Members of Scottish Parliament visit
St FX Celtic Department, November 2008
Dr. Michael Linkletter
Michael Linkletter is the current chair of the Department of Celtic Studies. He holds a Masters and PhD in Celtic Languages and Literatures from Harvard University with a doctoral dissertation entitled Bu Dual Dha Sin (That Was His Birthright): Gaelic Scholar Alexander Maclean Sinclair (1840-1924). As an undergraduate Michael attended St. Francis Xavier University where he received degrees in Celtic Studies and History.
His research interests vary from medieval Irish and Welsh narrative tradition, to the historical development of Celtic Studies as an academic field, to the history, culture, and literature of the Scottish Gaels in Canada. This year (2011-12) he is teaching courses in Paganism, Christianity, Scottish Gaelic Poetry, and a seminar on the development of Celtic Studies as a field.
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Dr. Michael Newton
Michael Newton was awarded a Ph.D. in Celtic Studies from the University of Edinburgh in 1998 for his dissertation The Tree in Scottish Gaelic Literature and Tradition. He has given lectures and taught workshops on Scottish topics at venues such as the Smithsonian, the U.S. Library of Congress, Slighe nan Gaidheal in Seattle, and the Toronto Scottish Gaelic Learners' Association.
He has written several books and numerous articles on many aspects of Gaelic tradition and history, including Bho Chluaidh gu Calasraid (1999), We're Indians Sure Enough: The Legacy of the Scottish Highlanders in the United States (2001), and Warriors of the Word: The World of the Scottish Highlanders (2009). His research interests and areas of expertise include Scottish Highland immigrant literature and history; ethnicity and identity politics; human ecology; Gaelic music and dance traditions.
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Dr. Kenneth Nilsen
Ken Nilsen is a graduate of Brooklyn College and has a Masters degree and Ph.D. in Celtic Studies from Harvard University.
Dr. Nilsen teaches courses in Scottish and Irish Gaelic, Celtic literature, and Gaelic folklore. His research interests include the Celtic languages in North America. He has recorded on audio and video tape native speakers of Scottish and Irish Gaelic, Breton and Welsh, in Scotland, Ireland, Brittany, Wales and North America. Since 1987 he has contributed over 65 Gaelic pieces to the Antigonish weekly Casket which consist of material he has collected from Danny Cameron, one of the last speakers of mainland Nova Scotia Gaelic.
Dr Nilsen is on sabbatical during the 2011-12 academic year.
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Darren Ó Dochartaigh (Visiting Lecturer)
Darren Ó Dochartaigh is currently pursuing a Master's degree at Queen's University Belfast. He has worked as a post-primary school teacher and currently works as a translator. As a Celtic Studies undergraduate Darren studied at Queen's and also received his initial teacher training there. He is the secretary of the long established Cumann Chluain Árd in West Belfast. As a non-denominational education setting it uses the Irish language as a tool in educating the community and is held to be the only association in Ireland to adhere to a single language policy.
His specific interests and hobbies include Irish language Translation Studies, Culture in Translation, Donegal Literature of the 20th Century and Sean-nós singing. This year he will be teaching Irish Folklore (CELT 351), as well as 1st, 2nd and 3rd year Irish.
Goiridh mac Alasdair Dhùghaill (Part-time Instructor)
Tha Goiridh mac Alasdair Dhùghaill á Bràigh na h-Aibhneadh, Eilean Cheap Breatuinn. Thòisich e air a' Ghàidhlig ionnsachadh aig StFX, agus, as a dheaghaidh sin, thog e dualchainnt na coimhearsnachd aige bho a chàirdean 's bho a dhìlsean a'sin. Tha e air roinn do theagasg a dhèanadh do shean is òg ann an coimhearsnachdan na h-Albann Nuaidh thro'n mhodh-teagaisg "Gàidhlig aig Baile". Bidh e ag obair mar Oifigear na Gàidhlig do dh'Oifig Iomairtean na Gàidhlig, miar do Roinn Choimhearsnachdan, a' Chultair agus an Dualchais ann an Albainn Nuaidh. Tha e 'na sheinneadair is 'na sheanchaidh, agus tha e an sàs ann maighstearachd aig Oilthigh Memorial, Talamh an Éisg. Bidh e a' teagasg CELT 100 am bliadhna.
Jeff MacDonald comes from the Gaelic community of Bràigh na h-Aibhneadh (Kingsville) in Cape Breton. His acquisition of Gaelic began as a student at StFX and continued in his own community where he learned from some of the finest native speakers, both friends and family. He has taught the Gaelic language extensively in NS communities and beyond through the "Gàidhlig aig Baile" methodology and is the Gaelic Field Officer for The Office of Gaelic Affairs, a division of the NS Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage. He is also known as a singer and storyteller and was the founding president of Comunn Ceilteach StFX (The StFX Celtic Society) while a student here. He is currently working on a Master's degree at Memorial University. He will be teaching CELT 100 this year.
Lewis MacKinnon (Part-time Instructor)
Lewis MacKinnnon was born in Inverness, Cape Breton and raised in Antigonish County. Lewis graduated from St.F.X. University in 1992 with a Major in Political Science and a Minor in Celtic Studies. He teaches via the TIP (Total Immersion Plus) method or as it is called in Gaelic, Gàidhlig aig Baile, in the HRM, New Glasgow, Antigonish and Cape Breton. In May 2011 he graduated from St.F.X. University in spring 2011 with a Master's in Celtic Studies. The focus of his thesis is on the extent of Gaelic language and culture in and around Inverness Town as experienced, remembered and shared by members of the family of his father, Joe MacKinnon. He is now Executive Director of Gaelic Affairs, a Division of the Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage, Province of Nova Scotia. He will be teaching CELT 200 this year.
Website by Michael Newton