Posts Tagged ‘Irish’
Opinionated? Moi? Q&A turns up in Celtic Life International
[The following is a shortened version of the original article.] Prolific, profound, witty, and opinionated, Canadian author Ken McGoogan made waves recently when he suggested that Canada adopt Scotland as a new territory. Celtic Life International recently spoke with the scribe about his Celtic connections. What are your own roots? My roots are Scottish,…
Read MoreChasing the Irish Pirate Queen around the Aran Islands
Hats off to James McQuiston, editor and publisher of The Celtic Guide, a superbly professional magazine that reflects his passionate interest in Scotland and Ireland. The December issue (click here) features contributions from throughout the Celtic world. They include an excerpt from my latest book, Celtic Lightning: How the Scots and the Irish Created a…
Read MoreHaven’t we forgotten the French? In Celtic Lightning?
The question is fair enough. In writing Celtic Lightning, and exploring the origins of Canadian nationhood, did I neglect a crucial element? Given that I am one-quarter Quebecois, with pur laine roots stretching back to the early 1600s, I could hardly forget Canada’s French Fact. But I also view myself as a realist. And I…
Read MoreWell, hello Vancouver! Wonderful to surface where I did my MFA. . .
Author Q&A: Ken McGoogan credits influence of Scotland, Ireland for what makes Canada Vancouver Sun September 25, 2015 In his new book Celtic Lightning, Ken McGoogan looks at the influence of Scottish and Irish immigrants on the new Canadian nation. McGoogan has written a dozen books, including 50 Canadians Who Changed the World and How…
Read MoreCeltic Lightning to strike bookstores in September
With Celtic Lightning, best-selling author Ken McGoogan plunges into the perpetual debate about Canadian roots and identity: who do we think we are? He argues that Canadians have never investigated the demographic reality that informs this book — the fact that more than nine million Canadians claim Scottish or Irish heritage. Did the ancestors of…
Read MoreRichard Dawkins + Celtic figurines = Who Do We Think We Are?
Whoosh! Away it goes to the copy editor. Beneath that title page, the manuscript reminds us that, despite our perpetual obsession with our collective identity, we Canadians have never investigated a crucial demographic reality — the fact that more than nine million Canadians claim Scottish or Irish ancestry. Did the ancestors of more than one…
Read MoreSporran works magic at event honoring Robert Burns
Over on Facebook, a recent image sparked complaint. Where was my sporran? The clamor induced me to solicit yet one more kilted photo from Sheena Fraser McGoogan. Here we have Our Hero setting out with Sheena for the Robert Burns extravaganza sponsored by the St. Andrew’s Society of Toronto. And quite a shindig it was,…
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