Sionann in Ui Fhlaithbheartaig

I am Sionann in Ui Fhlaithbheartaig, Namesake of a Goddess, powerful and true, Christened for the river where emerald Eire draws its life. Sometimes I am remembered of as Gala, the Half-Dane, Whose name means "Lovely voice". (or to "crow", depending on who you ask :) I come from across the sea to feast with the people of my Mother's line, Grandmother's Grandmother's kin, And the kin of my choosing. Once lauded Skald of the North, Söngvari... Many are the songs I sing. Strong, clear the tones of gentle supplication. Surely the birds are silent and heaven weeps to hear. Melodious the notes I play. Stirring poems I write. Deftly I pluck the heartstrings of joy and sorrow till all is spent. Beauty trapped in paint and stone, forever frozen, Unlocked by my hands. Music, Art, the lifeblood surging. They are marrow of my bones. My frame looms large, if only to house the heart within. Eyes changeable, flashing green, crystal blue, wintry grey. See my soul in their myriad hues. Gratefully I learn. Passionately I create. Quietly I serve. Faithfully I love.

Sionann in Ui Fhlaithbheartaig (shee-OH-nan Knee LAY-ver-tee... or Shannon o'Flaherty for the Gaelically impaired)
AKA: Gala Eriksdottir
Formerly of Ramsgaard & Lions Gate, currently residing in the Shire of Lionsdale.
MKA: Sheila Louise Wright

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Websites

I have an SCA Website where you can see some of my charter painting, music, and other projects at: http://songstress1973.wix.com/songstressgallery
You can check out some Celtic and Scandinavian Folk Ballads on my YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/user/songstress73

And here's some of my words...(not necessarily SCA related): POETRY

History

-First event, Butterfly Ball... followed closely by Clinton War, 1997
-Made "Dough" in 1997 and then a full-fledged "Tart" in the Pure Wenching Tarts Society (PWTS), 1998
-Bardic Defender of Lions Gate, 2005-2006
-Apprentice to Mistress Seiglynda Thyrisdotter of Elphinstone, 2005
-Member of Holly House, 2005
-Bardic Champion of Tir Righ / Skald of the North - April 2008- May 2009
-Apprentice to Mistress Alisaundre ni Feidhlimidh dal gCais, 2011
-Bardic Champion of Lionsdale, 2012
- Made a member of Clan MacAndrew, Baroness' Tourney, 2014.
- Put on Vigil by TMs Styrkarr Jarlsskald and Dagrun Stjarna at An Tir 12th Night Coronation 2015, for elevation to Laurel at July Coronation 2015 at the hands of Their Majesties Savaric de Porte des Lions and Dalla Hjalbaadsdottir.

Current Students
Hlaford (Lord) Wulfstan Hrafnsson of Lionsdale
Lady Asny Ravnsdottir

Classes Taught

- Skalds, Scops & Bards: Historical Context and Within the SCA - The University of Tir Righ (TUTR), at A&S Championships, 2009
- Anglo-Saxon Lyre For Beginners - The University of Tir Righ (TUTR), at A&S/Bardic Championships, 2011
- Anglo-Saxon Lyre for Beginners - An Tir Performing Arts Grand Ithra, 2012
- Scandinavian Medieval Ballads 101 - An Tir Performing Arts Grand Ithra, 2012
- Scandinavian Medieval Ballads 101, The University of Tir Righ (TUTR), at A&S/Bardic Championships, 2013
- Charter Painting 101, Tir Righ Heraldic Symposium, 2014
- Charter Painting 101, Tir Righ June Coronet, 2014
- Charter Painting 101, Baroness' Tourney, Lions Gate, 2015

