.com

Tuesday, October 14 8.00pm on Zoom