SOUTH STORMONT, Ontario – Jim Brownell, President of the Lost Villages Historical Society, was blown away by the attendance at the Celtic Concert in Long Sault on Saturday, Sept. 14.
“(It’s going) beyond expectations; unbelievable. We are so pleased, the Historical Society and the Grays and Blues of Montreal, we are thrilled,” said Brownell about the event’s organizing bodies. He feels that the promotion for the event on social media contributed to a larger than expected turnout.
Brownell explained that this was the first celtic event hosted by the society in two years, and attendance had more than tripled from about 50 to 175 this year.
With a wide variety of popular, local acts performing every 15 minutes, the crowd was continuously entertained by celtic tunes and dances.
“There are other organizations, especially in Glengarry, that stage ceilidhs…we don’t want to be in competition…I think (it would be good) every two years if we do something like this…this is just like, as they said, the old kitchen parties,” said Brownell.
Funds from tickets sales will support the maintenance of the Civil War monument at the Lost Villages Museum, as well as education about the monument. Brownell said that he himself did not know there were 40,000 Canadians who fought in the American Civil War, including individuals from our area. He plans to work towards more education online and hosting informative seminars.
