A Ceilidh is a gathering and in years gone by the gatherings were at different homes, then community centers and now just about anyplace can have a “Gathering” for music and dancing. The gatherings were great places to pass down cultural history through music, dance and stories.

Our day started at the Mabou market, held each Sunday. The market was held in a hockey arena with four rows of wonderful artisans and food vendors and one gentleman playing guitar, singing country and rock oldies.  We bought some bread and honey for the next days breakfast.

Leaving Mabou we drove south to Judique to visit the Celtic Music Interpretive Center. There we tried to learn Step dancing, which Nancy was very good at and to play fiddle.  After we walked through the exhibits we sat in the Gathering Room for refreshments and to listen to music.  One fiddle player accompanied by an electric piano was just awesome.   We were also treated to locals doing the Celtic version of square dancing, which was a mixture of the typical square routines with step dancing mixed in.

At 3 Pm we returned to Mabou for dinner at the Red Shoe Pub. Two fiddle players Margie and Dawn Beaton provided the entertainment and wowed the crowd for three hours.  The gal on the piano used every note, all the way down to the lowest one! It was amazing to hear. Nancy downloaded their CD so we will always have a memory from Mabou.