The Carolina Gaels – Gaelic Speaking Scots in NC

The Laurinburg region and an area encompassing 10 counties in North Carolina and parts of 3 counties in South Carolina once contained a population which spoke the most prominent minority language outside of Native American languages in the Carolinas prior to the late 20th Century. This language was that of homes and churches, and a press in Fayetteville even printed documents and books in the language. The earliest Presbyterian as well as Baptist and Methodist congregations in Scotland County were founded by ministers who spoke this language and preached in it for a number of decades, and many of the Presbyterian Churches in surrounding counties which date from the 18th and early 19th centuries also had this practice until well into the 19th century….and perhaps even as late as the early 20th century! We have place-names and communities here in the region which bear names in this language, and there are even words and phrases known in local vernacular which are still pure examples of this language. Come learn how Scottish Gaelic influenced this greater region and how the evidence of its use helps us define the boundaries of this community.

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