Category: Events

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Events Nithraid 2023 Workshops

Cluaran Boat Session

Thursday the 29th of June

7-9 pm (ish)

This is the ‘launch’ of our boat project leading up to participation in Nithraid 2023. Due to the skippers ambiguous relationship with time, we will be based around mill green interacting with the public rather than racing.

Please gather at:

Wordsmith Crafts Workshop

3 James Avenue, Dumfries DG2 9AU.

Please park in the yard rather than the street.

7-9 pm

We will have a boat maintenance session, in preparation for going for a row at the next boat gathering. If there are enough able bodied people we will turn the boat and replace the metal strip that runs along her keel. There will also be plenty of opportunity to discuss traditional boats, try the crafts needed to operate them, and generally get ready for going on the water.

As usual, you could also bring your own project, or find inspiration from the many ideas help in the workshop. You could also use the time to read. We have been collecting books (many are about boats), and guides on a wide variety of heritage crafts, or again bring along one you have wanted to get around to reading.

Cluaran craft club runs most Thursdays outside of Dumfries and Galloway School Holidays. Chip in £5 a time for workshop overheads, or become a Cluaran member. Materials are available on a pay by project basis. If you are short of cash, but have time, we can work something out. If you’d like to become a Cluaran member and help this project develop – get in touch too!

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Events

Tales at the Tap

Thursday the 15th of June

Following the success of our evening in May, there will be another Tales at the Tap session. In May Simon was accompanied by Kate on guitar – but no promises she will play for everyone every week!

Turn up at 6 for some chat and we get going by 6.30.

You will be able to sit back in the comfy sofa and simply listen, or get involved in some chat about the tales. There are excellent ales from around the world on tap too.

We have had a request for some stories featuring Bobd Derg. He is in the background of a few. Have you heard of the children of Lir? Or perhaps the dream of Aengus. They are not exactly love stories, but feature some powerful passions.

Do you have a favourite story?

Invite your friends!

https://www.youtube.com/TheFloatingMonastery

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Events

Tales at the Tap

The Ancient Art of Storytelling

Considering the venue, a telling of the mead of poetry is probably a good start.


There is another good tale about Thor fetching a cauldron from Hymr for a feast in Aegirs hall.

What went on in that hall is a tale for another time though…

Do you have a favourite story?

Invite your friends!

https://www.youtube.com/TheFloatingMonastery

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Events Workshops

Cluaran Craft Club

From hot metal working (with Simon Lidwell S.A.U. artist)

Many years ago Wordsmithcrafts ran a “Medieval Craft Club”

Over time interest in it grew, and all sorts of plans were cooked up. Some of these plans involved actual cooking and one day we might publish some of the photos of feasting. We made lantern shields for parades, tried bowl turning, and blacksmithing – among other things! All the crafts had a heritage connection, but the aim is to not just make replicas but also to be inspired to create new things.

The time has come to revisit the craft club idea, so after Easter we will be running specific workshops.

To careful calligraphy…

We will also have general craft club sessions. We will ask for a £5 contribution to cover workshop overheads. Participants will be able to discuss and start “pay as you go” craft projects using Wordsmith Crafts tools and materials.

Participants are also invited to bring their own projects and use the time to “get around too it”, as well as share knowledge and skills.

If you are short of cash, but have time, we can work something out. If you’d like to become a Cluaran member and help this project develop – get in touch too!

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Events

Tales From the Longhouse

Back in Lockdown “The Viking Storyteller” and “Cathbad” got together to run evenings of stories. Three storytellers told a story each in a virtual longhouse.

People dressed up for the occasion, or even built forts from boxes. Whilst people were staying at home to stay safe the walls of their houses were dissolved and people were able to gather in one place.

They decided not to record any of the stories, in order to emphasise the live and unrepeatable nature of the event. Some examples of their storytelling, from rehearsals or other live events can be found here:

The Viking Storyteller (often going by the name “Olaf”) can be seen telling stories here:

https://m.facebook.com/TheVikingSkald/live/

If you are interested in a story about stories – here is a sweet one for you.

More info here:

Tales From the Longhouse
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Events Workshops

Jewellery Workshop

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/cluaran/781774

This summer we took part in the Kirkcudbright Arts and Crafts trail. This is a great open studio event, and for those who don’t have studios in Kirkcudbright (like us) there is a temporary artists camp set up in the town centre.

During the event we were approached by a member of the public whose wife had recently died. She was a silver smith and he wondered if we had a use for some of her tools. All he wanted in return for this gift was a donation to the MND Scotland charity.

Therefore, as artists, we decided that rather than just giving what we could afford we would donate a workshop sharing our skills in order to raise awareness and cash for MND.

You can take part in the workshop if you buy a ticket here:

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/cluaran/781774

You can find out more about MND Scotland on their webpage (and donate directly).

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/cluaran/781774
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Events

Barrhill

Two days of the land of legends in Barrhill woods.

We have created a storytelling area, a craft workshop, and a challenge of games.

Ogma’s challenge

This weekend we have mostly been working with children. Brought by their those who look after them, they have been introduced to ways of being human which inform the legends of heroes.

Lugh’s workshop

Their wits are challenged with the games and their patience and ability to learn tested. They can learn dexterity and team work using traditional skills to make friendship bracelets. In the storytelling tent they can use their imaginations to enter worlds where we learn to live.

Levarcham’s lair

Most of all, they have had fun.

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Events

Scottish Archaeology Fair 2022

Well we made it! Despite a torrential downpour during set up the team managed to pitch the Iron Age camp.

During the day the public encountered an inquisitive Roman. He was very curious about the state of the roads. He had travelled far with his marching kit, but what would the locals think of him? (And his gifts)

Photo from facebook

One of the Novantae was making armour, who knows? Perhaps the wire rings he was linking together will survive a thousand years in Carlingwark loch. Hopefully the memories of making that the public gained will last a lifetime too.

Photo from facebook

From further west, a Selgovae crafter helped bend wire to another use. She crafted copper alloy rings with people. She also told tales from the Iron Age to entertain and expand the minds of all those with ears for listening.

Photo from facebook

Next weekend we will be in Barhill woodland for the final outdoor event of the season.

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Events

A Viking Holiday

Cluaran has argued that the sea is a means to travel rather than a boundary. So, when not visiting Scottish Schools to introduce Scots to the Norwegian heritage of Scotland, our members sometimes go to Norway.

This year was a special year, as the west coast of Norway was celebrating the “Rikssamlingen” or “Forging of the Nation” by Harald Fairhair.

It is said that some of those who were not over keen on this left in their longships to find new places to settle, like Scotland, Iceland and anywhere else the sea reaches.

You can read more here in an article we were kindly sent by a Norwegian friend:

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Events

Whithorn !

As part of the year of Scotland’s stories celebrations, Kråkå and Cathbad ‘moved in’ to the roundhouse at Whithorn. During the day they worked at textile and metal working tasks, as well as the ongoing necessities of simply living

Then in the afternoon and evening they told stories…