Merigomish, Nova Scotia

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Merigomish is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Pictou County.

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The Canadian Gaelic poet Iain mac Ailein's 1826 poem Òran a' Bhàil Ghàidhealaich ("The Song of the Gaelic Ball"), was composed for and first performed at a gathering organized by David Murray at Merigomish and to which only Gaelic speakers were invited. [1] The song remains very popular among Gaelic-speakers in both Scotland and Nova Scotia and is often referred to by its first line, Bithibh Aotrom 's Togaibh Fonn ("Be Light-hearted and Raise a Tune"). [2]

45°37′48″N62°25′28″W / 45.63000°N 62.42444°W / 45.63000; -62.42444 (Merigomish, Nova Scotia)

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References

  1. Edited by Natasha Sumner and Aidan Doyle (2020), North American Gaels: Speech, Song, and Story in the Diaspora, McGill-Queen's University Press. Page 296.
  2. Edited by Natasha Sumner and Aidan Doyle (2020), North American Gaels: Speech, Song, and Story in the Diaspora, McGill-Queen's University Press. Page 299.

The name Merigomish comes from the Mi'makq Indian meaning "A place of merrymaking".