Articles

The Melbourne Tartan Festival Ceilidh Dance with music by the Melbourne Scottish Fiddlers at Collingwood Town Hall on Friday 27^th June is the opening event of this year’s Festival. The ceilidh’s loyal following is attracted by the high energy dance style reminiscent of many a Scottish village hall.

On Sunday 29 June is the annual Kirkin’ ‘O The Tartan service at The Scots’ Church, Melbourne. The Parade of Clans will be piped into the church, with each Clan announced and welcomed in both Scottish Gaelic and English.  To register your Clan’s participation, go to: www.trybooking.com/CYLYX.

The Melbourne Tartan Day Parade on Collins Street on Sunday 6^th July is a Festival highlight, gaining in stature and recognition as it enters its 5^th year. This is a truly stirring and colourful spectacle, as the sound of the massed pipe band echoes across the city, with more than 200 pipers, drummers, dancers and clan representatives in traditional dress parade down Collins Street, Melbourne.

The Parade is followed by a massed Highland Fling recital in the forecourt of the Westin Hotel. Highland dancing and piping displays will be on the terrace and balconies of the Old Treasury Building from 11.30am with pop-up events around the city.  A CBD Scottish Connection guided walk with cultural historian, curator and tour leader Kenneth Park will commence at 10.00am – bookings essential.

Festival highlights

Melbourne Tartan Festival Gala Dinner and Concert at Melbourne Town Hall is on Saturday 19^th July.  This year’s distinguished Guest of Honour is Member of the Scottish Parliament, Angus Robertson, Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture. Cabinet Secretary Angus Robertson.  Guest Speaker is The Honourable Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Nicholas Reece.

Guests will be piped in on arrival to enjoy drinks in the Town Hall foyer before entering the glittering Main Hall for a traditional Address to the Haggis, sumptuous gourmet meal accompanied by fine wines and entertained with a mix of traditional and contemporary concert style entertainment with a few surprise guest artists.  This will be a night to remember as you dance the night out to internationally acclaimed Celtic rock band Claymore.

During the month long Festival there will be concerts and piping recitals featuring Graeme McColgan ‘The Scotsman’ with ‘Highland Harmonies from Distant Shores’, the Victorian Pipers Association Solo Piping Championships, The Victorian Scottish Dancing Members Association 64^th Australian Commonwealth Championships, online and in person genealogy and history lectures, whisky tasting, Burns Suppers, poetry in the park and pub and much more throughout the month of July.

Visit the Melbourne Tartan Festival website for the full program and booking links, with more events being added weekly, at: www.melbournetartanfestival.com.au.  Also visit and follow the Festival Facebook page: www.facebook.com/MelbourneTartanFestival

A fine piece of woven fabric lay buried in the bottom of Loch Tay in Perthshire for nearly 2,500 years, naturally preserved by the silty bed. Believed to be one of the oldest of its kind in Britain and dating back to the early to middle part of the Iron Age, it was found in 1979 when an Iron Age loch dwelling house, known as the Oakbank Crannog, was excavated on Loch Tay.

Now, the public will be able to see this ancient textile close-up when it goes on show for the first time at The Scottish Crannog Centre’s Iron Age village, visitor centre and museum, on the banks of Loch Tay.

Oakbank Textile

Previously thought too fragile to go on display, the textile will become a permanent exhibit at the Centre. Thanks to a painstaking stabilisation and conservation process, funded by Museums Galleries Scotland, it will be housed safely in a climate-controlled cabinet. The ‘Oakbank Textile,’ has been analysed by archaeologists at the University of Glasgow who have radiocarbon dated the material to between 480 – 390BC.

Maureen Kerr, an experimental archaeologist and volunteer at the Centre, said: “The exciting thing is that there’s nowhere else in Scotland, and very few places in the rest of the UK, that has a textile of this size and age. The weave on this fine textile is called a 2/1 twill which is really unusual for the time in southern Britain and northern Europe as most twill weaves were 2/2. This sheds considerable light on the technologies society had in the Iron Age. Twill weaves, which this textile is part of, is a dense, flexible fabric, very similar in appearance to our modern denim weave. It has been made, we think, on a two-beam loom, or a warp-weighted loom. This, combined with the fact that there are the remnants of a possible hem indicating that it could have been part of a piece of clothing, makes it a rare and special discovery.”

Crannogs

Dr Susanna Harris, Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Glasgow, carefully examined the textile on behalf of the Centre.  She said: “There are very few early textiles of this date and we think this is the first one of this type, of 2/1 twill, in Scotland. Wool was such an important material in Scotland it’s been exciting to analyse this piece. It’s great that the Scottish Crannog Centre has taken this step. It’s really important finds like this go on display. It may be a small piece of textile but it tells us a lot about the heritage of Scottish textiles.”

Crannogs were dwelling houses built on stilts or stone over water and usually had a bridge connecting them to the shore. Very few exist outside of Scotland and Ireland. The first crannogs in Scotland were built on lochs from Neolithic times. In 2021 the Scottish Crannog Centre was dealt a devastating blow in 2021 when a fire burned down the site’s reconstructed crannog, built by archaeologists in 1997. The Centre opened to visitors on its new and enlarged site near Kenmore last year and the build team is well on the way to completing a new crannog using sustainable and historical construction methods.

For further information visit: https://crannog.co.uk

Main photo: Experimental archaeologist Isobelle Hanby with the piece of woven fabric. Photo Martin Shields.

Two full days of Celtic culture, August 30 – 31^st in Canmore, Alberta.

The vein of Scottish culture that runs strong through Canmore’s community is celebrated annually through the Canmore Highland Games. Founded in 1884 as a coal mining town, and driven by the expansion of the Canadian Pacific Railway, Scottish immigrants and their families settled in Canmore, bringing with them their customs and traditions.

Immerse yourself this Labour Day weekend in the majestic Canadian Rockies and the traditional sights and sounds, athleticism, and spirit of Scotland. Canmore is the Scottish Highlands of Canada on August 30-31.

Celtic custom

Reflecting rich Celtic custom, the weekend will be filled with music, dance and sports. Highland dancers of all ages, from near and far, will take the stage in dance competitions exhibiting strength, agility, and grace. The air will be filled with the sounds of the hundreds of pipers and drummers who come to win honours at the Piping and Drumming competitions. The closing ceremony is the finale of the day, where all bands will join the Massed Pipes & Drums of the Canmore Highland Games, and sometimes, move you to tears.

Central to the Canmore Highland Games, and a crowd favourite on the festival fields, are the heavy highland sports. Cheer for the athletes as they throw the hammer, try the stone put, and attempt to toss the caber end over end. These traditional athletic competitions showcase the strength, skill, and endurance of the players.

The Canmore Highland Games also serve as a gathering point for Scottish clans. Clan tents will be set up to share about the history and heritage of various Scottish clans. Perhaps you’ll find your people?   Wander through the Celtic Market to find Highland garb and Celtic items of all descriptions. Peruse the British Car show. Watch the Sheepdogs at work herding. Enter in the Tug of War-there is something for everyone!  We give cheers to our opening day with the Taste of the Highlands Saturday night, August 30^th. Enjoy an evening in a Celtic Lounge atmosphere sipping wines and whiskeys, meads and ales from some of the world’s most celebrated producers. Appetizers will be served up by some of Canmore’s finest restaurants.

A vibrant celebration of Scottish culture

Over the two days of the Canmore Highland Games, festival tents will showcase additional entertainment from Celtic bands and Irish Step Dancers. An additional ticket can be purchased for a special Scotch-tasting experience. Be sure to join us for our BIG kitchen party, the Canmore Ceilidh, on Sunday night, August 31^st. Back by popular demand, coming all the way from Glasgow, we have the Rollin Drones, a dynamic, energetic, 6-piece bagpipe pop band, here to close out our weekend of events with the party of the summer!

The Canmore Highland Games have grown significantly since their inception, becoming a major event in Canmore’s cultural calendar. Held annually on the Labour Day weekend, the games attract participants and spectators from across Canada and beyond. The event is a vibrant celebration of Scottish culture and a premier summer festival in the Rocky Mountains that you don’t want to miss.

Get all the details and tickets at: www.CanmoreHighlandGames.ca

All images courtesy of Canmore Highland Games.

1,600 parade participants descended on Edinburgh in May for the very first Edinburgh Tartan Parade, with baton twirlers, 18 pipe bands, dancers, Vikings, groups and organisations. A dazzling spectacle of tartan clad people of all ages,  weaving down from The Royal Mile, through the  old streets of Edinburgh to The National Galleries was lined several deep by spectators.

The sunshine could not have bettered this memorable day, the inaugural Edinburgh Tartan Parade.

Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Robert Aldridge said “ We are delighted to be here for the very first Edinburgh Tartan Parade. This is Edinburgh’s 900^th anniversary as a city and we hope this parade will go from strength to strength for years to come.”

A vibrant celebration of Scottish culture and heritage

The parade was a vibrant celebration of Scottish culture and heritage which included a spectacular display of tartan-clad participants marching through the historic streets of Edinburgh.

From traditional bagpipers to highland dancers, this event was a feast for the senses.  The inaugural Edinburgh parade was designed to “celebrate the Scottish culture, foster community engagement, and commemorate Edinburgh’s significant 900^th anniversary as a city.”

The event also hosted the Tartan Parade Celebration Concert later that evening at Usher Hall featuring the Red Hot Chilli Pipers & Rura.

Main photo: Lindsay School of Dance.

All images courtesy of Tommy Slack/Tartan Parade Scotland.

