Mabou Gaelic & Historical Society-An Drochaid

08/25/2026

Join us on Saturday, September 5th, at 7 PM, as we welcome Baltimore filmmaker, Allen Moore, to An Drochaid. We will be screening two of his films, “The Shepherds of Berneray”, and "Returning to Berneray”. Allen will be present to lend some context and insight into the films and their significance.

Over 45 years ago two young American filmmakers, Allen Moore and Jack Shea, lived on a remote island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland for a full year to document the daily life of a traditional shepherding and fishing community. Their film, “The Shepherds of Berneray”, was completed in 1981, and is a study of the centuries-old crofting traditions of the island of Berneray, and a portrait of the Gaelic speaking people whose lives reflected the underpinnings of this heritage.

Moore has continued a decades-long friendship with the islanders. Beginning in 2016, he spent 10 years revisiting the community to document what traditions have remained and how life has changed on Berneray. Weaving together 16mm outtakes from the late 1970’s with contemporary HD digital material, “Returning to Berneray” is a personal portrait of a place and a filmmaker’s relationship to it.

08/18/2026

Join Niall on Thursday afternoon for a Genealogy Workshop! Learn how to use some helpful tools that will aid you in finding your ancestry. If you have specific questions about your family, bring them in and we'll point you in the right direction!

08/15/2026

Feasgar an diugh! Join us this evening for some tunes and tea.

Join us this Saturday at 6:30pm for another session, this time before the West Mabou dance! Bonny Jean MacDonald and Marion MacLeod will be the house musicians for the evening. Bring your songs, tunes, and steps - we'll warm up with lots of toe-tapping and hot tea! All ages are welcome.

08/12/2026

Join us this Saturday at 6:30pm for another session, this time before the West Mabou dance! Bonny Jean MacDonald and Marion MacLeod will be the house musicians for the evening. Bring your songs, tunes, and steps - we'll warm up with lots of toe-tapping and hot tea! All ages are welcome.

08/11/2026

There are still spaces available at our week long immersion for teens. Click the link to register. 👉https://forms.gle/F1RfHSLMjiCrmezg7

ATTENTION TEENS!! Summer Gaelic Immersion Camp opportunity!!

Colaiste a’ Rubha is a five-day Gaelic immersion program for youth taking place from Sunday, August 23 to Friday, August 28, 2025, with students to arriving on the evening of Sunday, August 23 for orientation. The program will host eight participants aged 13 to 19, who will stay together in the home of teacher Joanne MacIntyre in Mabou Coal Mines. The home will operate primarily through Gaelic, with an “English room” available for students to communicate important needs if necessary.

Each day will begin with breakfast and morning Gaelic classes, held either at the home or An Drochaid Museum. Lunch will be followed by afternoon excursions such as hikes, beach walks, cooking, and learning about local landmarks and bards—all conducted in Gaelic. In the evenings, students will help prepare meals while immersed in the language and take part in cultural activities like movie nights, ceilidhs, and local music and dance events. While not all community activities will be fully immersive, students will be encouraged to use Gaelic as much as possible to build fluency and deepen cultural connections.

This opportunity is open to youth across Nova Scotia aged 13 to 19, with priority given to older students and those with some prior Gaelic language experience. The ability to express basic needs in Gaelic is considered an asset, as the program is designed to immerse participants in the language both in structured and informal settings. Through classroom instruction, storytelling, cooking, music, outdoor exploration, and intergenerational learning, Colaiste a’ Rubha offers an enriching experience that strengthens cultural identity and promotes the continued revitalization of Gaelic in Nova Scotia.

Applications are due by August 8, 2025, and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. To apply, please complete the online application form at:
👉 https://forms.gle/F1RfHSLMjiCrmezg7
For any inquiries, please e-mail Joanne at [email protected]

Funding Acknowledgement
This project is funded by the Province of Nova Scotia through the Gaelic Dian Oideas na Gàidhlig | Gaelic Intensive Immersion project funding. We gratefully acknowledge support from Oifis Iomairtean na Gàidhlig | The Office of Gaelic Affairs, and the NS Provincial Support for Culture Fund.

08/06/2026

An diugh!

Join us on Thursday, August 6th, at 2:00pm for a Gaelic song workshop with Niall MacIntyre!
Pre-register at [email protected] (Drop-ins welcome)
Fàilte oribh uile! All are welcome!

08/05/2026

A reminder of the events still to come! We have changed the date of our next Ceilidh to be on Saturday, August 15th from 6:30-8:30pm, so make sure to come down for some tunes! Join Niall tomorrow afternoon to learn a few Gaelic songs as well.