Céilí of the Valley Society out and about during March and Saint Patrick’s Day spreading cheer to the community!
St. Patrick’s Day Walk-about
At Bookdale Senior Living: 
At Cedar Village: 
Ceili Class at Pentacle Theatre
Ceili of the Valley had an Irish Ceili Dance class at Pentacle Theatre on January 27, 2018 for patrons before the play, Dancing at Lughnasa, by Brian Friel and directed by Loriann Schmidt. Many thanks to Jordan Mackor for the video and to Pentacle Theatre for an opportunity to partner with them.
Here is the link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgGqINQel3o&authuser=0
Samhain Celtic New Year Festival
A day of festivities at our second annual Samhain (SOW-in) Celtic New Year Festival. A celebration of culture of the seven Celtic nations through live music, dance, children’s activities, demonstrations, vendors, and workshops.
The Welsh Chorus
Summer 2017 – Celtic Happenings
Ceili of the Valley Society was busy this summer in many community events.
At festivals in Salem:
At Cedar Village Assisted Living Facility:
Fun at schools:
Starting the kilt
Dancing in the streets:
Don’t Rain On My Walk-About
St. Patrick’s Day Walk-about – March 2017
Samhain Festival Soup Recipes
As promised, below are the yummy soup recipes from our Festival.
RECIPES for 50
Bubble and Squeak (Welsh)
12# chicken meat
9# potatoes (cooked & diced)
10 quarts chicken stock
8 cabbages (chopped=24 cups)
12 cloves garlic (diced)
2# onions (diced)
10# cooked diced ham
3# bacon (cooked & chopped)
4# cooked turnips (chopped)
2-3 cups water ( if needed)
Salt & pepper
—-adapted from cookbook; Celtic Folklore Cooking by Joanne Asala (1998)
Cock-a-leekie Soup (Scottish)
12# chicken meat
10 quarts chicken stock
36 leeks (chopped)
5 cups rice
5# pitted prunes
5 cups chopped parsley
3-5 cups water if needed
—adapted from cookbook; Celtic Folklore Cooking by Joanne Asala (1998)
Potato Soup (Irish)
1# butter
5 cups diced onions
5 cups diced scallions
15 cups peeled, diced potatoes
5 tsp salt
2 leaves of bay leaf
5 sprigs of each: fresh thyme, rosemary, parsley
4 1/2 quarts vegetable stock
5 cups whole milk
—-adapted from cookbook; The Ballymaloe Cookbook by Myrtle Allen (1989)
Samhain Celtic New Year Festival
The Céilí (Kay-lee) of the Valley Society hosted its inaugural Samhain (pronounced SOW-en) Celtic New Year Festival with an evening concert on October 22, 2016 in Salem, Oregon. The small, but mighty family-friendly festival highlighted crafts, music, dance and culture from the six Celtic Nations (Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany and Isle of Man). We hope to make this an annual Salem event.
Thanks to all the community members that attended, vendors, instructors, and demonstrators. We couldn’t have done it without our amazing volunteers. Special thanks to Marion-Polk Food Share in letting us use their wonderful kitchen to prepare our soups.
Céilí of the Valley Society received support from the Oregon Arts Commission, a state agency funded by the State of Oregon and the National Endowment for the Arts.
The Samhain Festival was partially funded by the following Granters:
- Fred W. Fields Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation
- Marion Cultural Development Corporation, and
- William S. Walton Charitable Trust Grant
Lucky’s September Vacation
Did you notice Lucky was missing at September’s Céilí? He was on vacation with Céilí of the Valley’s Board Members Carl and Ginny in Ireland.
Teacher’s Notes
Hello All,
I am going to try and post information about new dances that we try (and maybe some old favorites) to the website. Here’s a new dance we will be trying out tonight, compliments of our friends at Frolicking Meese Ceili Dancers, who dance in Bend. Check them out at frolickingmeese.weebly.com
We’ll give this a whirl tonight in class and see how it goes!!
I would like to thank all of the faithful dancers that keep coming out despite the heat to be at class every Tuesday – it’s such a joy to see everyone. I would also like to say thank you to Ginny for getting things set up so I could blog…now I just have to take the time and do it!! Elisa
Laura’s Jig
- Danced by three couples: gents on one side, ladies on the other
- Longways progressive
- Expandable (w/modifications)
- Advance and retire (4)
- 6-hand right star around to place (4)
- Turn and Wander (16)
- 1st corners (top gent and bottom lady) right hand turn 1.5 times (4)
- Top gent and bottom lady cast right back to place, the gent out the bottom of the set and the lady out the top (4)
- While 1st corners cast, 2nd corners (top lady and bottom gent) left hand turn 1.5 times around
- 2nd corners cast left to home, gent out the top and lady out the bottom of the set (4)
- While 2nd corners cast, Middles right hand turn 1.5 times
- Middles cast right out the opposite side of the set and dance around to place (4)
- Sheepskin Heys
- Men’s Sheepskin Hey: (24)
- 1st gent leads behind the ladies’ line and weaves the line, followed by the 2nd and 3rd gents (~6)
- Last gent turns back around the center lady, followed by the front gent, then the middle gent.
- Each time the rear gent reaches the middle lady he turns back around her and reverses the weave, followed by the front gent, then the middle gent. (Rear gent will change)
- Continue until the 1st gent is in the lead again (~12)
- 1st gent leads the men back around behind the ladies and back to place (continuing original loop) (~6)
- Ladies’ Sheepskin Hey (24)
- 1st lady leads behind the gents’ line and weaves the line, followed by the 2nd and 3rd ladies (~6)
- Last lady turns back around the center gent, followed by the front lady, then the middle lady.
- Each time the rear lady reaches the middle gent she turns back around him and reverses the weave, followed by the front lady, then the middle lady. (Rear lady will change)
- Continue until the 1st lady is in the lead again (~12)
- 1st lady leads the women back around behind the gents and back to place (continuing original loop) (~6)
- House to progress (8)
- 1st couple swings down the men’s side to the bottom
- 2nd and 3rd couples swing up the ladies’ side to progress.
Source video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a5POmKrBNs
Irish Social & Scottish Dancing with Ceili of the Valley Society
It’s as simple as 3’s and 7’s. Fun for all ages. Video by Bill Cruscial of CCTV.