The Scenic Rim Clydesdale Spectacular returns on June 14 & 15 with country roots and cowboy boots – now featuring a major country music concert! One of Queensland’s most loved and unique events, which celebrates the Scottish ancestry of the Scenic Rim, the Scenic Rim Clydesdale Spectacular is the richest Clydesdale Show in the Southern Hemisphere and takes rein in Beaudesert on the weekend of June 14 and 15, with a brand-new country music concert galloping into the program on Friday June 13.

Gentle Giants

From pint-sized Shetlands to towering Shires, the event is a full-throttle celebration of the Gentle Giants of the horse world. Over two mighty days, Clydesdale champions are judged, their Scottish heritage is honoured, rare trades are showcased, and their vital place in Australian history is proudly preserved.  And now, in a major new addition, country music becomes the heartbeat of the hooves, with a brand-new Country Concert headlined by Queensland country star Luke Geiger from 5pm Friday June 13. For Luke, it’s a special homecoming. Almost 30 years after playing Rugby League in Beaudesert and earning an NRL scholarship, he returns not in footy boots—but cowboy boots.

“I’m a country singer and a horse guy, and I can’t wait to get around the big horses at the Clydesdale Spectacular—what an experience it’ll be!” Luke said. Known for his powerhouse stage presence and authentic sound inspired by legends like George Strait and Garth Brooks, Luke Geiger is one of Queensland’s most in-demand performers. With his steel guitar player hailing from nearby Tamborine, the Scenic Rim spirit will be front and centre on stage.

Agricultural legacy

The Scenic Rim Clydesdale Spectacular is the ultimate fusion of heritage and heart, with the 2025 program featuring: The World Whip Plaiting Titles (a global first!),  World Billy Boiling Championships, Bush poetry, blacksmithing, working dogs, caber tossing, and lumberjacking, Clydesdale & Clan competitions and the stirring massing of the pipes and drums and traditional haggis burgers, whisky bar, and kilts everywhere.

Event Director Greta Stanfield said the move to the Beaudesert Showgrounds has given the event space to grow, while staying grounded in its Scenic Rim home: “It’s important for us to keep the event in the region that owes so much to the Clydesdale. This breed cleared our paddocks, ploughed our fields and built our agricultural legacy. Thanks to fans, breeders and this incredible community, we’re not only preserving that history—we’re celebrating it.” So saddle up for a weekend where country pride, horsepower, and music collide.

The Scenic Rim Clydesdale Spectacular 2025 takes place Saturday 14^th & Sunday 15^th June 2025 at Beaudesert Showgrounds, Albert Street, Beaudesert, Queensland. More information, accommodation and ticketing detail: http://www.clydesdalespectacular.com.au.

Ten eighteenth-century pistols have returned to their place of origin in an extraordinary homecoming for the historic village of Doune. Once part of a private collection, the pistols are now on permanent public display at the community’s Information and Heritage Centre in Doune.

Forming the centrepiece of new heritage exhibitions, the collection has been gifted to Kilmadock Development Trust (KDT)  by collector Andrew Yool in a remarkable act of generosity.

Scottish ingenuity

Crafted by six different Doune hammermen in the 1700s, these pistols are outstanding examples of the artistry that made the village a renowned centre of gunsmithing. Each piece features elaborate decoration, often Celtic-inspired, applied through fine engraving and silver wire inlay.

“The fact that a representative selection by the most well-known local hammermen has finally found a permanent home on display at the Doune for all to see and admire is undoubtedly an occasion for celebration,” said collector Andrew Yool. “These flintlock firearms are of unique design, construction and decoration, instantly recognised and appreciated worldwide as iconic examples of Scottish ingenuity, craftsmanship and enterprise, as a result of which they have earned international fame for the village of Doune where they were made 300 years ago.”

The roots of Doune’s pistolmaking tradition trace back to 1646, when Thomas Caddell brought the gunsmith trade to the village. With iron scarce, he made use of old horseshoe nails and, through dedication to his craft, developed a level of refinement that defined the Doune style much sought-after around Europe. His legacy passed down through generations of apprentices, establishing Doune as the heart of Scotland’s pistolmaking industry.

Unique part of Doune’s history

After the Jacobite’s defeat at Culloden, Scottish mercenaries fled abroad, taking their arms with them. It is said that the American War of Independence was started by a shot from a Doune-made pistol at the Battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775; later described as being the “shot heard round the world.” Only a few hundred examples of genuine ‘Doune Pistols’ are known to remain in museums and private collections around the world today.

Karen Ross, Chair of KDT says: “We are thrilled that such a unique part of Doune’s history is now on display in the village where they were made, and are grateful to Mr Yool for his generosity. While having a practical function, the pistols really are fine works of art and would have taken countless hours of craftsmanship by candlelight to bring to fruition.”

While relatively small places, Doune and Deanston have a wealth of history to delve into. These are featured in the new heritage exhibitions at the Information and Heritage Centre, which have been funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Run by local volunteers, and open throughout the week, visitors are invited to come spend some time and discover the stories of Scotland’s historic crossroads.

For more information on the historic villages of Doune and Deanston visit: www.douneanddeanston.com

The 19th annual Greater Moncton Highland Games & Scottish Festival, scheduled for June 10–14, 2025, is set to make history by hosting five age classes for the Canadian Scottish Athletic Federation (CSAF) Women’s National Championships.

The CSAF has introduced distinct divisions for Youth (ages 13–16), Juniors (ages 17–19), Women (ages 20–39), and two Masters categories: Masters 40–59 and Masters 60+. The decision to debut these expanded championships in Moncton underscores the city’s pivotal role in promoting inclusivity and growth within the sport, particularly evident since hosting the Masters World Championships in 2022 and the inaugural Canadian Junior Championships in 2024.

“Participating in the Greater Moncton Highland Games has played a huge role in opening the door for heavy athletics for me,” says Patty Charlton, one of this year’s Masters competitors. Charlton, originally from Albert County and now living in Nova Scotia, was introduced to the sport through the Games’ Give ’er a Try event in 2023. “I was hooked and came back again to compete in the Women’s Open division the following summer. Since then, I’ve competed around the Maritimes and even travelled to Florida to compete in the Scottish Athletics Masters World Championships. I love that the Moncton Highland Games puts an emphasis on hosting women’s events. It’s inspiring to share the field with women of all ages.”

Rooted in tradition

In addition to the CSAF Championships, the main event day (Saturday, June 14) includes competitions in Highland Dancing, solo piping and drumming, pipe bands, and swordfighting. These are contested alongside displays of blacksmithing, fly casting, textile arts, and more.

“Many people might look at the list of activities and wonder how everything aligns, but it’s all rooted in tradition,” says Event Manager Jenna Morton. “Our 5K Tartan Run is a fundraiser, but stories of Scottish kings holding foot races to find the quickest messenger have been shared for centuries. Clan chieftains would hold feats of strength competitions to celebrate their best warriors. The music of the pipes and drums, as well as the songs and tunes shared on the stage, all blend ancient melodies with modern rhythms.”

The 19^th annual Greater Moncton Highland Games & Scottish Festival runs June 10-14, 2025.

• June 10: Free community concert with Ivan & Vivian Hicks and the Sussex Avenue Fiddlers, Moncton’s Victoria Park, 7pm.
• June 11: Free community concert with Sons of Gael and the Dunnett Highland Dancers, Riverview Gazebo, 7pm.
• June 12: Free community concert with RCMP Pipes & Drums and Sara & James Nelson, Salisbury’s Highland Park, 7pm.
• June 13: Give it a Try heavy events clinic, (please email [email protected] if interested in participating; spectators welcome), Hal Betts Sportsplex, 6pm.
• June 14: Hal Betts Sportsplex (250 Assomption Blvd, Moncton), Gates open at 8am; most public demonstrations begin at 10am, Massed Bands (Closing Ceremonies) at approximately 5:30pm, followed by free concert in the Ceilidh Tent with Dram & A Draw and Morgan Toney.

For a detailed schedule and more information, visit monctonhighlandgames.com/schedule.

 

Dressed to Kilt, the world-famous celebration of Scottish fashion, music, and culture, made a triumphant return to New York City on the evening of Saturday, April 5, 2025, delivering an unforgettable night of glamour, heritage, and heart.

Held at the stunning Church of the Heavenly Rest on Fifth Avenue, this year’s event was themed “Country Couture: From the Scottish Highlands to Fifth Avenue,” transforming the runway into a dynamic showcase of outdoor lifestyle fashion—from rugged countryside looks to elegant eveningwear.

The runway dazzled with a blend of tradition and modernity, featuring spectacular collections from renowned designers such as Red Label Kilts, 21^st Century Kilts, Prophetik, Campbells of Beauly, Totty Rocks, Walker Slater, Molly Kathryn Wade, Dubarry of Ireland, Hannah Macdonald, Aida, and King’s Foundation designer Graeme Bone.

In true Dressed to Kilt style, the show wasn’t without surprises—a majestic falcon even made a dramatic runway appearance, captivating the crowd.

Collaborative energy

Notable personalities took center stage, including viral New York creator Caleb Simpson, Summer House star West Wilson, and both current Miss Scotland Amy Scott and 2023 Miss Scotland Chelsie Allison.

The show was brilliantly hosted by Dressed to Kilt co-founder Geoffrey Scott Carroll and Scottish actor James Robinson, whose charm and wit carried the evening. Other celebrity walkers included Olympian Nicole Yeargin, Oscar-winning screenwriter Lesley Paterson, and acclaimed artist and author Timothy Goodman.

