• Home
    • Recordings
  • Schedule
  • Press
    • BIO
    • Photo Gallery
    • EPK
    • Robert Burns, Man, Myth, Music
    • Irish Bards & Blarney
    • Music of the Maine Coast
  • Contact
  • News
  • The Grand Design
    • Grand Design Audio
    • Grand Design Video
  • Weddings

    Castlebay

    • Home
      • Recordings
    • Schedule
    • Press
      • BIO
      • Photo Gallery
      • EPK
      • Robert Burns, Man, Myth, Music
      • Irish Bards & Blarney
      • Music of the Maine Coast
    • Contact
    • News
    • The Grand Design
      • Grand Design Audio
      • Grand Design Video
    • Weddings

    Square rigged snow or brig The Grand Design

     The Chronicle of a Scots-Irish journey to the New World

    .

    In July, 1741, a group of 200 people from Northern Ireland left Derry bound for Philadelphia. Battered by hurricane, wrecked on a desolate island and abandoned by their captain, some had the strength and courage to survive through the winter.

    Based on 18th century documents and narratives, this is the story of their journey.

    Historically, I believe that the Grand Design was an emigration scheme circa 1741 with the goal of bringing about 200 Scots-Irish Presbyterians to Philadelphia. The ship, called Martha & Eliza, left Londonderry, Northern Ireland in July, but encountered a storm which disabled the masts. In November, after drifting about 10 weeks in the North Atlantic, they were cast on the desolate shore of Grand Manan Island, now part of New Brunswick, Canada.

    Many of the passengers had succumbed to stress and deprivation. The captain and crew left the survivors and sailed in the longboat to Fort Frederick at Pemaquid where, twelve years earlier, Colonel David Dunbar had brought a group of Scots/Irish from Ulster to rebuilt the fort and they had remained a thriving colony.

    The captain and crew of the Martha & Eliza tarried here for several weeks. Eventually they returned to the wreck intending to salvage the goods on board and, finding passengers still alive, removed some of them to New Harbor. These were charged an exorbitant fee for their rescue.

    This first group registered a complaint with the Governor in Boston who caused another ship to be sent for the remaining survivors. Another group was removed, but because the captain had originally dispersed the people around the island, some were left to endure the entire winter. These were finally found in April by Native Americans (Passamaquoddy) who carried letters to settlers at the fort in St George, Maine, over 100 miles from the island, and arranged their rescue.

    The last group consisted of ten women including Isabel Galloway, and her infant child. She married a local man, Archibald Gamble, also from Northern Ireland. Many of the survivors were taken in by the people of New Harbor, Damariscotta, Warren, and Boothbay. Many remained in Maine, married locally, and their descendants still live in the area.

     Grand Design Audio Clips

     Grand Design Video Links

    Grand Design Programs
    The Grand Design can be presented as a fully staged production, a concert version, and as readers theater using our musicians and projections.

    The Grand Design may also be licensed for production by your company.


    To host or collaborate a performance call 207-529-5438, email castlebay@castlebay.net or write to Castlebay, PO Box 168, Round Pond, ME 04564

         

    First run produced by the Heartwood Regional Theater  adapted and directed by Griff Braley.

    2019-09-02 © Castlebay, Inc.

    Newsletter and concert summary

    Join the email list!

    Newsletter and concert summary

    About the Newsletter...

    Concerts in Brief

    Previous events

    Drive Cold Winter Away” — songs and tunes from Ireland, Scotland and the British Isles.

    Drive Cold Winter Away” — songs and tunes from Ireland, Scotland and the British Isles.

    Thursday, December 17, 2020 @ 7:00PMThu, Dec 17, 2020 @ 7:00PM

    Boothbay Opera House, 86 Townsend Avenue, Boothbay Harbor, Maine

    Maine’s premier Celtic duo, Castlebay, will “drive cold winter away” with joyous and mysterious seasonal songs and tunes from Ireland, Scotland and the British Isles. The lilting sound of Celtic harp, Irish flute, fiddle and guitar will mingle with vibrant songs of revelry and wonder. Come celebrate, sing along and experience a little Celtic enchantment. LIMITED SEATING. All Reserved, Socially Distanced. Masks required. Windows open, so bring jackets and blankets. 7 PM Concert, doors open at 6:30. Bar serving refreshments. Advance tickets are $20, and available only directly from the Box Office at 207-633-5159.

    Share
    View on Google Maps
     ‘T is Winter Now-Christmas in New England

    ‘T is Winter Now-Christmas in New England

    Friday, December 11, 2020 @ 7:30PMFri, Dec 11, 2020 @ 7:30PM

    Camden Opera House, 29 Elm Street, Camden, Maine

    Seasoned with heritage and humor, Castlebay’s ‘T is Winter Now-Christmas in New England program features both colonial and contemporary music, poetry and stories of winter in New England. Songs and traditional tunes accompanied with guitar, Celtic harp, fiddle and woodwinds lift the spirit and warm the heart. Due to Covid19 concerns there will be no in-house audience. The show will be livestreamed on our the Camden Opera House facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/camdenoperahouse

    Share
    View on Google Maps
    Castlebay Samhain Concert

    Castlebay Samhain Concert

    Friday, November 6, 2020 @ 7:00PMFri, Nov 6, 2020 @ 7:00PM

    Cadenza, 5 Depot Street, Freeport, ME

    Castlebay will present a concert of both traditional and contemporary songs in celebration of Samhain, the late autumn Celtic holiday known to most people as Halloween. This special concert will explore the many aspects of the Samhain celebration through songs, poetry and stories of harvest and the twilight of the year.

    $12 advance / $15 at the door

    Share
    View on Google Maps
    « First ‹ Prev 1 2 … 257 Next › Last »

      notes
      0:00/???
      1. 1
        The Winter Moon/Huron Carol 5:26
        Info
        0:00/5:26
      2. 2
        The Mary L. McKay 4:57
        Info
        0:00/4:57
      3. 3
        John, Come Kiss Me Now 4:37
        0:00/4:37
      4. 4
        The Banks of Newfoundland 4:45
        Info
        0:00/4:45
      5. 5
        The Dark Eyed Sailor 3:26
        Info
        0:00/3:26
      6. 6
        The Boxer and the Enterprise 5:04
        Info
        0:00/5:04
      7. 7
        The Irish Rover 3:58
        Info
        0:00/3:58
      8. 8
        The Green Bed (or Pretty Polly) 0:30
        0:00/0:30
      9. 9
        If I were a Blackbird 5:38
        0:00/5:38
      10. 10
        The Schooner Fred Dunbar 4:29
        0:00/4:29
      11. 11
        Mary's Dream 5:31
        0:00/5:31
      12. 12
        The Capture of the Crown 3:55
        Info
        0:00/3:55
      13. 13
        Blow Ye Winds Aye-O 4:36
        0:00/4:36
      14. 14
        Bound Away 3:15
        Info
        0:00/3:15
      15. 15
        McLeod's Welcome 1:03
        0:00/1:03
      16. 16
        Miss Hamilton 1:17
        0:00/1:17
      17. 17
        March of the King of Laois 1:06
        0:00/1:06
      18. 18
        All In a Garden Green 1:01
        0:00/1:01
      19. 19
        Castle of the Faerie Queen 1:38
        0:00/1:38
      20. 20
        Arms Around My Jo 1:48
        0:00/1:48
      0:00/???