Hello Dick- Julia Lane of Castlebay here. Hoping things are going well for this years' festival!

I have been working hard for four years at a project commemorating the 1740 shipwreck of Scots-Irish emigrants here in Maine. These were headed to Philadelphia, but were rescued by Passamaquoddy and brought to an existing Scots- Irish settlement here in the midcoast.

Its is a bit complex to go into all details here, but here are some GENERAL things to think about.
Historically, these people were called "Scots-Irish" to differentaite them from the "Irish". This partly a language thing as the "Irish" seem to be those who speak Gaelic in the documentation. It is also a socio/religion thing as most of the emigrants at this time were Presbyterians. Originally Scottish from the lowlands, they spoke Scots and were generally farmers & merchants of the Scots culture. This seems to be a group who fall socially somewhere between Protestant/Anglican and Catholic. Although officially loyal to the Crown, their religion was ruled as "radical" and they had limited rights. They rented the land (did not own) and their marriages were not official, this making their children bastards and the sons unable to inherit. Their religions meetings were restricted and even outlawed.

When they finally got fed up and decided to emigrate in the early 1700's, they recieved a cold reception in New England. They were "warned out" of Boston and sent to the hinterlands of New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont and Western Mass. If you look at the map you will notice Northern Irish town names in these regions.
Ironically, one rationale used for sending them to the frontier was to be a buffer against the"wild Indians" just as they had been sent to Northern Ireland to "subdue the wild Irish" 100 years before.

There was in fact an unscrupulous emigration scheme the involved kick-backs from American landowners to ministers and ship captains that enticed people to make the move. Throughout the journey, their pockets were systematically vacuumed and many who started out as people of means arrived destitute and indentured.

Of course, they brought music and traditions with them . Much is made of the "Appalachian" connection, but New England and Maritime traditions have these same roots. Remember that the Appalachians extend to Canada! (grin)

For the presentation, I will be using music of the times which the emigrants may have heard, as well as original music and songs in the style. Although music would have been highly regulated in the church, these people enjoyed a good ceilidh as much as anyone. They also played more organized music in the drawing room after dinner. They played a mixture of "oldies: and what might have been new and fashionable. It seems to have been highly influeneced by the Scottish sound, just as the accent of the people in that region today reminds one of Galloway or Glasgow.
(Not you, Dick- you're from Edinburgh!)

As with any border region, each side influences the other culturally. The blend developes its own distinctions. To call the style Scots -Irish or Ulster-Scots is perfectly practical, just as "lemon-lime" describes a unique flavor. It honors both ingredients, while defining the new entity.

Anyway, if anyone is interested in my production, I will follow this with a couple of links

Cheers- Julia Lane