The crowd was treated to unforgettable live performances from powerhouse singer Natalie Dredd, high-energy favorites The Devil’s Brigade, and Britain’s Got Talent winner Jai McDowall, whose voice brought the house down. Sunbelt Rentals, the evening’s title sponsor, even sent a representative down the runway, further highlighting the event’s community spirit and collaborative energy.

Guests sipped on fine Ardbeg whisky as they mingled and danced the night away following the show. As always, Dressed to Kilt’s mission extends beyond fashion. Proceeds from the evening will support the Navy SEAL Foundation, a cause that remains close to the hearts of the organizers and audience alike.

For more information on Dressed to Kilt visit: www.dressedtokilt.com

The Scottish District Families Association (SDFA) has proudly unveiled the name of its newly revitalized newsletter—The Caledonian—marking a renewed commitment to celebrating Scottish heritage, traditions, and the deep-rooted connections among Scottish families. The SDFA serves the estimated 70% of Scots who do not belong to a clan because their name is not associated with a recognized clan. Many Scottish families have deep ancestral roots but lack formal ties to specific clans. The SDFA ensures that these individuals still have a place to celebrate their heritage, engage in Scottish traditions, and connect with others who share their cultural background.

The choice of The Caledonian pays homage to Scotland’s ancient identity, drawing inspiration from the land once inhabited by the Caledonii, a Roman Latin name that has long been synonymous with Scottish pride and resilience. With this new name, the SDFA aims to strengthen the sense of unity and cultural pride among its members, ensuring that the vibrant stories, histories, and traditions of Scottish families continue to be shared for generations to come.

Renewing the Legacy of the Caledonia Tartan

Alongside the launch of The Caledonian, the SDFA is also reinforcing the significance of the Ancient Caledonia tartan, a design that embodies the heritage and identity of Scottish families with deep ancestral ties to Scotland. The tartan, with its distinctive weave of blues, greens, and reds, represents the natural beauty of Scotland’s landscapes and the enduring strength of its people.

By bringing renewed attention to this tartan, the SDFA encourages members to embrace their Scottish roots through traditional attire, cultural events, and storytelling. The association hopes to inspire younger generations to take pride in their heritage and keep the traditions alive.

The Mission of the Scottish District Families Association

At the heart of the SDFA’s mission is the preservation and promotion of Scottish culture, genealogy, and community engagement. The association provides resources for individuals to explore their ancestry, learn about Scottish customs, and connect with fellow Scots in a supportive and enriching environment. Through events such as Highland games, educational workshops, and historical lectures, the SDFA fosters a deeper understanding of Scotland’s contributions to history and culture. The organization also works diligently to maintain connections with Scottish communities worldwide, ensuring that no matter where they reside, Scots can always find a home among their kin.

Additionally, the SDFA is revitalizing and updating its website, www.scottishdistricts.com, to make it more useful and informative for its members. The improved website will feature expanded resources on genealogy, Scottish history, upcoming events, and ways to connect with the broader Scottish community.

Looking forward

The launch of The Caledonian and the renewed emphasis on the Caledonia tartan and a renewed website signal a bright future for the SDFA and its members. As the association continues to grow, it remains steadfast in its dedication to preserving the customs and stories that define Scottish identity.

For those interested in joining the Scottish District Families Association, contributing to The Caledonian, or learning more about their Scottish heritage, the SDFA welcomes all who share a passion for Scotland and its enduring legacy. Together, they stand united in celebrating the past, present, and future of Scottish heritage.

Visit the SDFA website for membership information www.scottishdistricts.com or contact Bill Boyd, Membership Secretary, [email protected].  The SDFA is a 501(c)(3) organization.

Main photo: The Ancient Caledonia tartan.

The National Trust for Scotland has launched its annual Footpath Fund appeal to raise funds to support the maintenance and repair of more than 300 miles of paths as 2024 visitor numbers to the charity’s countryside locations increased by 10 percent. The conservation charity’s team of five path makers and specialist contractors ensure the 275 miles of upland footpaths, and a large section of the Trust’s 155 miles of low-level paths, remain accessible and in good condition for the millions of people who visit the countryside properties each year.

This work not only prevents erosion scars and protects the fragile ecosystems where walkers may inadvertently stray from paths, but it also makes visiting these places more accessible for more people.

The ongoing maintenance and repair of the footpaths is vital as they face numerous challenges. Year on year, millions set out to enjoy Scotland’s outdoors. Visitors to the Trust’s countryside properties have increased from 900k in the first half of 2023 to just over 1m in the first six months of this year. Three of the Trust’s most visited countryside places include Ben Lomond, which has grown 27% since 2022 with over 31k visitors; Grey Mare’s Tail, which has increased 34% over the same period to 25k; and St Abb’s Head, which has grown by 86% to 51k visitors – an increase of 24k people.

High footfall naturally wears the paths down and when coupled with the Scottish weather’s swings from sun to snow in a single day, erosion is exacerbated, which risks lasting damage to the countryside and its vulnerable biodiversity. Additional funding is necessary to support these crucial ongoing works.

Delicate ecosystems

Bob Brown, Upland Path Manager for the National Trust for Scotland, said: “Our footpaths lead visitors to Scotland’s nature, heritage, and beauty so it’s crucial we provide our footpath team with the resources they need to maintain them. Their work is vast and wide-ranging, including recent rebuilding work at Grey Mare’s Tail where flash flooding blasted holes into the path. Walkers inadvertently carved new routes through delicate ecosystems as they strayed from the flooded path into the surrounding habitats, endangering native flora and fauna. The footpath team not only repaired the damaged sections, but they also helped protect it in future by improving drainage systems to mitigate increased flooding. This is often made especially challenging due to many of the sites we work on having important geological and botanical attributes and Special Scientific Interest categorisation. Rather than use existing but protected materials on site, all rebuilding materials are acquired elsewhere and airlifted in. By maintaining and repairing footpaths that blend seamlessly into the landscape, they ensure everyone can enjoy the unique beauty of our hills and mountains, both today and for those that follow in our footsteps.”

Donations to the Footpath Fund help the Trust to progress its ambitious mountain path restoration plan to tackle damaged sites at Ben Lawers, Ben Lomond, Glencoe, Goatfell, Torridon, and Kintail. They also support pre-emptive work to counter the effects of increased visitor numbers and climate change on natural habitats and footpaths; conduct audits on the state of lowland paths and develop a plan of work to ensure they’re maintained to the highest standards; and trial new repair techniques to ensure work continues to be as effective and sustainable as possible.

For more information, or to make a donation, visit: www.nts.org.uk/footpath

Main photo: The NTS footpath team.

 

A beloved former Holy Loch watering hole of American forces and their families stationed in and around Dunoon has recently been acquired by the local community following two years of closure. The new owners, the Oakbank Community Inn Sandbank (OCIS), are now looking to hear from ex US Navy personnel about their memories of the pub that sits just yards from the loch shoreline.

An ongoing share scheme, combined with a significant grant from the Scottish Land Fund, has recently seen the 150-year-old inn transferred into community ownership with OCIS planning to open it up to the public by early summer following urgently needed renovations.

Long lasting friendships

Sue McKillop of OCIS commented: “We know this pub was very popular with US servicemen and women for over 30 years and have heard many happy memories being recounted by local people about how the inn helped to build long lasting friendships between local residents and the US military. We are always on the look out for more recollections of this significant time for the town and surrounding settlements. There are bound to still be more folks who can recall good times spent at the inn and it will all go towards us building up a history of the pub from 1960 to 1990 which we will share as part of a pub heritage programme. We would also welcome any US veterans interested in becoming shareholders for what promises to be a fantastic new chapter for a pub that is now owned by the community of Sandbank. We have a rich shared history with our American friends and we want this fine inn, sitting at the gateway to the southern Scottish Highlands, to build on that.”

For more information please visit www.oakbank.pub or email Sue direct [email protected].

Steamship Sir Walter Scott, one of Scotland’s most famous maritime heritage icons, has sailed on Loch Katrine since 1900 and has begun her 125^th season and is gearing up to carry thousands of passengers on scenic loch cruises in the heart of the National Park.

Named after the renowned Scottish author whose works helped shape the nation, this milestone marks the Steamship’s remarkable history and role sailing on one of Scotland’s most beautiful lochs.

The Lady of the Lake

Loch Katrine’s rich heritage and dramatic landscapes have captivated visitors for centuries. Immortalised in Sir Walter Scott’s celebrated poem The Lady of the Lake which has resulted in the loch being credited as the ‘Birthplace of Scottish tourism’. Loch Katrine’s combination of outstanding natural beauty and unrivalled cultural significance is home for the vessel that has become a national treasure. Steamship Sir Walter Scott was built in 1899 by shipbuilders William Denny and Brothers in Dumbarton on the River Clyde. Commissioned to replace the ageing Rob Roy II, it embodied the elegance of the Edwardian era with sleek lines and a powerful engine. However, getting the vessel to the landlocked Loch Katrine presented a unique engineering challenge, and Denny’s lost money on the project due to the high cost of transporting her to Loch Katrine.

Once constructed and tested, she had to be broken and transported to the land-locked loch in sections by barge along the River Leven and up Loch Lomond to Inversnaid. From there, the pieces were hauled overland to Stronachlachar by horse-drawn wagons, navigating rugged and steep terrain. Once reassembled by the loch, the Steamship was launched in 1900, a massive moment in the 180-year history of Steamships at Loch Katrine.

