The love of Scottish traditional music can be felt everywhere on Cape
Breton Island, the home of thousands of Scottish families who escaped the
Highland Clearances of 1780 - 1850. They brought with them their music,
Gaelic songs and step dancing and preserved some of the Scottish Highland
culture that later died out in Scotland. The Highlanders who remained in
Scotland suffered serious suppression of their culture because of
politics and religion, while Cape Bretoners were free to protect and develop
their Scottish heritage. Lately, some Cape Bretoners have been
travelling back to Scotland to teach their music and dance to interested Scots.