Service

-Chirurgeon of Ramsgaard, 1997-1998
- Autocrat- Ramsgaard's "Freeze-Off", 1998.
- Lady in Waiting to Princess Bernadette Ebhilín Árd, 2004-2005
- Autocrat- Lions Gate's Defender's Tourney, 2006
- Co-Autocrat, An Tir Twelftth Night, 2008
- Bardic Minister of Lions Gate, 2008
- Co-Autocrat, Kingdom of An Tir Bardic Championships 2008
- Tir Righ A&S Bardic Deputy, 2009-2011
- Autocrat- Tir Righ A&S Championship 2009
-Coronet Scribe to TH Ieuan & Gwyneth Gower, Prince & Princess of Tir Righ, 2009/10
-Lions Gate Royal Liaison, 2010
- Co-Event Steward, Tir Righ A&S/Bardic Championship, 2011
- Coronet Scribe to TH Stein & Gemma Prince & Princess of Tir Righ, 2012
-Kingdom of An Tir A&S/Bardic Championship Deputy, 2012
-Interim A&S Minister of Tir Righ, 2012
-Co-Event Steward, An Tir Performing Arts Grand Ithra, 2012
-A&S Minister of Tir Righ, 2012
-Tir Righ A&S/Bardic Championship Schedule Monkey, 2012
-Royal Bard & Deputy Head Lady-in-Waiting to TRM Ulf Bloodfoot Fallgrson & Caoimhe ingen Domnaille, 2013
-Kingdom of An Tir A&S/Bardic Championship Deputy/Schedule Monkey, 2013
-Tir Righ A&S/Bardic Championship Schedule Monkey, 2013
-Coronet Scribe to TH Savaric & Dalla Prince & Princess of Tir Righ, 2014
-Tir Righ A&S/Bardic Championship Schedule Monkey, 2014
-Coronet Scribe to THs Olen & Chiara Prince & Princess of Tir Righ, 2014

Awards

-Award of Arms, TH Ulf & Bernadette, 2004
-Order of the Lion's Fang, (Lions Gate Champion Award), 2006
-Goutte de Sang, TRM Cedric & Elizabeth, 2008
-Lion's Claw, (Lions Gate long term service award), 2008
-Jambe de Lion, TRM Vik Vikinson & Inga the Unfettered, 2009
-Guardian of Tir Righ, (Tir Righ Champion Award), 2009
-l'Etoile d'Argent, TH Ulfgar & Renee, Prince & Princess of Tir Righ, 2009
-Sable Chime, TRM Skeggi & Tasia, 2011
-Throne Favour, TH Stein & Gemma Prince & Princess of Tir Righ, 2012
-Silver Pillar, TH Kheron Azov & Kenna, Prince & Princess of Tir Righ, 2012
-Mano d'Oro, TRM Ulf Bloodfoot Fallgrson & Caoimhe ingen Domnaille, 2013
-Forget-Me-Not, HRM Caoimhe ingen Domnaille, 2013
-Princess' Talon of Favour, HH Juahara al Azin, 2014

Interests

Bardic
Early period Norse (yeah, good luck) and Celtic music and Elizabethan/Renaissance (and early Baroque) vocal music.
My latest obsession is "kulning"... Swedish "cow calling" and shepherding songs... and Saami "yoiking"... Yeah I'm just THAT weird.
Playing Anglo Saxon Lyre and Anglo-Saxon Harpe, Bodhran, pennywhistle, alto & soprano recorder, flute, percussion, guitar (still learning)...
I was gifted, by Their Highnesses of Tir Righ, with a Rebec (made by HL Aleyn Wyckington) and so I am now attempting to learn to play it :)
I was also gifted with an Irish Harp by Mistress Seiglynda of Elphinstone, thus I am attemping to learn that too.
I am a member of the Bards of An Tir and the An Tir Players and LOVE acting, drama, writing music, poetry and short stories...
(outside of the SCA I also play bass guitar, piano, flute and various percussion... and am STILL learning to play guitar... damn these small hands :)

A&S
Naalbinding (EEEYARGH!!!), crocheting (yeah I know it isn't exactly period but I don't care...), card weaving, embroidery, Hand sewing, Painting, sculpting, ceramics (specifically hand building... I dislike wheel-throwing...), researching various topics and writing stupid long essays because that's the kind of GEEK I am :)

Other
Archery (on occasion), laughing with friends over dinner and wine and song, feasting, sitting gate, helping out in the kitchen and serving at feasts, cooking and feeding/watering people, organizing events/autocratting...

Known Accomplices

• Anna Georgsdottir
• Aine inghean ui Chonchobhair
• Hraði inn Rakki
• Laric Godwin
• Gemma Delaroche
• Steinn Vikingsson
• Alisaundre ni Feidhlimidh dal gCais
• Leith Amhranai dal gCais
• Clan MacAndrew
• Eleanor Odlowe
• Katherine Moore
• Ruadhan O Fearain aka Ferin Darkmountain
• Wulfstan Hrafnsson
• Elspeth Selwode of Wilton aka: Elspeth Sèalwudu
• Chiara Fiamma
• Olen Medvedevich Ovanov
• Natal'ia Volkovicha
• Caoimhe ingen Domnaille
• Ulf Bloodfoot Fallgrson
• Seiglynda Thyrisdotter of Elphinstone
• Safiye Konstantiniyye (aka: Safiye Hatun)
• Thora Golvik of Al in Hallingdal
• Einar Guntharson (AKA: Oak)
• Bernadette Ebhilín Árd