“Little did the Steamship’s builders at the end of the 1800s think that she would still be in service in 2025,” said James Fraser, CEO of the Steamship Sir Walter Scott Trust.

“What they couldn’t have foreseen was just how special this Steamer would become and that, ultimately, she would be owned by a charitable trust set up to protect her unique heritage for the nation.  She is cruising during this special anniversary year thanks to the generous donations from the public and grant funding support for the recent 2023 restoration appeal. We are delighted to welcome visitors from all over the world to Loch Katrine, and their support is vital, as all income generated is reinvested to preserve this national maritime treasure for the enjoyment of the public. There are daily cruises at Loch Katrine year-round, and from June 6^th-8^th we will be hosting a Steamboat Festival, a weekend packed with activities to celebrate the 125^th anniversary of the Steamship Sir Walter Scott. There will also be a series of Steamship Live music events and in early October we will be hosting some bands on the steamship as part of Callander’s annual Jazz and Blues Festival.”

Role in shaping Scottish tourism

Passengers aboard the Steamship enjoy live commentary telling the captivating story of the vessel’s construction, history, and role in shaping Scottish tourism, as well as the nature and wonders of this unique loch. They can also view the engine room during a voyage.  At the pier, where passengers depart for a cruise, there is an immersive exhibition showcasing the history of Loch Katrine’s steamships.

The exhibition includes the human stories of the captains, crew and key people over the 125 years, whose dedication contributed to the Steamship’s success and ensured her safety through two World Wars before the challenges of ownership around her 100^th anniversary, thankfully resulting in the transfer to a dedicated and independent charitable trust in 2007.

The latest addition to the popular Trossachs attraction is a newly opened tower overlooking the pier. This spectacular vantage point, which inspired Sir Walter Scott during his visit to Loch Katrine in 1809 to write The Lady of the Lake, offers panoramic views of the loch’s dramatic glens, mountains and tranquil waters, with iconic landmarks like Ellen’s Isle, all described so vividly in his romantic story. Published in 1810 to great acclaim, visitors flocked to see the landscapes for themselves, and tourists have been coming ever since to admire these unspoilt views, now part of Scotland’s first National Park and a Natural Nature Reserve the size of Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city.

The Steamship Sir Walter Scott is fully accessible to wheelchair users, ensuring passengers with reduced mobility can experience Loch Katrine’s dramatic mountain skyline whilst cruising into the Scottish Highlands. Many passengers opt to combine a cruise with walking and cycling routes, allowing them to explore the area’s natural beauty in an environmentally conscious way.

Did you know?

-According to Sir Walter Scott’s biographer Edgar Johnson, Loch Katrine was visited by fifty or sixty carriages a year before The Lady of the Lake was published in 1810; within the first six months after publication, the number rose to 297, and it became more fashionable to see the Trossachs than to make the Grand Tour of Europe.

–Hail to the Chief was initially titled Boat Song and was a part of Sir Walter Scott’s long narrative poem The Lady of the Lake. Boat Song was put to music by James Sanderson in 1812 and became a part of American culture in 1815 when it was played to honour George Washington (Hail to the Chief) and has subsequently been used to introduce all US Presidents.

-Rowing boats accommodated the early visitors before being replaced by steamships in 1843. In 1900, the recently restored Steamship Sir Walter Scott began service and is still in operation today.

-The Steamship is the iconic symbol of Loch Katrine, which in 1859 became the water supply to much of West and Central Scotland. Through ingenious Victorian engineering, 23.5 miles of aqueducts and tunnels carried clean water for the first time to Glasgow, transforming the health of its vast population.

Habitat restoration is creating an upwards trend in black grouse numbers in the Highlands – offering hope for the endangered birds and for wider biodiversity, a study has found. The first year of a new citizen science study in the Affric Highlands rewilding landscape near Inverness has found black grouse populations are recovering well at sites carrying out large-scale nature recovery, including restoration of native woods, peatlands and wetlands.

Black grouse are an important indicator species for ecosystem health, and use a wide variety of habitats for feeding, shelter, nesting, lekking and rearing chicks.

Restoring a mosaic of habitats

But the spectacular birds have suffered long-term UK-wide decline, due to threats such as habitat loss and intensive land management. They are now locally extinct in many regions, with surviving populations often badly fragmented.  A new community-focused programme of black grouse surveys has been launched this year by the Affric Highlands initiative and RSPB Scotland, working together with Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) and local landowners. The project builds on previous surveys by RSPB Scotland in the area since 2007, and includes a team of volunteers for the first time.

“Our initial findings are a cause for optimism. Restoring a mosaic of habitats to health appears to be offering much-needed hope for black grouse numbers – and so for nature more broadly,” said Nicola Williamson, Field Officer for Affric Highlands. “The project has been a constant source of inspiration – including the positive engagement of the local community and landowners, the nature recovery action underway at several estates, and the amazing team of volunteers who have made the study possible.”

One of the UK’s most rapidly declining bird species

Black grouse populations are measured by counting numbers of males attending mating display sites called leks. Between April and May 2024, 14 sites in the Beauly area were assessed, with trained volunteers studying five square kilometre plots. The study recorded 405 lekking males – a slight increase since the last survey in 2021, and the highest recorded over the past 17 years. In 2007, 250 lekking males were counted. With black grouse numbers fluctuating over time, and data lacking for some past years, the project aims to confirm through future surveys whether the overall rise is steady. The team also found that numbers of lekking black grouse males have risen or declined – sometimes significantly – at different individual sites due to changes in available habitat.

Nature restoration appears to be the key factor at sites where numbers are up. Excluding herbivores such as deer to reduce overgrazing and over-browsing, for example, is allowing habitats to bounce back through the growth of healthy shrub layers and young trees.  The black grouse is one of the UK’s most rapidly declining bird species, and on the ‘Red’ list of conservation concern. It needs a mosaic of habitats including woodlands and moorlands. A fresh UK-wide survey of black grouse is long overdue. The last, in 2005, estimated the UK population to be 5,100 males – with 3,400 in Scotland, 1,500 in England and 200 in Wales. Affric Highlands is the UK’s largest rewilding landscape, led by Trees for Life and Rewilding Europe. The 30-year community-focused initiative aims to restore habitats over half a million acres from Loch Ness to the west coast – tackling the nature and climate emergencies, and supporting re-peopling and nature-based economic opportunities.

The annual Aberdeen Highland Games are on again this year on the 1^st Saturday in July each year that on this occasion will be the weekend of the 5^th. The day will begin with a parade of pipe bands, clan representatives and others that leads into the Massed Band Salute and Chieftain’s Address that officially opens the day.

The pipe bands are what make a Scottish event so special. The unique sounds of the massed pipes and drums fills the air as bands converge from all around New South Wales at the Aberdeen Highland Games. The Chieftain this year will be Charles Cooke, OAM a past President who was instrumental in establishing the event in 2000.

The very essence of Scotland

Nothing encompasses such enthusiasm and colour as Highland Dancing and what better sight and sound can there be that encapsulates the very essence of Scotland than the bagpipes accompanying a kilted dancer, swaying and pirouetting to traditional airs! There will be novelty events for the children including the three-legged race and the famed Kilted Dash. Everyone is encouraged to dress up in their best Scottish attire with prizes awarded to the best dressed laddie, lassie, bairn and pet. The Kilted Warriors are a great part of the event with and not to be missed in the traditional Celtic strongman competition. There is tremendous strength and determination on display when the athletes compete in three the Lifting of the Stones of Destiny, the Sheaf Toss and the Caber Toss.

Further the Games anticipate that the ADF Federation Guard Drill Team will be attending again this year, and they are a great spectacle. A multitude of stores and stands will surround the area selling all manner of Scottish heirlooms and souvenirs, clothing and garb, and food and drink to complete your day. There will be a good roll up of Clan Societies that will be of great help to those chasing family circles. In the evening, the NSW Pipe Band Association have organised a Pipe Band Quintet competition at the Aberdeen RSL Club and hosted by the Tamworth Pipe Band. Get your tickets now.

The Aberdeen Highland Games take place on 5^th July, 2025 in Aberdeen, NSW in the Upper Hunter Valley. For details go to the web site www.aberdeenhighlandgames.com or visit the Facebook page. All bookings are online via this web site. For further detail go to [email protected]. 

Main photo: City of Newcastle Pipe Band at the Aberdeen Highand Games.

Imagine in your mind’s eye a quintessential rural Scottish landscape. What do you see? I’d wager that high, craggy peaks loom over it, and perhaps a cascading burn runs along the dappled floor of a glen. Heather colours the foreground, and on upon a distant hillside the outline of a kilted figure tends his flock – that flock, of course, being sheep.

So engrained are sheep in the classic imagery of Scotland that it is hard to imagine the place without them. Yet, it wasn’t always so. This is the story of how sheep conquered Scotland. The very first sheep to graze on Scottish grass arrived in the Neolithic, roughly 4,100-2,500BC. They came with a new type of people – farmers – who also brought new styles of pottery and created permanent settlements. Their sheep were much smaller than those of today, often described as ‘dog-like’ and with dark brown-black wool and large horns. A living relic of these Neolithic sheep survives in the Soay breed still found in St Kilda. In fact, when the Norse arrived in St Kilda they called Hirta, the largest island in the archipelago, Saudaey, meaning ‘Island of the Sheep’.

The very first large-scale sheep farms in Scotland emerged in the late thirteenth century AD from what at first may seem an unlikely source – monks and their abbeys.  The enterprising monks of Melrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders acquired parcels of land throughout the south of Scotland and used much of them as pasture. In the 1280s their flock was 13,000 strong, the largest in the country by far. The monks’ logic was that by accumulating wealth they could better serve God’s will – a slippery slope if ever there was one.

