Upcoming Highland Games in the Carolinas

In April there is only one upcoming Scottish Highland Games event in the Carolinas. Please check out the linked site below for specific costs, location, and details. If you know of any others for the month of April, please list them in the comments section. Thanks.


April 16th - 18th, 2010
Rural Hill Scottish Festival and Lock Norman Highland Games
Huntersville, NC (north of Charlotte)

D's Female Celtic & Gaelic Names (Irish, Scottish, Welsh)

Dacey - Southerner

(Gaelic)

Dai - Beloved

(Welsh)

Dana - From Denmark

(Celtic, Irish)

Dara, Daracha - Of the oak

(Gaelic, Irish, Scottish)

Darby - Free of envy

(Gaelic, Irish)

Darra - Wealth, riches

(Gaelic)

Davan - Adored

(Irish)

Dearbhail, Dearbhal, Derval - True desire

(Irish)

Dee, Du, Dierdre, Delia - Dark

(Welsh)

Deidra, Deidre, Dedre - Sorrowful

(Celtic, Irish)

Deidra, Deidre - Raging

(Gaelic)

Delwyn, Delyth - Neat and fair

(Welsh)

Dera, Daere - Fiend

(Welsh)

Derryth, Derwen - From the Oak tree

(Welsh)

Dervia, Dearbhail, Dervilia - From the poets

(Gaelic, Irish)

Dicra - Slow

(Welsh)

Difyr - Amusing

(Welsh)

Dilys - Steadfast

(Welsh)

Diorbhall - God's gift, form of Dorothy

(Gaelic)

Diva, Deva, Devona, Devonna, Divone - Divine One

(Celtic)

Dominica - Of the Lord, born on Sunday, form of Dominic

(Irish)

Donalda, Donia, Donelle - Ruler of the world, form of Donald

(Gaelic, Irish, Scottish)

Donella - Dark haired elfin girl

(Celtic)

Donia - Dark-skinned

(Celtic)

Donla - Lady in brown

(Gaelic, Irish)

Doreen, Doreena, Doire-Ann, Dioreann - Moody, sullen

(Celtic, Gaelic, Irish)

Drysi - Thorn

(Welsh)

Duana, Dubhain - Dark maid

(Gaelic, Irish)

Duvessa, Dubheasa - Dark beauty

(Irish)

Dymphna - Little poet, saint name

(Gaelic, Irish)

Repost - The Truth About St. Patrick

Who Was St. Patrick Anyway?

Patrick was born to wealthy parents in Britain around the end of the 4th century. Most scholars believed he may have died on March 17th, (460 A.D.).

His father was a Christian deacon. At 16, Patrick was taken prisoner by a group of Irish raiders who attacked his family's estate. He spent 6 years in captivity, working as a shepherd, outdoors and away from people in Ireland. It was during this time of loneliness and uncertainty that he turned to his faith for solace and became a devout Christian.

He finally escaped from prison after another 6 years. According to his writing, he believed God told him in a dream that it was time to leave Ireland. Back in Britain, Patrick experienced a second revelation in a dream in which an angel told him to return to Ireland as a missionary. Patrick trained over the next 15 years in the ministry. He was ordained as a priest and sent to Ireland.

Since he was familiar with the Irish language and culture, Patrick used traditional rituals when teaching Christianity rather than attempting to destroy the Irish pagan beliefs. For example, to celebrate Easter, he used bonfires since the Irish were used to honoring their gods with fire. He included a sun on the Christian cross to create what is now widely known as a Celtic cross. These tactics helped to make things seem more natural to the Irish.

Celebrating in America

The first St. Patrick's Day parade took place in America, not Ireland. Irish soldiers in the English Army marched through New York City on March 17, 1762. The parade helped the soldiers reconnect with their Irish roots and introduced their music to other colonists.

Even today, many Irish descendants gather to share a traditional meal of corned beef and cabbage. People are supposed to wear green and if they aren't, they might get pinched.

Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain how the Trinity represents the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as separate elements of the same entity. His followers adopted the custom of wearing a shamrock on St. Patrick's Day. This custom came to America in 1737 in Boston.

So have a great St. Patrick's Day and be sure to wear your green!

