Charter Members of the NWC
Original Ten Members
International Executive Committee/ NWC PO Box 0362 Dunedin, Florida USA
Michael, of Scottish (Dunlop. Jordan) and Irish descent (Gallagher, Costelow) was the Founder of the New World Celts, along with Jim Burgess, Paul Yumlu, Collin King, and Bill Howard. He is Vice President of the Clan Dunlop/Dunlap Family Society and currently also holds the Clan Dunlop offices of Webmaster and Historian. Mike, a life member of the Dunedin Scottish-American Society, also served on the Dunedin Highland Games Committee and has created websites for the Dunedin Highland Games , the Tampa Bay Highland Games, Clan Dunlop, Sarasota Highland Games and the NWC. Mike founded the "Barbarians at the Gate" a volunteer kilted security service used at Dunedin events. His wife, Lynda, is of Scot descent (Ballyntyne) and is an Harpist. Son Michael Sean, a graphic designer, created the NWC logos. Son Josh is an accomplished Grade 2 piper and plays with the City of Dunedin Pipe Band. Daughter Halee is an award-winning Highland dancer.
The fledgling NWC was Mike's idea, which the following Celts accepted and then developed into the current fast-growing benevolent society. Mike is currently serving the NWC as the International President since 2000.
Collin Macgregor King
Collin, of Scottish (Macgregor, Ferguson, Turner, Burns, King) and Irish descent (Collins) is currently a Comhair for the Florida Tuath of Clannada na Gaelica , a Gaelic Traditionalist organization. He also is an active member of both MacGregor and Ferguson Clan Societies. Collins first love is Scottish re-enactment societies, where he is active and fully dressed out in the 79th New York Highlanders (American Civil War-Federalists), the 42nd Royal Highlanders (American Revolution-Loyalists) and the MacDonald Brigade of the Army of King James (Scottish '45-Jacobites). Collin is affiliated with organizations too numerous to list.
Collin has always acted as the conscience of the NWC.
Jim moved to Florida from near Milwaukee, where he served as a Police Chief of the city of St Francis. A Board Member and Officer of the Blue Knights, he also serves as Florida Convener for Clan Young and wears that Tartan proudly. Jim is an accomplished fiddler and also plays the Mountain Dulcimer, keyboards, and trumpet. BurleyHill is his current band, having played with Steel Bonnets and the Dubliner House Band. Jim also is a member of the St Andrew's Society of Tampa, transferring from the same organization in Milwaukee. He and Viking wife Ruth are also members of the SAS in Dunedin and were proud owners of Bridie Gannon's Irish Pub in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Jim wears the Young tartan and the Dunedin tartan. Jim is the current Commandant of the Safety Harbor, Fl post of the American Legion.
Jim has proved invaluable to the NWC, providing the by-laws, origination of the Corporations papers, and overseeing and finalizing the IRS tax-free status along with Bob Peirson.
Mr. Peirson's Scottish lineage is as a sept of Clan Fraser, where he holds office as Florida Convener. The Irish claim him as a McMullen. Robert recently served as the President of the Scottish-American Society of Dunedin (1998-2000 and 2002-2004). Bob also is a long-time member and President of the Royal Scottish Country Dancers of Dunedin. He served on the Dunedin Highland Games Committee as SAS and NWC representative. In his spare time he dabbles in highland dance and bagpiping. His wife, son and Daughter-in-law are all active members of the NWC.
Bob Peirson has officially retired from his VP-Finance position, but had held this position from it's inception in 2000 until 2007! We will miss his valued input in the Executive Board meetings! Bob being one of the Ten original members, his voice will always be heard on the Advisory Committee, and during his wonderful Scotch tastings!
Paul, also known as "Seljuk", has a unique heritage including five of the original seven Celtic Nations. His mother's side boasts many Scot lines including Gill, Brown. and Sambeell; the Irish line of Beagley; the Welsh line of Evans; and the Cornish line of Mitchell. His Father's side is from the Galician Celtic area of Turkey. Paul is an active member of the Cornish Forefather's Society. Paul is a British citizen born in London who has lived in Florida for years.
Laird's Piper: Bill Howard
Bill Howard is a Open Grade piper who has been in many bands in West Florida, including the City of Dunedin, Rosy O'Grady's, Sidhe Ross, and Tampa Bay Pipe Band. Bill is a piping instructor, plays many gigs, and owns Howard's Highland House, a Scottish Clothing and Piping outlet. He wears the Isle of Skye tartan and has the Irish blood on his mother's side. His wife Margaret Morrison owns and directs a Highland Dance School that consistently wins medals and trophies in the Southeast USA and Scotland. Bill has written a pipe march for the NWC, which he is shown playing at the 2002 Dunedin Mardi Gras parade. A fine Piper for this fine group.
Joe, of the Scottish MacLennan Clan, is involved in many Florida highland games (Athletics). Joe has started a highland athletics school, Dunedin Heavy Athletics, at Highlander Park in Dunedin and is a member of NASGA. At the 2001 Ocala Highland Games and on the circuit from 2002 on, his fine athletes all scored medals, with many Athletes of the Day belonging to his fine group. Joe has experience winning those awards also at the Southeast Florida 2000 Games, but his finest moments came in July 2001 when he competed in the shadow of the Wallace Monument at the Stirling Games and then also at the Balloch Games on the bonny bonny shores of Loch Lomond. There at the World Championships, Joe finished seventh in the World! He is Past and First President of the Dunedin Chapter of the NWC. Joe sports the MacLennan tartan.
Bert's heritage is Scot, Irish ,
and Hawaiian. One of his favorite stories is about the two Scots (Young , Davis)
who helped the Hawaiian
King
Kamahamaha defeat his enemies on Oahu. Bert is
very active in the re-enactment community, and served as the post commander for the
Florida Scottish American Military Society (SAMS). Bert is also an active member
of the Clan Cameron and was instrumental in the starting of the St Petersburg
Chapter. Bert has held the office of Chapter President twice. He currently is on
the circuit as a Celtic bard.
www.Bertquinn.com
Mike Bryant F&AM
Mike owns, with his wife Kandi, the Dunedin Brewery, a local brew pub that has been outstanding in its support of the Celtic Culture here in West Florida. Mike served as the President of the Florida Brewer's Guild. A US Army veteran (Military intelligence) with a commercial helicopter pilot's rating, Mike wears the Graham tartan proudly. Major Bryant is responsible for the music portions of the Annual Dunedin Celtic Festival and the Highland Games. An active member of Clan Graham and descended from the Irish Carrol line , Mike is an integral part of any Celtic movement in the area. Mike's own brew, "Piper's Pale Ale" was voted best beer in Florida in 2003! A fine brewer, and even greater guy! Mike wears the Graham plaid proudly.
Mike and Kandi are always very supportive of the NWC and help us constantly in fundraising activities. Support the Brewery whenever you can!
Noel is an Irish balladeer, singing and playing his guitar all over the Southeast USA. He was born Irish through and through being of the Cooney's and the Monaghan's and lived in Dublin before moving to Dunedin, where he owns, with his wife Trina, Flanagan's Irish Pub. Known as the "Once and Future King of Dunedin", Noel had a bit part in the movie "Excalibur". He has served as the Master of Ceremonies at the Dunedin Celtic Festival. Noel also holds the best St Patrick's Day party in West Florida!
Noel has always supported local Celts and activities and Flanagan's is a favorite meeting place of the NWC due to his and Trina's warm hospitality: "There are no stranger's here, only friends that never met."
Write to: NewWorldCelts@gmail,com
International Executive Committee NWC PO Box 0362 Dunedin, Florida USA