Celtic Nations Heritage Foundation

Facts

Celtic Nations Heritage Foundation of Louisiana

• The Celtic Nations Heritage Foundation of Louisiana (CNHFL) is incorporated in the State of Louisiana as a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of the cultural traditions of the seven Celtic Nations.  The seven Celtic Nations are:  Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany, Galicia, and the Isle of Man.

• The CNHFL is a 501 (C) (3) organization.  Federal Tax ID# 72-1272616.

• The active Board of Directors is comprised of 14 volunteers from Louisiana and Mississippi.  Board members represent a wide range of business, arts, and entertainment, and educational backgrounds.

• There is an eight person volunteer Advisory Board whose members come from the business, medical, and legal community.

• The staff is comprised of dedicated volunteers.  The staff is responsible for organizing, promoting, and presenting both the Annual World Cup Currach Regatta and the Annual Celtic Nations Heritage Festival.

• Year round the CNHFL presents cultural programs designed to highlight the Celtic culture, e.g., concerts, workshops, celebration of writers, poets, and artists both past and present from the Celtic countries.

The World Cup Currach Regatta

• The Regatta originates in Ireland where rowers from six countries compete for the right to represent Ireland at the Regatta held in Louisiana each year.

• In the past, the CNHFL has single handedly raised the required funds for the transportation, housing, and meals of the rowers from Ireland.  In addition, the CNGFL also supplies housing for the rowers participating from around the USA.

• The CNHFL is proud that through our efforts with originating and supporting the World Cup Currach Regatta over the past 16 years, there has been a resurgence of interest in the Currach both in Ireland and in the USA.  When the World Cup began 15 years ago there were rowers from only two counties in Ireland participating.  Now six counties are training and sending their youth to participate in qualifying matches for the chance to come to the USA and compete in the World Cup.

• Irish Television attended the 14^th and 16^th Annual World cup Regattas, and filmed two documentaries, each seen in over five million homes throughout Ireland.

The Celtic Nations Festival of Louisiana

• Organized as an outreach to the community to educate, promote, and preserve the rich Celtic heritage of the South.

• The festival is held each year in conjunction with the Celtic Nations World Cup Currach Regatta.

• The festival presents the Celtic culture in a number of ways, e.g., music, dancing, and workshops in such areas as the Gaelic language and the history of the Celtic culture in the USA as well as Europe.  In addition, there is a children Pavilion devoted to story telling, art work, and games all designed to have fun while teaching the Celtic heritage.  There are sporting events such as the Highland Games.  Also, there are demonstrations from artisans practicing ancient arts such as lace making from Galicia, weaving from Ireland, etc.