Máenach na Cailled
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Máenach na Cailled | ||||||||
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 Submitted: Argent, a polypus purpure and in base an evergreen tree vert |
Etymology
Quick pronunciation: MAY-nock nuh KAL-led
Máenach na Cailled is a name of Irish Gaelic origin. I generally pronounce Máenach like MAY-nock, though pronouncing the "ch" like Scottish loch would be more correct. I pronounce Cailled like KAL-led.
The presence of the masculine name Máenach is well documented, such as here, though I have not found strong documentation on its meaning. Based on what documentation I have found, I choose to believe that it is associated with silence and serenity, and may be related to "monk" in its etymological roots. The suffix "na Cailled" means "of the wood" -- this is well documented, including here. With a little poetic license, I take the name as a whole to mean something like "peaceful guy who lives in the woods."
Persona Background
I have joined my wife, Ciar ingen Fiachnae, in western Ireland around the 7th century or so, for my primary persona. I am considering a secondary (probably nameless) persona for the war field, likely either an Abbasid Mamluk or a Mongolian.
SCA Interests & Activities
I joined the Society after June Faire 2014 and the Dragon's Laire Newcomer's Night following the event. Archery was my primary interest initially, but soon, I found myself associating with the Dragon's Laire Culinary and Scribal Guilds as well.
As part of the Culinary Guild, I usually help set up and present a demonstration at June Faire, a large public demo event held by Dragon's Laire. I especially enjoy demonstrating the preparation of almond milk, which fascinates attendees of all ages. One of the best qualities of the almond milk demo is that it allows anyone, including modern children, to participate in the process. A hands-on experience tends to brighten the day of almost any visitor!
As Webminister of Dragon's Laire, I migrated the Barony's website onto the new antir.org servers and helped the Barony's officers set up their new email accounts as An Tir introduced these new systems. I continue to provide technical support to the officers of Dragon's Laire and maintain several Dragon's Laire digital services, such as our domain name registration, web hosting, email forwarding addresses, and more. More recently, I've been working with Caterina da Savona, Social Media Officer for Dragon's Laire, and Bianca di Baldasarre Saturnio, Discord Deputy for Dragon's Laire, to strategize our Barony's digital presence holistically.
I also like to assist wherever I can in the physical realm. I can't watch event setup or teardown without participating. Loading and unloading vehicles, setting up tents and pavilions, and putting the event site back the way it was (but cleaner!) are all part of a good event day, in my book. For larger events like June Faire, I try to fill in the gaps between our formal event staff and volunteers. For the past several years, for example, I've made site maps for both SCA and modern attendees -- a tradition that began out of an emergency need. (Cartography with a deadline? Sounds like fun!)
Looking forward, I'm stepping up my woodworking and looking to get involved in Siege...
Events & Contributions
- Many Dragon's Laire events since late 2014
- load, unload, and carry event equipment (esp. carrying tables & bins)
- carry individual equipment and supplies for anyone who wants help
- general event setup and teardown
- remove decorations (carefully!)
- site cleanup
- June Faire / Kitsap Medieval Faire
- 2015 - present: event setup & teardown, load and unload trucks, general help as needed
- 2024: pick up, deliver, and deploy Kitsap County road closure equipment
- 2024: part of a 3-person team handling post-event hay bale cleanup
- 2022 - 2024: designed an artistic site map for SCA attendees and a modified version for the modern public
- 2023: designed, built, and deployed a new reusable, modular signage system with art provided by Lonán of Dragon's Laire
- 2023: assisted with vigil celebration food and planning for Arqai Ne'urin, also known as Wu Zhi
- 2023: emergency gate volunteer, collecting cash from modern attendees during gate "rush hour"
- 2015 - 2023: Culinary Guild setup, teardown, and general participation
- 2018 - 2019: Almond milk demonstration
- 2017: Camping coordinator: take camping reservations, design the camp layout, direct campers to their campsites from Gate, etc.
- Misty Ridge Beltane 2024
- Equipment transport for the Culinary Guild demo
- Carry equipment and supplies for anyone who wants help
- Virtual Events during pandemic lockdown
- June Faire 2021: Zoom coordination & management (spotlight presenters, manage microphone privileges, ban Zoom bombers, etc.)
- Candlemas 2021 (in the style of Madrone Athenaeum)
- create virtual Gallery of Works
- help participants WordPress to present their materials online (manage users, reset passwords, fix broken pages, etc.)
- coordinate uploading participants' video content to YouTube (edit and clean up video where needed)
- collect and organize Grant of Use forms
- Zoom coordination & management, especially during Court
- Yule 2020: Zoom coordination & management
- Baroness War
- 2017: siege cooking, winning team, with Ciar ingen Fiachnae
- 2015: siege cooking with Ela y Ynis Dewi and Ciar ingen Fiachnae
- Kingdom Feast 2015-2016
- load, unload, and carry feast equipment, ingredients, etc., for feast teams
- prep ingredients for teams that need help: chop vegetables, trim meat, etc.
- emergency supply runs as needed
- event teardown, esp. decorations
- final kitchen cleaning
SCA Awards & Positions
See also my entry on the An Tir Order of Precedence.
- Webminister of Dragon's Laire: July, AS LI (2017) to present
- Drake's Portal, Baronial recognition for ethereal service, especially during the pandemic lockdown, awarded by Kloe of Thira and Arion the Wanderer at June Faire, AS LVI (June 2022)
- Nautilus, second-level Baronial recognition for A&S, awarded by Kloe of Thira and Arion the Wanderer at Dragon's Laire Son of Candlemas, AS LVI (April 2022)
- Goutte de Sang, Kingdom grant-level recognition for service, awarded by Sven Fallgr Gunnarsson and Rauokinn Eyverska Starradottir at Dragon's Laire Candlemas, AS LVI (February 2022)
- Wyvern, Baronial polling order for service, awarded by Kloe of Thira and Arion the Wanderer at Dragon's Laire Candlemas, AS LV (February 2021)
- Snapdragon, first-level Baronial recognition for service, awarded by Conchobar MacEoin and Eilidh Keldeleth at Dragon's Laire Candlemas, AS LIII (February 2019)
- Bumblebee, first-level Baronial recognition for A&S, awarded by Conchobar MacEoin and Eilidh Keldeleth at Dragon's Laire Yule Feast, AS LII (December 2017)
- Award of Arms, awarded by Savaric Coeur-de-Lion and Dalla in Fagra at June Faire, AS L (June 2015)