The Celts Are Coming, Planning to Invade the East Coast; Largest Pan-Celtic Games on East Coast to Take Place in Capital Region.

Entertainment Editors/Lifestyle Editors

HUDSON, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 27, 2004

Celebration of Celts to Honor Seven Nations of Celtic World;

Over 10,000 Expected to Attend

On May 8th, 2004 the gently rolling hills of Columbia County, New York will be transported to the mystical and magical lands of the Celts. Celebration of Celts is the largest Pan-Celtic event on the east coast and will feature ten pipe bands, numbering over 350 pipes and drums, 14 top name entertainment acts. And a march of the Seven Celtic Nations, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, Isle of Man, Brittany and Galicia.

The Entertainment line up includes some of the most popular Celtic Entertainers from as far away as Brittany, France - Toronad, Scotland: Clanna A Drumma, Isla St. Clair, Pipe Major John Spoore-piper to the "Queen Mum", from Canada, Enter the Haggis, Black 47 from New York, Mary Fahl, whose beautiful voice lends deep emotion to the title songs for the movies Gods and Generals and the Guys, Kelli Trottier from Cape Breton, Welsh recording star Julie Jones and a host of others.

Enter The Haggis, a high-spirited band from Toronto will be featured in a nationally televised PBS special on June 5th. Black 47 one of the most well known Irish rock bands in the country and has just released its' newest album, New York Town, which received three stars from USA Today.

Other events include heavy athletics - tossing telephone poles and hammers around - to a Dublin Horse Fair, Dressed to Kilt contest, Duck Herding, yes duck herding, a Celtic Castle for Children, highland and step dancing, and the every woman's favorite event, the bonniest knees contest where men in kilts are judged on their shapely knees by a trio of blind folded lady judges. This event gets even better in a high wind.

WHAT ARE PAN-CELTIC GAMES:

Celtic games, mostly Highland/Scottish and Irish festivals are becoming more and more popular around the country as people search out their family history. In fact, there are more Celtic events held in North America than in all the Celtic nations combined. However, Pan-Celtic games are rare and very few people realize the history and heritage of the other five Celtic nations. There is very strong evidence that the Celts were here long before Mr. Columbus with standing stones dating back to 1500 BC in the northeast and a monument to the first mate of Prince Henry Sinclair, one of Scotland's earliest explorers, on the coast of Massachusetts dating to 1320. The Celts dominated Europe for over 2000 years before the Romans and brought the horse into Europe.

Fully two-thirds of Americans can trace some of their heritage back to the Celtic nations.

MUSIC IS THE MESSAGE

Today the Celtic Rock scene has spread into mainstream music as the driving beat and emotional lyrics reach out to a growing number of fans. The roots of our own Blue Grass and Country Music were planted in the deep south and Appalacia by the first settlers from Ireland, Scotland and Wales in the early 1600 hundreds.

Pipe bands and pipe music are loved by many and the bagpipe is called the instrument of war although it can evoke many emotions from a call to arms to love to joy to the mournful piping at funerals.

Piping has become so popular that new piping and drumming schools are found around the nation and kids picking up the pipes to learn how to play this most difficult instrument are growing in number.

Celebration of Celts will take place Saturday, May 8th at the Columbia County Fair Grounds in Chatham, New York with over 15,000 expected to attend this all day, all night salute to the Celts.

For more information go to www.celebrationofcelts.com or call 518-851-9670.