Maura McCay
Publisher
As the founder, managing editor and publisher of The Celtic Connection, Maura McCay brings a broad range of experience to her position. Over 11 years ago, along with her mother Catholine Butler, she established the Vancouver-based monthly newspaper which now serves over 35,000 Celts across Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The publication focuses on music, theater, movies and book reviews, interviews, current events and Irish, English, Scottish and Welsh community news.
McCay's interest in Celtic culture, history and music springs from an Irish-Canadian childhood immersed in dance, music and theater. She began Irish dance classes at the age of five and her family's deep commitment to Irish tradition awakened her to her cultural heritage.
Through such diverse strands as her cousins playing in the famous Carleton Showband and the family business of Ottawa's first Irish pub, The Molly McGuire's, she became aware of the rich legacy of the oral tradition and the wealth of literature and art which emanated from the Celtic people who, at one time, populated all of Western Europe.
Her studies and work at the University of British Columbia's Museum of Anthropology re-awakened McCay to the parallels between the sacred art and traditions of the Northwest Coast native people and the Celts. She was drawn once again to her own culture and through this connection, The Celtic Connection was born.
The Celtic Connection was established in September 1991 and was immediately embraced by a diverse group of people ranging from traditionalists to New Age who identified with the Celtic culture. The publication has now become firmly entrenched as a vital cultural link between Celtic communities from Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Regina, Edmonton, Calgary, Prince George, Kelowna, Vancouver, Victoria, Bellingham and Seattle.
In September 1997, The Celtic Connection website was established. This electronic gateway now hosts over 60,000 visitors each month and many other Celtic links are offered on the site, pioneering a virtual global Celtic connection.
In the year 2000, McCay was presented with the Irish Woman of the Year Award by the Irish Women's Network of British Columbia. As The Celtic Connection approaches 12 years in the publishing world, McCay says, "it gives me great joy to see this publication, whose survival we struggled so passionately to ensure in the early years, reach this level of maturity. My sense is that there is a continued need for this paper and therefore, it can only continue to evolve and reach new levels of growth and achievement. The Celtic Connection has truly has become a voice for the community."
For further information, please contact:
The Celtic Connection at (604) 434-3747 Fax: (604) 434-3749 or E-mail: maura@celtic-connection.com
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