While the monks may have increased their numbers, sheep remained very marginal to the Highland economy until well into modernity. The quantities of wool and mutton each provided was very modest. Far more important were black cattle, which stood at the centre of rural life, economy, and food production. There was no sheep equivalent in scale to the trysts, where tens of thousands of cattle were guided south from the Highlands to the bustling market towns of Crieff and Falkirk.

Evermore sheep

The levees broke with the introduction of the Blackface breed in the eighteenth century. Their yields were far higher than the native sheep, and their hardiness helped them endure life in the marginal uplands. Landowners soon realised that they could profit far more from flocks of Blackface sheep than they could from rent-paying tenants. This profit motive, along with the violent de-peopling of the Highlands in the wake of the Battle of Culloden, gave rise to the countryside we see throughout much of Scotland today – relatively few people where once there were many, a handful of large farms where once there were dozens of smallholdings, and sheep galore where once there were black cattle.

From the 1790s onwards the Blackface sheep were, in turn, usurped by the kings of modern pastures – the Cheviot breed. Both breeds were known to the Gaels as Na Caoraich Mora, ‘the big sheep’. It was not just their size that was big, but their appetites and demands for land. Their need for access to low-lying ground during winter pushed out the black cattle which once vastly outnumbered them. Cheviot sheep especially require far more ground for grazing than their predecessors, leading to an economy of scale: large landowners reared large flocks, while small and middling landowners were squeezed out. Immense amounts of capital were required for large-scale sheep farming, and the industry remains heavily subsidised to this day.

It is no exaggeration to say that Cheviot sheep changed both the landscapes and culture of Scotland. For example, from the 1770s the Marquis of Breadalbane in Perthshire, one of the largest and wealthiest landowners in Scotland, mass-converted his deer forests into sheep farms. Not only were the new, southern breeds of sheep introduced, but so too were new, southern farmhands, many of them coming from Scots and English-speaking areas like the Lothians into an area which was otherwise almost universally Gaelic-speaking.

A linguistic gulf emerged between those tending to the laird’s sheep and the majority of people living on their estates. When clearances were enacted, these Lowland managers had little sympathy for the Gaels they evicted to make way for evermore sheep. This was also the case on the lands of the 1^st Duke of Sutherland, whose clearances were notoriously brutal.

Year of the Sheep

The Gaels fought back as best they could. 1792 was Bliadhna Nan Caorach, the ‘Year of the Sheep’. Skyrocketing wool prices, partially driven by demand for clothing for the millions of enslaved people in the Caribbean labouring and dying under Scottish whips, accelerated landowners’ clearance efforts. Armed insurrections emerged across the Highlands and Islands, notably in Easter Ross, Skye, and the Outer Hebrides. On several occasions, impoverished tenant farmers fought bodily against squads of police sent to quash them.

One of the best and latest examples of resistance was in Barra and Vatersay. In 1835 all the people living in Vatersay and the Bishop’s Isles to the south were evicted on the order of General Gordon of Cluny explicitly to make way for sheep farms. Lady Gordon Cathcart, Barra and Vatersay’s callous and absentee landlord, consolidated all of Vatersay into a single sheep farm. This spurred on the ‘Vatersay Raiders’, who landed in Vatersay from Barra to resettle cleared settlements and establish new ones. Their court case, heard in Edinburgh, was ultimately victorious, though many in the Tory press fomented hostility towards them.

The reality is that the landscape you see in much of Scotland today, of sprawling fields surrounding a single farmhouse and hundreds of sheep grazing all throughout, has only existed for a little over two centuries. Before, the countryside was far more populous and patchwork, with smoke from farmtouns and homesteads rising up at every turn and the land itself absent of many of the hedges and enclosures that now parcel it out. Far more than any conquering army or ambitious king, sheep transformed the very face and character of Scotland.

Two starkly opposed quotes speak to how sheep are viewed, and by whom. Inside the inn in Kenmore on the Marquis of Breadalbane’s estate, Robert Burns scribbled a poem waxing lyrical about the romance of the countryside:

“Admiring Nature I her wildest grace,

These northern scenes with weary feet I trace;

O’er many a winding dale and painful step,

Th’ abodes of covey’d grouse and timid sheep”

To Burns, sheep were synonymous with the land and ranked among the prize possessions of the aristocracy alongside grouse. For Ian MacCodrum, a Gaelic-speaking Highlander who watched his people be drained away, sheep had a very different legacy. In his poem Òran do na Fògarraich (A Song to the Exiles), he lamented:

“It’s sad to reflect

How the land’s being enslaved –

Our people suddenly went

And sheep came in their place”

Text and photos: David C. Weinczok

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo visited Washington DC and New York City to celebrate Scottish heritage during Tartan Week and performed for the first time at the Washington Tattoo. Thirty performers from The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo including Pipers, Drummers, Fiddle players and Highland Dancers have accompanied the Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray, on his visit to the United States. They kicked off with a performance at Washington’s iconic Capitol building to mark the beginning of Tartan Week.

Tattoo Pipers, Drummers, Dancers, and Fiddle players made their Washington D.C. debut, joining the cast for this year’s Washington Tattoo. The Washington Tattoo celebrates international music and dance, presented in the traditional style of military Tattoo’s around the world.  Mark Reilly, President and CEO of The Washington Tattoo, said: “We are honoured to partner with The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo for this landmark performance. This event will highlight the cultural and musical bonds between our nations while celebrating the artistry and service of military musicians worldwide.”

Showcasing the rich Scottish heritage

In the 75^th anniversary year, the Tattoo is playing a key role in promoting the rich culture of Scotland in America and on an international stage. Jason Barrett, Chief Executive of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, said: “In our 75^th year, we are absolutely thrilled to be taking the Tattoo state side for some small-scale performances and strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders within the US. Working with The Washington Tattoo and organisers of New York Tartan Week, our performers are excited to perform alongside some of those US performers we’ve welcomed to Edinburgh over the years. In partnership with VisitScotland and Brand Scotland, we’re honoured to be able to represent Scotland. It’s so important for us to highlight Scottish and military tradition around the globe and encourage those across the pond to come and see the Tattoo in Edinburgh for themselves.”

Alan Lane, Creative Director of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, added: “We’ve travelled with thirty of our Tattoo Performers to take their talent on tour to Washington and New York. The opportunity for our performers to collaborate with such a variety of musicians in America, whilst showcasing the rich Scottish heritage, is one we’re all really excited about. It’s great to spread the word of the Tattoo across the globe in our 75^th year, and the brilliant performance company on this trip is but a fraction of the power of the full-scale Tattoo production people can see this August on the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade.”

Following the Tattoo’s successful performance at Hoolie in the Hydro in Glasgow last December, the team also joined the Hoolie cast Stateside for Scotland’s Hoolie in New York. Hosted by Alan Cumming, the Hoolie was staged at the iconic Carnegie Hall in Midtown Manhattan on Saturday 5 April. The Tattoo team performed alongside talented Scottish musicians, Julie Fowlis, Dougie Maclean, Mànran, and the Oban High School Pipe Band.

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo will run from 1-23 August 2025. For details see: www.edintattoo.co.uk

All images courtesy of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

 

The first known letter written by King James VI of Scotland, penned when he was no more than seven years old, has gone on show in Edinburgh as part of a new exhibition. This rare document held by National Records of Scotland (NRS) joins other treasures on display to mark 400 years since the king’s death. The World of King James VI & I is now on at the National Galleries Scotland: Portrait until September 14^th.

The exhibition brings together precious documents with artworks, clothing and jewels to create an immersive experience. The display offers a special look into the life of the king who became the first to unite the crowns in 1603. Among the papers going on show is a childhood thank you letter. In it, young James expresses gratitude to his guardian’s wife, the Countess of Mar, for sending him fruit.

The oldest known letter in his own hand still in existence.

Other documents to be displayed include papers about the coronation of Queen, Anne, and letters between James and Anne’s brother Christian, King of Denmark. Dr Alan Borthwick, Head of Medieval and Early Modern Records at National Records of Scotland, said: “These records are rarely seen in public. They help us understand James’s remarkable story, from becoming king of Scots as a baby, his mother’s exile, his childhood and going on to become the first monarch to rule Scotland, England and Ireland.”

The young James became king when he was just 13 months old, after his mother Mary, Queen of Scots was forced to abdicate. These documents help tell his story from those early days through to his time ruling his much wider kingdom. King James VI of Scotland wrote this letter when he was six or seven years old. It is the oldest known letter in his own hand still in existence. King James VI & I died in England on 27 March 1625.

The World of King James VI & I is now open at National Galleries Scotland: Portrait, Queen Street, Edinburgh. For further details see: www.nationalgalleries.org/exhibition/world-king-james-vi-and-i

Main photo: Letter to Lady Minny. Photo courtesy NRS.

As part of their tour of the United States, the Atholl Highlanders, the UK’s only private Army, raised and commanded by the Dukes of Atholl, and based at their ancestral home of Blair Castle in Highland Perthshire, have paraded at the British Embassy in Washington.

In what is the fourth tour of the States undertaken by the Atholl Highlanders in its long and proud history, and having last toured there as a regiment in 2012, the 62 strong contingent of Atholl Highlanders, including its Pipe Band and support staff, visited Washington, Boston, and the Massachusetts town of Athol, which claims a historical connection to the Atholl Highlanders, along with New York City.

