BS: Cuilionn-Where Have you Been?!?!?

Subject: BS: Cuilionn-Where Have you Been?!?!?
From: catspaw49
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 10:29 PM

Over these intervening years, I have wondered many times what became of you and we have discussed it on the Forum. I trusted you were okay, but I still worried as did many others from those days. There was not a clue in your final postings as to anything changing so we wondered and hoped all the best for you.

Last week you came to mind again, this time as I thought of a member who was also cherished by many of us and who like you, wrote the dialect so beautifully. He died awhile back and I was thinking of him and whenever I think of Little John Cameron, I also think of you. I wish the two of you had been here at the 'Cat at the same time.

But I enjoyed far more than your dialect postings. I enjoyed your thoughts.......Many of us did. It is wonderful to see you back and I hope you will come by and hang out at least a little. Plus, you must promise never to leave again with nothing said. I am not around as much as I used to be, but I'm here often enough to appreciate anything you post.

Paw, Cletus, Buford, and the Reg Boys have missed you as well and all send whatever it is they send......and whatever it is, don't touch it.....and if you do, wash thoroughly and get a shot.

A Very Happy,

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Cuilionn-Where Have you Been?!?!?
From: Big Mick
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 10:32 PM

Makes two of us, Spaw. She was one of the shining lights and I am very pleased to see her gracing this place again.

Cuillion, welcome back. We are better for your returning.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: Cuilionn-Where Have you Been?!?!?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 11:38 PM

What's a "Cuillion"?

Subject: RE: BS: Cuilionn-Where Have you Been?!?!?
From: Cuilionn
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 11:43 PM

Och, ye dae ken how tae set a lass tae greetin... *sniff!* Ye've nae idea how sair a chauve these past few years hae been, an Ah'll spare ye maist o the details, but since ye askit, here's a nutshell version o "The Missin Years":

The walls o ma Ivory Tower were hie an strong, tae be sure. Ah went aff tae seminary, ye ken, an tho Ah pour'd ma verra speerit intae the wairk o the plaice, there wis aye little there tae fill me up agin. There were moments o blitheness, tae be sure, but naebody kythed ma devotion tae auld ways an Celtic tongues, an how these things micht fit intae the wairk o a Woman O The Claith. Ah returnit "hame" tae find masel forgaetten or een rejectit by the folk o ma ain kirk, sae Ah tuik tae wanderin, speerit-weary an hairt-sair.

After lang years in the desert, it wis the solace o salt-watter tides Ah wis needin. Ane coast seemit as guid as the ither, an there were freends o mine ower in Maine, sae 'twas tae Maine Ah cam, an here Ah bide. Ma freends-- a piper, a fiddler, a harper, a dancer, an ane or twa ithers-- hae gaitherit roond tae tend tae ma speerit-mendin. Ah've nae kirk the noo, but we're stairtin up this "Ceilidh Hoose" project, an the wairk o reconnectin folk wi their creative heritage feels aye wairthwhile an holy!

Here's oor official mission: "tae provide a hame for educational activities & performance events that celebrate the Celtic immigrant heritage of Maine." Ironically, we lost the use o oor first donatit facility, richt after we'd put in hundreds o volunteer hours tae paint the plaice... but Celts hae allus been nomadic, aye? We can travel licht an tak programs intae "undersairved" rural areas while we're luikin for a new office/classruim space.

Ah'm daein aa this as a labour o love, wi nae sillar tae line ma pockets, but Ah wairk as a pairt-time nanny an trade wairk for ma rent, sae there's allus a roof ower ma heid an (maist days) victuals on the table. What matters mair is the feast o music an freendship here, tae feed ma hauf-starvit hairt: the concerts wi traditional musicians, the wairkshops we host, the sessions, an o coorse the ceilidhs! Ah'm convincit that the Kingdom o God is rilly Ane Big Ceilidh, wi everyane welcome an everyane jynin in.

Hmmm... sae, I guess Ah DID become a Woman o the Claith-- but ma particular claith happenit tae be a length o tartan, or aiblins a linen gown o saffron hue! Onyway, muckle thanks for keepin me in yir thochts durin ma desert sojourn, an muckle mair thanks for welcomin me back intae the Mudcat fold!

Yirs aye,

--Cuilionn

Subject: RE: BS: Cuilionn-Where Have you Been?!?!?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 11:54 PM

Oh... THAT'S a "Cuillion"

...

