This weekend was an important event for me personally as it was the first public signing of my new children’s book, The Scottish Alphabet. The book was received well and I had a grand time story-telling to the little ones and to adults as well. The weekend was important in other ways as this news release indicates.

SEPTEMBER 5-7, 2008 DECLARED CELTIC HERITAGE WEEKEND

(Jackson, MS) – Governor Haley Barbour issued a proclamation that the weekend of September 5-7, 2008 is declared “Celtic Heritage Weekend” to coincide with 17th annual CelticFest Mississippi, a weekend celebrating the music, dance, and culture of the seven Celtic nations of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, the Isle of Man, Brittany, and Gallicia.

The Proclamation notes that large numbers of Irish, Scottish, and Welsh immigrants settled in what is now Mississippi as early as the mid-1700’s, establishing homes, farms, and communities. These Celtic settlers made significant contributions in every aspect of life which are still felt today.

The Celtic Heritage Society (CHS) was founded in 1992 by Celtic music and dance practitioners. The mission of the CHS is to preserve, promote, and present traditional Celtic art and culture in Mississippi.

CelticFest Mississippi is the main outgrowth of the CHS mission, celebrating traditional Celtic culture over three days with stage performances, workshops, food, drink, and specialty item vendors. The event takes place at the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Museum.

Regardless of personal ethnic background, all Missisippians share a common culture influenced by those who settled the area. Some sources estimate that as much as three out of every four Southerners can claim Celtic ancestry.

For more information, please visit the CelticFest web site: www.CelticFestMS.org. The Celtic Heritage Society is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with the mission of promoting and preserving the arts and culture of the Celtic nations. CelticFest is a family-oriented event, and all CHS events are open to the public.

CelticFest’s sponsors include: Fenian’s Irish Pub, Guinness, Cabot Lodge Millsaps, Branch Cable, Wine & Spirits in the Quarter, the Jackson Irish Dancers. This project is also funded in part by a grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission, a state agency and by the Southern Arts Federation in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Mississippi Arts Commission.