Having performed parade marches many times in the States as part of other US tours, the Atholl Highlanders also marched for the very first time in the New York Tartan Day Parade. Their packed itinerary saw them go on to the Massachusetts town of Athol, with whom they enjoy close links. Along with attending a Black Rose Dinner, and enjoying a Legion Spaghetti Supper, they took part in a local River Race whilst staying with host families.

Commenting on the march at the British Embassy in Washington, Abigail Wise, Protocol Visits and Events Officer, said: “We issue a huge thank you to the Atholl Highlanders from everyone here at the British Embassy Washington. The performance was wonderful, and we all enjoyed the National Capital Tartan Day Association luncheon. We wish the Highlanders well with the rest of their US tour.”

 

A new online exhibition has been launched featuring forty historic photographs of the Midlothian village of Roslin.  The photographs, part of The Bryce Collection, include archive images of Rosslyn Chapel, Rosslyn Castle and the village, and can now be seen in the first online exhibition on Rosslyn Chapel’s website.

The Bryce Collection

From around 1880 to the 1940s, two generations of the Bryce family lived and worked in a draper’s shop and post office on Roslin Main Street. One of the family married a keen amateur photographer, Thomas Ritchie and, in the early years of the twentieth century, Ritchie took many photographs in and around the village, some of which were made into postcards and sold in the post office.

By the 1940s, Meg Campbell (nee Bryce), the great niece of George Bryce, moved from Glasgow and took over the family business in Roslin. The collection of photographs had been stored away and largely forgotten but, in 1993, Mrs Campbell donated the collection to Midlothian Local Studies and stipulated that it should be known as ‘The Bryce Collection’. Subsequently, members of the Roslin Heritage Society researched and identified many of the locations.

The Bryce Collection images are used with permission from Midlothian Council Libraries and Archives and forty photographs are now on display in the online exhibition. Ian Gardner, Director of Rosslyn Chapel Trust, said: “We are delighted to launch this fascinating exhibition on our website and, very appropriately, to feature these historic photographs of the Chapel, Castle, Glen and village from The Bryce Collection. This is the first exhibition on our online gallery, which has been funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, administered by Midlothian Council, and we look forward to adding more exhibitions there in the months ahead.”

All images courtesy of the Midlothian Council Libraries and Archives. The exhibition can be viewed free of charge at www.rosslynchapel.com

Main photo: Rosslyn Chapel as shown in The Bryce Collection.

 

The Robert Burns Celtic Festival is a winter festival celebrating Scotland’s National Poet and the Celtic culture in poetry, song, music and dance, in and around the historic buildings of Camperdown, South West Victoria. Festival Chair, Dr John Menzies OAM, is delighted to announce that The Melbourne Welsh Male Choir is returning to Camperdown to perform at the Finale.

Headline acts will also include Luke Plumb & Peter Daffy, The Raglins, MacCrimmin, Fiona Ross, The Corby Family, Elonera, Harpistry, The Reformers (who will present a contemporary show; “In the hope of Something Better”, celebrating Australian Poet Henry Lawson) and Kym Dillon.

Festival favourites

The History Talks, Choirs in Concert, and Festival Finale are just some of the highlights of an exciting weekend that is full of entertainment. The popular Gala Dinner takes place on Friday night. Guests will enjoy a three course dinner, a festival showcase of performances along with the traditional Address tae the Haggis, fine food, good company, Scottish country dancing, a Burns poem and more.

Returning musicians and dancers will delight; Peter Daffy’s Celtic Band, Merran and Peter Moir, The Twa Bards. Along with Tuniversal Music Group, The Camperdown Lakes and Craters Band, The Australian Irish Dance Company, The Geelong Scottish Dance Group, Hugh and Janet Gordon, and the Warrnambool Pipes and Drums.

Market stalls, and music along the beautiful elm lined avenue will delight. The Schools Arts Project will be on display, there will be a shortbread competition, wee stories, and children’s games. A family fun ceilidh and concert will take place on Saturday night.

The James Blair Memorial Solo Piping Competition, organised by the Victorian Pipers Association, will be held, and The Robert Burns Golf Ambrose Cup also returns to the scenic Camperdown Lakes course, with a nip of whisky on the ninth. There will be a gathering at the Robert Burns Statue on Sunday morning where festival favourites, The Twa Bards, will present Burns, songs and poetry.

History talks

It’s worth coming just for the history talks. Our five guest speakers are both eminent and entertaining. Here’s a quick look at the program (full details are on the website):

• 10.30am–11.30am Honorary Associate Professor, John Sherwood: ‘Camperdown’s Explosive Past’
• 11.30am–12.30pm Emeritus Professor Richard Broome: ‘”Who’ll Take a Glove”: Aboriginal Tent Fighters’
• 1.30pm–2.45pm Dr Ruth Pullin and Dr Thomas A. Darragh: ‘Camperdown and Kangatong: von Guérard’s Berlin Letters and What They Reveal’
• 2.45pm–3.45pm Robert McLaren: ‘The Rev. Kay: Front Row Seat to a Changing World from 1850 to 1880′ This story in time, unearths a naval hero, links to the British Royal Family, a life in rural Scotland, scandals, the birth of Italy, a messy Victorian court case and a legacy that continues today.

Tickets are now on sale for the Robert Burns Celtic Festival, 27-29 June 2025.  Full details at: https://camperdownburnsfestival.com.au or www.trybooking.com/CXRJT

*Weekend Tickets from 1st May – 14th June *$120.00 *Weekend Tickets from 15 June – 27th June *$180.00 *Excludes Gala Dinner. Gala Dinner $85.00 per person, bookings are essential.

‘Unconventional’ campaign sees Hollywood icon star alongside distillery team.

Glenmorangie Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky has revealed a new global campaign starring cinematic icon, Harrison Ford. Legendary for his countless iconic movie roles, the Hollywood actor brings his trademark wry humour to the fore in a series of episodic films directed by actor and film-maker Joel Edgerton.

Once Upon a Time in Scotland takes us behind-the-scenes as Harrison Ford journeys to Glenmorangie’s Highland home, to discover the skill and craftmanship that goes into making each bottle of its complex and elegant whisky. It sees the actor enjoy the authentic Scottish experience — from getting to grips with the nuances of Scottish pronunciation and kilt etiquette, to bonding with locals over a dram of single malt — all shot in an unconventional, deliberately ‘off-script’ style.

Filmed in the picturesque north-east Highlands of Scotland, the campaign captures the natural beauty of the local area: from the historic distillery in Tain where Glenmorangie has been created for over 180 years, to the storied 19^th century Ardross Castle, and the dramatic landscapes surrounding Loch Glass.

Appearing alongside Ford are the real Glenmorangie distillery team — who embraced their first experience of acting under the guidance of a global cinematic legend — while the brand’s flagship whiskies, Glenmorangie Original 12 Years Old and Glenmorangie Infinita 18 Years Old also take on a starring role.  Edgerton’s 12 episodes and hero film are complemented by still images shot by acclaimed fashion photographer Lachlan Bailey. They feature Ford as he’s never been seen before: donning a stylish Scottish kilt designed by streetwear brand Palace.

True global icon

Caspar MacRae, President & CEO of The Glenmorangie Company, said:  “Harrison Ford is the real deal: a true global icon, and a genuine whisky lover. It was a dream come true to collaborate on this campaign, and welcome him to our home in the Highlands to discover more about Glenmorangie. He is someone who has honed his craft over decades, which gives him a real appreciation for the dedication and skill of our distillery team.  Like us, he’s not afraid to laugh at himself – and I think Joel has perfectly captured his authentic warmth, alongside his roguish sense of humour. We hope whisky lovers around the world will enjoy exploring the episodes, and learning more about the real people and places behind our whiskies, through Harrison’s eyes.”

Glenmorangie’s whisky makers use endless imagination and five key ingredients – wood, water, barley, yeast and time – to dream up delicious single malt whiskies. They’ve been honing their craft for more than 180 years. They create a delicate and fruity spirit in Scotland’s tallest stills to allow for more taste and aroma. Led by Director of Whisky Creation Dr Bill Lumsden, this pioneering crew are on a mission to bring new flavours and possibilities to the world of single malt.

Harrison Ford, star of Once Upon a Time in Scotland, said: “I loved working with the team at the Distillery — they were all great. The whole process of filming was full of unanticipated joys: little unexpected moments. It’s a tribute to Glenmorangie’s sensibilities that they let us be less than totally serious. I think what Joel has produced has a certain charm to it, because it’s unpretentious and just amusing.”

Joel Edgerton, Director, Once Upon a Time in Scotland, said: “I’ve spent my whole life watching commercials that follow an expected format and so I really like it when things are a little disruptive, fun, and irreverent. It was nice that we got a chance within the very traditional industry of whisky to get behind the scenes, to subvert the seriousness that often goes into an advertising campaign and have fun with that. I hope that people get to see the short film and the full-length episodes – and enjoy them and share them around.”

Once Upon a Time in Scotland will roll out globally during 2025 spanning online video, connected TV, out-of-home formats, experiential, PR and social media. Six full-length episodes and an array of behind-the-scenes content will initially be available to view on glenmorangie.com, with the rest released throughout 2025.

Striking projections of Hollywood legend Harrison Ford lit beauty spots across the Scottish Highlands, to mark the latest episode drop of single malt Glenmorangie’s Once Upon a Time in Scotland film series.   Captivating visuals of acting legend Harrison Ford, wearing his now iconic kilt, illuminated Scottish landmarks and landscapes, including the Three Sisters of Glencoe, Castle Stalker and Dunrobin Castle. The spectacle celebrates the release of Ford’s favourite episode The Mountain” in the Once Upon A Time in Scotland series, directed by Joel Edgerton – which launched in March, and is available to watch on glenmorangie.com, and YouTube.