Subject: RE: BS: Cuilionn-Where Have you Been?!?!?
From: Cluin
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 12:06 AM

Well, she's not a Cluin, that's for sure. ;)

Subject: RE: BS: Cuilionn-Where Have you Been?!?!?
From: catspaw49
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 12:25 AM

I'm off to bed with a smile. Thank you Dear One for gracing these parts with that beautiful prose......and an interesting tale as well.

We need to get you together with two GREAT 'Catter's around your area who are wonderful folks you'll appreciate.....and they you. Sinsull and Kendall Morse are both there and many others are not far away, like Jeri and Night Owl and Animaterra and Barry Finn and Bat Goddess and...............Lots of good music and good friends in your area!!!

Again, so glad you are back!!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Cuilionn-Where Have you Been?!?!?
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 01:21 AM

Alba is up there, too, with many years of "gigging" round Ireland and some beautiful songs to show for it. She'd really enjoy meeting you and the others, I am sure.

It is wonderful to have you back, Cuilionn. Welcome, welcome!

Thanks, Spaw, for starting this...

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Cuilionn-Where Have you Been?!?!?
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 01:23 AM

Lucky Kendall and Sinsull, look at this:

(Onyane want tae see this wee Mudcat Scot face-tae-face? Ah'm performin wi ma freends for Imbolc/St. Bridgit's Day, 1/31/04 in Damariscotta & 2/1/04 in Portland, Maine! Send yir e-mails tae [e-mail] tae find oot mair!) from the Mudcat character thread!

Subject: RE: BS: Cuilionn-Where Have you Been?!?!?
From: Teresa
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 01:45 AM

ah there you are! I was away from the 'cat for awhile, too, but Cuilionn, I thought of you and smiled. Good to see your beautiful words again. :)
Teresa

Subject: RE: BS: Cuilionn-Where Have you Been?!?!?
From: Bill D
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 11:21 AM

note-there is still a small picture of Cuilionn in the Mudcat photos pages(dating from when I was collecting pictures)..perhaps a new one would be good one of these days?

Subject: RE: BS: Cuilionn-Where Have you Been?!?!?
From: Tinker
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 12:08 PM

It's good to read your wonderful words again Cuilionn. Have you perhaps met our "dear sweet" Brian at the Irish Heritage Center ??? He turns a dear song in the Celtic tongues as well. ( Are ye blushing yet Brian???)

Welcome back to the sweeter welcome of spirit and more mundanely to the dancing insantiy known as Mudcat. Perhaps SINS and Kendall can get both of you to the fall Getaway in October.


Tinker

Subject: RE: BS: Cuilionn-Where Have you Been?!?!?
From: Cuilionn
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 10:24 AM

Aye, Tinker, Brian & I hae raised a few choruses thegither, but Ah've no seen him in months. Kendall, o coorse, is a local legend, but I've no been properly introduced tae him, sae I dinnae believe he exists. ;-)

The Richt Guid(?) Mr. Noble, on the ither hand, haes shared claise quarters wi me at Brunswick's best, the Side Door Coffeehoose. I dinnae think he kent there wis anither 'Catter in the ruim, but I wis a lapsed 'Catter at the time!

Bein a car-less Luddite has its disadvantages, especially when ye bide deep in the kintraside wi nae guid public transport systems. Ah've nae gaetten oot tae as mony sessions & festivals as I'd like. But Ah'm near tae gettin ma ain wheels, an in the meantime folk are aye welcome tae shaw up at ony o oor Ceilidh Hoose gigs... (hint, hint, Brian... how aboot Feb. 1st at the St. Lawrence Center in Portland, 7:30 PM? Wi' the Fitba Game that nicht, ye'll no hae muckle competition for guid concert seats, ye ken!)

Subject: RE: BS: Cuilionn-Where Have you Been?!?!?
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 10:28 AM

Not believe in the existance of Kendall? Now THAT is blasphemous!

Subject: RE: BS: Cuilionn-Where Have you Been?!?!?
From: Rex
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 01:16 PM

Ah Cuilionn, it's good to read that melodic tongue again. I do wish I had the chance to meet while you were mucking about in Denver. I found out only after you were gone that you were joining in with some friends of mine, the Kindred Spirits. I do hope we meet sometime.

Rex

Subject: RE: BS: Cuilionn-Where Have you Been?!?!?
From: Cuilionn
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 01:20 PM

Och, masel & blasphemy gae waaaay back!

