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A Taste Of Celtic Culture

Jason Behnken / staff

Bottles of scotch line the bar inside O'Brien's Irish Pub during a New World Celts Brandon chapter whiskey tasting event Saturday night as Eric Larsen with Premeir Beverage of Riverview pours samples.

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By TOM BRENNAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 29, 2007

Updated: 09/27/2007 07:55 pm

Additional Photos

BRANDON - Nobody ran around with painted faces shouting 'Freedom.'

Yet this clan of Celts gathered recently to celebrate the Battle of Stirling Bridge, immortalized in the movie 'Braveheart.'

They also united to honor those who died on the same day about seven centuries after the Scots turned back the English - Sept. 11.

And to do something enjoyed by those of almost any ancestry: sip a wee dram of whiskey.

'We want to provide an opportunity to support all of the Celtic culture and history,' Mike Dunlap said. 'And have a bit of fun.'

Dunlap, of Dunedin, is founder and president of New World Celts. The organization's Brandon chapter sponsored the whiskey-tasting event Sept. 8 at O'Briens Irish Pub.

The event helped raise money for charities the group supports.

'We were looking to carve out an annual event and a Scotch whisky tasting seemed to be a no-brainer,' said Richard Wright of Valrico, Brandon chapter president.

Wright said the group wasn't trying to perpetuate ethnic stereotypes in its choice of fundraisers.

He stressed that the New World Celts is about bringing people together.

'We are nondenominational, nonsectarian and nonpolitical,' he said. 'We just strive to make people aware of the Celtic heritage.'

Dunlap said the group came about while sitting down with a few of the lads.

'There were many Scottish organizations, many Irish organizations and groups for the Welsh,' he said. 'But there weren't many pan-Celtic organizations.'

The Celts were a number of tribes stretching from the British Isles to Spain that spoke the same language. The 'Seven Celtic Nations' are considered Brittany, Cornwall, Galicia, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Scotland and Wales.

Wright said club members aim to learn about Celtic history, recognize contributions Celtic people have made in this hemisphere and support and foster Celtic culture.

Money raised by the event will provide scholarships for those wanting to learn traditional music, dance, athletics and other pursuits. It supports athletes and pays for piping and dance lessons.

'We want to help people find their roots,' said Larry Henderson, the Brandon chapter's vice president.

One of those getting the club's support is April Logsdon of Seffner, who competes in Highland games.

'It is nice to know someone is the audience is rooting for you,' she said.

She got involved in the Brandon chapter through her husband, Mike.

'I married into a Scots-Irish family,' she said.

He also recruited his parents.

'It is a lot of fun to find out about your heritage,' said Logsdon's father, also named Mike.

Lisa Logsdon, wife of the elder Mike, said she became the family genealogist, tracing them to County Antrim in Ireland and then back to Scotland. She also discovered her family's Celtic ties.

'I had to keep up with them and find some Celts on our side of the family,' she said.

Distilling is a traditional Celtic skill.

Those attending the tasting sampled five scotches.

'No two scotches are ever made the same,' said Eric Larsen, a manager with Premier Beverage in Riverview that hosted the tasting.

He said there is no set recipe; each batch depends on the skill of the master distiller.

'It is all based on taste and smell,' he said. 'They are bred to it.'

Dunlap passed along his recommendation for sampling whiskey: 'You drink it through your teeth and swirl it around,' he said. 'You almost chew it.'Those partaking said it was educational to hear how the liquor was made and the proper way to drink it.

'It was different. I hadn't had some of the things I tasted,' said Charles Dawson of Apollo Beach, who added he isn't a scotch drinker. 'But it is always good to get together with the guys and the girls.'

KILTS NOT REQUIRED

The Brandon chapter of the New World Celts meets the second Thursday of every month at O'Brien's Irish Pub, 701 W. Lumsden Road, at the southwest corner of Lumsden and Kings Avenue. Annual membership is $25 per person or $40 per family. For information, visit www.newworldcelts .org.

Reporter Tom Brennan can be reached at (813) 657-4528 or tbrennan@tampatrib.com.

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