Celebrating all things Celtic, the Holland Waterfront Celtic Festival & Highland Games is a celebration of Irish, Scottish, Welsh, and other Celtic nations’ culture, music, dance, food, history, sports, and more.  Sponsored by Guinness and scheduled for June 20 & 21, 2025, the 4^th annual event is bigger and better. Come see a full schedule of Highland Games with 60 athletes!

Listen to 19 performances by 18 live Celtic bands on two stages while enjoying a pint of Guinness (or a wee dram of whisky). Wander through the Scottish Clan village, watch a dozen Irish and Scottish dance performances, thrill at the bagpipes and drums, shop among Celtic vendors, visit the kid’s area, and enjoy Fish & Chips, Shepherd’s Pie, Scotch Eggs, and other Irish and Scottish foods, & explore your Celtic family history.

Friday’s 21 & older “Ceilidh” opens at 4:00PM with a Happy Hour from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM (reduced drink ticket prices) and four live bands playing until 11:00PM.  Saturday’s hours are 9:00AM until 11:00PM for all ages, with 15 live bands on two stages! Friday’s wristband includes free admission on Saturday! Saturday tickets are just $12, but those 15 and under are always free.  The Holland Celtic Festival is a production of the Holland Celtic Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

For full details see: www.HollandCelticFestival.org

A picnic spot enjoyed by Queen Victoria on her visits to Balmoral has been saved from ruin by the National Trust for Scotland. The picnic cottage in woodlands near Linn of Quoich on Mar Lodge Estate, Scotland’s largest national nature reserve, close to Braemar, has been restored to its former glory with contractors completing the building work during autumn.

Moxon Architects helped Scotland’s largest conservation charity to develop the plans for the restoration work early last year that were well received by Aberdeenshire Council’s planning department, with listed building consent granted in September 2023.

Contractors Bruden Joinery were brought on board to carry out the work and started in June 2024. They initially focused on clearing rubble from inside the dwelling, before repointing mortar and harling on the cottage walls, dismantling dormer windows and installing doors, windows and floors to make it watertight and accessible.

In addition to repairing the fabric of the building, a covered wooden porch was added to the exterior of the property to help reinstate the cottage’s original features that were discovered during research for the project.

Engage with its history

David Frew, National Trust for Scotland Head of Mar Lodge Estate, said: “Our archival research and subsequent archaeological survey showed that there used to be a porch on the property, with our archaeologists discovering post holes for the structure during research on site. We have tried to reinstate this sympathetically with the help of our architects Moxon and archival architectural drawings, so that it’s in keeping with the rest of the property and the 19^th century period when it was originally constructed. The cottage, built by Princess Louise, the granddaughter of Queen Victoria, around 1850, was saved from disrepair after it was placed on the Buildings at Risk register. The property was in a poor state when the Trust acquired Mar Lodge Estate in 1975, and subsequent works had taken place to stabilise its condition including fixing walls and installing a new roof and shingles in the past. The building is a fascinating look back at how the royals used to spend their free time and we’re incredibly proud to see it restored to how it was in its heyday when Queen Victoria and the royal family would holiday in Balmoral. We’re excited to welcome visitors to experience the new cottage when it officially reopens in 2025 where they will be able to engage with its history. New information boards will be added, and specially commissioned furniture created where they can relax and immerse themselves in the surrounding woodland and nature. I’d like to say a huge thank you to our members and supporters as well as the generosity of our colleagues at the NTS USA Foundation who have made this project possible. This project contributes to the Trust’s objective, outlined in our 10- year Nature, Beauty & Heritage for Everyone strategy, to stabilise and improve the condition of our heritage buildings and structures, ensuring their longevity through restoration and conservation to ensure that they survive for the enjoyment of future generations.”

The cottage is accessed by a footpath leading from the car park at the end of the public road on the estate.

Further information about Mar Lodge Estate is available on the National Trust for Scotland website, www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/mar-lodge-estate.

For the AFPPD, formal occasions like police graduations, funerals and other ceremonies are par for the course. Even playing before 8,500 people every night for a month at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is an occasion that band members are well acquainted with. Indeed, the AFPPD has played the Tattoo five times over the past 15 years.

Climbing on stage at rock gigs, however, is something else again. Half a dozen AFPPD members took up the opportunity recently to test themselves in just such circumstances, supporting the hugely popular folk-rock band Skerryvore on their second Australian tour.

Skerryvore has been voted Scotland’s best live act on no less than three occasions. Their shows have a serious following, and the AFPPD players were in for a very different experience when called up on the first night at the Crowbar, in Leichhardt, Sydney. Nothing quite prepares you for the noise and the lights – let alone the cheers that went up from a crowd obviously thrilled to see traditionally kilted pipers and bass drummer Dom Andersen-Strudwick join the eight popular musicians of Skerryvore for three numbers.

Pipe-Major Inspector Steve Ladd led the band into the fray and was pleased with how members acquitted themselves in the unusual surroundings, including playing one of Skerryvore’s hits at something north of 120 beats to the minute!

Unique sound

While the AFPPD were only on stage for a few minutes, it was at the very climax of the show, and the interest in the police connection to the rock stars was the subject of many, many discussions from crowd members when the pipers and drummer came off stage. All AFPPD players (PM Ladd, drummer Dom and pipers Joel Wilson, Jen Hamer, Carole Took and myself) mingled with the crowds over the course of five gigs at Leichhardt, Wollongong and three nights at the Cobargo Folk Festival, where Skerryvore headlined. It was priceless community relations.

Skerryvore have gone from strength to strength since beginning as a ceilidh (party) band playing traditional party music on the west coast of Scotland and are now celebrating 20 years of their unique sound with a new album, their sixth, called Tempus.  The nucleus was the Gillespie brothers Martin (bagpipes, tin whistle, vocals) and Daniel (accordion, vocals) from Tiree in the Inner Hebrides plus songwriter, lead singer and guitarist Alec Dalglish and Fraser West (drums) from Livingston in West Lothian. Numbers have doubled as the sound has grown, with Craig Espie (fiddle), Alan Scobie (keyboards), Jodie Bremaneson (bass) and Scott Wood (bagpipes, tin whistle, vocals), who also doubled as the sound engineer for the Australian tour.

As though the brush with the world of rock and roll was not enough of a shock for AFPPD players, the calibre of Skerryvore’s pipers was more than enough to intimidate. Scott has previously played with Strathclyde Police Pipe Band (21 times world champions) as well as the phenomenally talented Red Hot Chilli Pipers.

The Skerryvore gents could not have been more generous nor kind to their AFP “guesties”, who all agreed it would have been harder to have had more fun.

Text courtesy of Andrew Fraser
Pipe Sergeant, Australian Federal Police Pipes and Drums (AFPPD)

Main photo:AFPPD on stage with Skerryvore. Photo: Rona McMillan.

A trio of Scottish brothers have departed Lima, Peru, on a 14,000km, non-stop and unsupported row across the Pacific Ocean — cheered on by hundreds of supporters, a flotilla of boats, the Peruvian Navy brass band and the wail of bagpipes. The Maclean brothers — Ewan, Jamie and Lachlan — launched their custom-built carbon fibre vessel Rose Emily from Yacht Club Peruano on Saturday 12 April at 16:30 local time (22:30 UK), beginning their bid to become the fastest recorded human-powered team to row the full Pacific Ocean, from Peru to Sydney, Australia.

The brothers will likely spend more than 120 days at sea, rowing in two-hour shifts around the clock with no resupplies or safety boat — just three brothers, one 280kg boat, and an estimated four million oar strokes through extreme weather, sleep deprivation and isolation, all to raise £1m for clean water projects in Madagascar.

The Maclean Foundation

The brothers, who broke three world records rowing across the Atlantic in 2020, departed after being delayed more than a month by customs issues holding their boat and 500kg of food in port. Lachlan Maclean, who will turn 27 at sea, said: “I’m still shaking. I can’t believe the buzz of leaving that atmosphere. I’ve never heard bagpipes alongside a brass band before, but I think it could catch on. We’ve been like coiled springs this past month. Being stuck with our boat and food held in customs could have been incredibly stressful — but the team at Yacht Club Peruano gave us a place to sleep, store our gear and stay sane. Now we’re just excited to be on the water. It’s definitely daunting, but we’ve prepared so long that we’re desperate to get going. In many ways we’re a bit weird – I’m probably happier on the water. I’ve never been good at replying to emails, and now I have the best excuse in the world.”

The Rare Whisky 101 Pacific Row aims to raise over £1 million (approx. $1.25m USD) for The Maclean Foundation — the clean water charity the brothers founded with their father, whisky writer Charles Maclean MBE. The Foundation has already helped fund boreholes for more than 5,000 people in Madagascar. They pulled an all-nighter the evening before departure: eldest brother Ewan was fixing a broken watermaker, while Lachlan was vacuum-packing loo roll to save valuable cabin space.