In trowth, Ah wis rilly luikin for'ard tae meetin Kendall, as there wis a rumor he micht shaw up at a Robbie Burns concert whaur Ah wis helpin oot last week. We didnae see him, o course, an the noo Ah find he's back in the hospital, sae Ah'll be keepin him in ma prayers, tae be sure--blasphemous tho they micht be!

Ah still say he's a legend, tho... ;-)

--Cuilionn

Subject: RE: BS: Cuilionn-Where Have you Been?!?!?
From: Amos
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 08:43 PM

Ach, lass, dinna be shy -- - go down to the hospital and sing him a few!!


A

Subject: RE: BS: Cuilionn-Where Have you Been?!?!?
From: Cuilionn
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 11:05 PM

Amos--

Ah jist craicit wi Julia Lane, an we jist micht! She can bring her harp, an we'll gie him guid Scots sangs tae spur his recovery an stir his hunger for the Auld Sod (that's Scotland, ye ken, NAE whit YE are thinkin!) een mair, sae that he'll mak hisself richt weel in guid time for travelin 'cross the watter! Shhhhh, dinnae tell... we'll stairt wairkin up a set list! ;-)

--Cuilionn

Subject: RE: BS: Cuilionn-Where Have you Been?!?!?
From: Amos
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 11:13 PM

When it comes to stirring up his hungers, lass, I'm thinking ya shouldn't be picky -- take what ye can get and be grateful!!! LOL!


A

Subject: RE: BS: Cuilionn-Where Have you Been?!?!?
From: Alaska Mike
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 03:17 AM

Cuilionn, I never read your posts prior to the past few days, but I must have shared the stage with you a time or two at the Anchorage Folk Festival. I have played at almost every one of them, and have worked as stage manager, performance scheduler, and festival coordinator for much of its existence. But cannot for the life of me remember anyone speaking in the manner of your posts. Perhaps someday my confusion will be cleared up. I look forward to trying to figure out what the heck you're talking about in the future.

Camai,
Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Cuilionn-Where Have you Been?!?!?
From: Tinker
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 07:37 AM

Cuilionn, I just sent a PM, since Kendall is stuck in waiting mode, there is no doubt at all he'd want to see a couple of fine lassies. So now I've taken away the excuse with addy and room number and all, so you'll just have to go meet him while he can't run away.

Give him a hug and a kiss for me too okay???

Tinker

Subject: RE: BS: Cuilionn-Where Have you Been?!?!?
From: Cuilionn
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 10:53 AM

Tinker: Aye, that! We'll be there wi bells on. Suid we wear onythin else?

Alaska Mike: Nae, mon, ye didnae hear me speakin Guid Scots back then, as Ah hadnae stairtit studyin either Scots or Gaelic.

Ah wis jist ane o those wee wistfu lassies, hingin roond the plaice, ne'er kennin Ah cuid be a pairt o onythin sae grand. The claisest Ah gaet tae the limelicht wis an end-o-festival ('94?) impromptu Sea Shantey session in the lobby, whaur Ah wis beltin oot "Barrett's Privateers" wi the best o 'em. Ma college freens frae A.P.U. were caught aff guard-- they cuidnae figger oot how their mild-mannerit pre-seminary freend suddenly turnit intae a swearin sailor!

Ah think ye micht hae been there then, but Ah'm sure 'twas nae sae memorable for ye as 'twas for masel!

Subject: RE: BS: Cuilionn-Where Have you Been?!?!?
From: Tinker
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 11:45 AM

Kendall would clearly prefer the bells, but 'tis cold in Maine and we wouldn't want them freezin' to yourselves and givin' the poor nurses more work. Perhaps a coat and some velvet soft gloves...

Tinker

Subject: RE: BS: Cuilionn-Where Have you Been?!?!?
From: SINSULL
Date: 31 Jan 04 - 10:42 AM

Just found this thread. Welcome to Maine, Cuilionn. Kendall would indeed welcome a lass in nothing but bells. The nurses might object. I wish I could have seen you perform...next time. Meantime, I hope to meet you soon. Kendall is quite dashing in his hospital frock. surprise him.

Subject: RE: BS: Cuilionn-Where Have you Been?!?!?
From: Cuilionn
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 09:18 AM

HAPPY IMBOLC TAE YE AA!

Jist celebratin the Celtic Cross-Quarter Day by thinkin on aa the unco craitures an wyrd beasties in ma life, an how thankfu Ah am for them. O aa the craitures Ah spend time wi, Mudcats are some o ma favourites!
Muckle thanks for welcomin me back, Guid Mudcat Folk!

Yirs aye,

--Cuilionn