SeniorMagpie

Hello

I live in New Brunswick, Canada, identify as an Irish-Canadian Senior and my two main interests are: 1. Seniors 2. Irish music

SENIORS.

Senior or senior citizen is what we call someone who has endured for 65 years or more. Longevity is a word not commonly heard in this Maritime region of Canada, or Atlantic Canada as the Maritimes became known in 1949 when Newfoundland became part of Canada. For an actual Center of Longevity we Canadians might need to travel. The nearest Centre of Longevity appears to be located in the United States.

Across the world, in various cultures, people have passed on stories referred to as longevity myths

Here in Atlantic Canada it is often our seniors who pass on stories of the past so that our history is not forgotten. Seniors of the Miramichi are one example of this.

My discovery of the day is the Death Cafe. I've just heard about a Death Cafe happening coming out of Fredericton, our provincial capital here in New Brunswick. Could this be what seniors have been anxiously awaiting during this time of lockdown and isolation? Death and struggle are certainly part of a whole otherworld filtered down through stories told by seniors of past generations. However, some seniors might prefer to focus on a collaboration of inter-generational music-making. As for the younger musical crowd, "Death-Cafe" sounds like a possible name for some up-and-coming band of musicians, perhaps under the mentor ship of experienced senior musicians. Maybe someone would organize an all-generational world-music bash in celebration of seniors who don't give up.

IRISH MUSIC.

For hundreds of years Irish people migrated to North America, leaving behind them the struggles and troubles of their ancient homeland, Ireland Many came through Newfoundland, and eventually settled in New Brunswick throughout what was known locally as the Miramichi, an informal term that described a broad section of central New Brunswick, including the former towns of Chatham, Newcastle, Nelson and also included parts of the Saint John River Valley. For many Irish immigrants their first and last stop was the quarantine station on Partridge Island at the mouth of the Saint John River. Saint John, New Brunswick is considered to be the most Irish City in Canada.

Saint Patrick's Day, March 17 is one day of the year when Maritime pubs hire Irish musicians and invite patrons in to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. On this day our local radio stations usually play at least a few Old Irish Tunes. There is an old saying hereabouts, "On Saint Paddy's Day everyone is Irish." Maritimers, however, do not have a monopoly and Saint Patrick is a world-wide celebrity.

Hopefully Canada's oldest Irish Festival will be back next July with plenty of volunteers. The Featival began almost forty years ago with much volunteer support from members of the NB Irish Canadian Cultural Association. Some of these original members have passed on. Others are older seniors who have handed over the torch to the next generation of Miramichi Irish-Canadians. Office reopens next May, 2021.

Not all the Irish people left their home country, however. Cultural revivals, collectors and traditional artists helped preserve the music of Ireland as well as other old Irish stories and customs. Traditional Irish music survives in Ireland up to the present day. Outside of Ireland the Irish Diaspora has developed a grand online presence. The Fleadh might have been cancelled for this year but it seems plans are underway for FleadhFest 2021?