C's Female Celtic & Gaelic Names (Irish, Scottish & Welsh)

Cadwyn - Chain

(Welsh)

Caffara, Caffaria - Helmet

(Irish)

Cafell - Oracle

(Welsh)

Cahira - Warrior

(Irish)

Cailin - Small girl

(Gaelic, Irish)

Caitlin, Cait, Caitrin, Cairine, Catroina, Catrin - Pure

(Celtic, Gaelic, Irish, Welsh)

Cairistiona, Ciorstag, Ciorstan - Believes in Christ

(Gaelic, Scottish)

Caley - Slender

(Gaelic, Irish)

Canaid - Song

(Welsh)

Cara, Carin, Caryn, Caraid - Friend

(Celtic, Gaelic, Irish)

Caragh - Love

(Irish)

Carleen, Caroline - Manly (form of Charles)

(Irish, Scottish)

Carling - Little champion

(Gaelic)

Carmel - Garden

(Celtic)

Carryl - Love

(Welsh)

Cary, Carey - From the river

(Celtic)

Carys - Beloved

(Welsh)

Casey - Brave

(Gaelic, Irish)

Cassidy - Clever

(Gaelic, Irish)

Cavana - From Cavan

(Irish)

Cayleigh - Party, Celebration

(Gaelic)

Ceallach - Warrior maid

Ceara - Spear

(Gaelic)

Ceinwen -  Blessed

(Welsh)

Ceridwen - Fair poet

(Welsh)

Christian, Christa, Cristin - Believes in Christ

(Irish) 

Christel, Christal, Christie - Believes in Christ

(Scottish)

Ciarda - Dark

(Gaelic)

Cinnia, Cinnie - Beauty

(Celtic)

Cliona, Cleona - Shapely

(Irish)

Coleen, Colleen - Girl

(Gaelic, Irish)

Colina - Victory of the people

(Scottish)

Congalie - Constant

(Irish)

Coira, Cora - Seething pool

(Scottish)

Cordelia - Jewel of the sea

(Celtic, Welsh)

Corey - Ravine

(Celtic)

Corsen - Reed

(Welsh)

Coventina - Name of a Nymph

(Celtic)

Cragen - Shell

(Welsh)

Cullodena, Cullidina - From the marsh

(Scottish)

Culyer - Chapel

(Celtic)

B's Female Celtic & Gaelic Names (Irish, Scottish, Welsh)

Barabell, Barabal - Stranger

(Gaelic)

Bari - Spear thrower

(Celtic, Welsh)

Beathas - Wise

(Scottish)

Berit, Birgit, Berta, Birte - Intelligent

(Celtic)

Beitris, Betrys - Brings Joy, form of Beatrice

(Gaelic, Welsh)

Bethan - Consecrated to God, form of Elizabeth

(Welsh)

Berneen - Strong as a bear, form of Bernard

(Irish)

Berwyn - Bright friend

(Welsh)

Bevin - Sweet voice, harmonious

(Gaelic, Irish)

Birkita, Brighid, Brigid, Brigitta, Brigitte, Brietta, Brita, Brygid, Bridget - Strength, Strong

(Celtic, Irish)

Betha, Beatha - Life

(Celtic)

Blain - Thin

(Gaeilic, Irish)

Blanaid, Blathnaid - Flower

(Irish)

Blair - Of the fields

(Celtic, Gaelic)

Blodwen, Blodwyn - White flower

(Welsh)

Bonnie, Bonny - Sweet and good

(Scottish)

Bradana - Salmon

(Scottish)

Braith - Freckled

(Welsh)

Bregus - Frail

(Welsh)

Brenna, Brenda, Breandan - Raven

(Celtic, Irish)

Bretta, Bret, Brit, Brite, Brittany, Brita - From Britain

(Celtic)

Briallan - Primrose

(Welsh)

Briana, Brianna, Breanne, Bryana, Bryanna - Strong

(Celtic, Irish)

Brina - Defender

(Celtic)

Brodie - Ditch

(Gaelic, Irish)

Brona, Bronagh - Sorrow

(Irish)

Bronwen, Bronwyn - Dark and pure

(Welsh)

Bryn, Brynna - Hill

(Welsh)

Buan - Goodness

(Irish)