Ewan Maclean, 33, a former Dyson engineer, said: “When the watermaker broke I thought the game was up – we couldn’t find another part, but thankfully I managed to fix it. All those years working as an engineer have come in handy. We usually forget things when we’re going away for the weekend, so preparing for 120+ days at sea has not been without its challenges. But here we are, and we’re so happy to be on the water. During our last row, we started thinking about how we could spend more time at sea and help more people, and this daft challenge was born. The more we looked into rowing the Pacific, the more we realised why so few attempt it – you have to bring an awful lot of food to sustain yourselves for that period of time, which gets pretty heavy. And it’s an awful long time. But if we want to raise a million pounds for a cause that means so much to us, we had to go for something big. During our visits to Madagascar, we’ve seen what access to clean water can do — it helps kids get an education, helps entire communities thrive. That’s what drives us.”

Rose Emily

Their record attempt is dedicated to the sister they never knew, Rose Emily, who was lost during pregnancy. The boat is named in her honour, with the name hand-painted by their mother, Sheila, a watercolour artist.

Jamie Maclean, 31, added: “We never got to meet our sister, but she’s always been part of our family. We wanted to honour that. Our mum hand-painted her name, Rose Emily, on the back of the boat — so she’s with us every mile. In the quiet moments — and there will be plenty, assuming Ewan and I can find somewhere to hide Lachlan’s accordion — we’ll know she’s right there. We know this will be hard for Mum and Dad, having all three of us isolated at sea. But they’ve been incredibly supportive. They’ve worked just as hard as we have to prepare — and we can’t wait to see them when we row into Sydney Harbour.”

Their 280kg boat — believed to be the lightest and strongest ocean rowing boat ever made — was designed and built with support from official boat partner M Yachts. On board are over 500kg of freeze-dried food, including 75kg of oats and a menu of high-calorie comfort meals prepared by Jamie in his old school kitchen and preserved with the help of Dundee farm Arbuckles. Meals include Scotch beef chilli, Thai red curry, and haggis, neeps & tatties for Lachlan’s birthday in June — with the hope of adding fresh fish caught en route.

The brothers also trained for the voyage with elite sport performance consultant Chloe Lanthier, a performance physiologist for NASA and professional athletes including Rafael Nadal and Paris Saint-Germain. Her capsize drill video — preparing the team for 30ft waves and potential flips — has received more than 11m views on instagram.  The Macleans first made headlines in 2020 when they became the fastest and youngest trio to row the Atlantic Ocean, raising more than £200,000 for charity. This expedition is considered one of the most remote and physically demanding open-water rows ever attempted.

Their route from Lima to Sydney spans roughly 14,000km (9,000 miles), depending on conditions. The rugby fans aim to arrive before the British & Irish Lions’ third test in Sydney on 2 August.

Follow their journey and support the campaign at www.themacleanbrothers.com or on Instagram and TikTok at @themacleanbrothers.

UPDATE MAY 19, 2025: CANCELLATION Berry Celtic Festival -The Berry area has received significant rainfall over the past few weeks and with the forecast for more rain and over the days, the event is back in 2026.

The Knights, all the bands, all the Clans, medieval soldiers and villagers, singing and dancing together unite Celtic spirits at the 18^th Berry Celtic Festival. Visit the Berry Showground on Saturday 24 May to relive medieval life in Celtic times.

The 2025 Berry Celtic Festival steps off at 9.30am with a grand street parade of pipe bands marching in their distinctive kilts, together with representatives of all the Clans, medieval knights, and Scottish terrier dogs. The Parade proceeds down the main street of Berry and on to the Berry Showground where the rest of the day’s activities are held.

The Berry Celtic Festival continues the castle keep feel with stalls, Scottish soldiers’ camp, Celtic musicians, spinners and weavers, and artisans forming an avenue around the parade ground where the pipes and drum bands, knights on steeds, Highland Strongmen, dancers and Scottish soldiers feature in the entertainment program. As well as hand to hand combats and strongman competitions, heavily armoured noble knights on horseback joust one another to see who is the last one standing. You’ll hear the thunder of the hooves as horses charge at one another with the jousting knights aiming their lances at each other.

The Berry Celtic Festival is a fundraising activity of the Rotary Club of Berry where proceeds go towards disaster relief projects, youth development programs and community development. The Rotary Club thanks all of the sponsors who help make this Festival possible.

The Berry Celtic Festival takes place on Saturday May, 24^th in Berry, NSW. For more information and ticketing, visit www.berryrotary.org.au.

A portrait of Queen Elizabeth II standing against the dramatic Highlands landscape of Balmoral are among almost 100 rarely seen photographs, negatives, and archival materials from the last 100 years now on display at The King’s Gallery in Edinburgh. Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography charts the evolution of royal portrait photography from the 1920s to the present day, unveiling the stories behind the creation of some of the most iconic images of the Royal Family.

The exhibition brings together little-seen vintage prints (the original works produced by the photographer, or under their direct supervision), contact sheets and proofs from the Royal Collection, alongside documents including letters and memorandums held in the Royal Archives. It is the first time many of the works have been shown in Scotland, following the exhibition’s successful run in London.

Unforgettable portraits of the Royal Family

Alessandro Nasini, curator of the exhibition, said: “Portrait photography is a creative process, and it has been fascinating to discover the careful decisions that were made to achieve such unforgettable portraits of the Royal Family, taken by some of the most celebrated photographers of the past century – from Dorothy Wilding and Cecil Beaton to David Bailey and Glasgow-born Rankin.  Although we may be used to seeing photographs on screens, the opportunity to see the original prints up close is rare, as they can’t often be on display for conservation reasons. With archival material providing context into how these photographs were made and used, I hope visitors will enjoy going behind the scenes into the process of creating royal portraits.”

A star work of the exhibition will be a striking photograph of Queen Elizabeth II by Julian Calder, taken on the Highlands landscape of the Balmoral Estate in 2010. Beneath an unpredictable sky and cloaked in the mantle of the Order of the Thistle, the late monarch braved the threat of rain and midges to achieve Calder’s vision, inspired by the 19^th century paintings of Clan chiefs – as seen in a behind-the-scenes photograph reproduced on a panel within the exhibition. In contrast, for her 2007 portrait of the sovereign, Annie Leibovitz – the first American to receive an official commission to photograph Queen Elizabeth II – used digital editing to superimpose the figure against a stormy sky.

An exciting time for portrait photography

The past century was an exciting time for portrait photography; techniques evolved rapidly, and the transition from a manual craft to an increasingly digital process is a key theme of the exhibition. One of the earliest photographs shows the royal family – including the young Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret – smiling in soft-focus and framed by an oval vignette, typical of its time in 1934. To achieve this effect, society photographer Marcus Adams had to adjust the lens of an enlarger, a device for producing a photographic print from the original negative, which will also be on show.

Later photographs will show how portraits became bigger and ever more colourful over the course of the century. The impact of Nadav Kander’s bold, 1.6m-tall headshot of King Charles III when Prince of Wales, taken at Birkhall for a 2013 cover of Time magazine, or Hugo Burnand’s jewel-hued official Coronation portraits in 2023, was possible thanks to advances in printing technology.

The close relationships between photographers and royal sitters will reveal themselves over the course of the exhibition, as seen in the intimate portraits of Princess Margaret taken by Lord Snowdon, born Antony Armstrong-Jones, before and after they married in 1960.  Further highlights include 19 portraits taken by Cecil Beaton, who enjoyed a long-standing relationship with the Royal Family. Beaton came to prominence photographing stylish society figures in 1920s London and was seen as a surprising and avant-garde choice when Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother selected him for the now-famous shoot in the Buckingham Palace Gardens in 1939. Visitors will also see photographs from their last sitting together in 1970 after more than three decades of collaboration, with the photographs later released to mark The Queen Mother’s 70^th birthday. Referring to their unique relationship, The Queen Mother wrote to him saying, ‘we must be deeply grateful to you for producing us, as really quite nice & real people!’

Visitors will discover the multitude of purposes royal portraits have served, from reputation-making portraits of a young Queen Elizabeth II for use on currency and stamps by Yousuf Karsh, to birthday portraits of Princess Anne by Norman Parkinson. A handwritten memorandum from Queen Elizabeth II’s Assistant Private Secretary in 1953 reveals her suggestions for which Coronation portraits should be sent to Commonwealth representatives, used to thank Maids of Honour, and given as family mementos. More recently, a photograph of Her Majesty Queen Camilla by Jamie Hawkesworth commissioned by Vogue shows The Queen with a book in her lap to represent Her Majesty’s passion for literature.

Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography is now on at The King’s Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse, until 7 September 2025. Visitor information and tickets for The King’s Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse: www.rct.uk, T. +44 (0)303 123 7306. 

Main photo: Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Scots, Sovereign of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle and Chief of the Chiefs, 2010. Photo: Julian Calder/Camera Press.

Perth Museum has announced that their summer show will be Macbeth: An Exhibition. Famously known as The Scottish Play, the exhibition explores the historical origins of the King of Scotland and the continuing influence that William Shakespeare’s iconic play has had on art, theatre, music, and film. Macbeth: An Exhibition, will take visitors on a journey through time, connecting the legendary figure to the very landscape of Perthshire. From the haunting forests of Birnam Wood to the imposing Dunsinane Hill, the exhibition will unveil the deep-rooted connection between this dramatic tale and the region.

Visitors will be invited to uncover the enduring power of Shakespeare’s Macbeth against a backdrop of national identity, monarchy and James VI and I’s fear of witchcraft during his reign, as well as the enduring influence that William Shakespeare’s masterpiece has had on audiences and performers across centuries.

One of Scotland’s most enduring and enigmatic figures

On display for the first time will be a rare 11^th century sword from the time of the real King Macbeth, as well as an example of William Shakespeare’s First Folio, where the tragedy of Macbeth was first printed, on loan from the National Library of Scotland. From Innerpeffray Library there will also be a selection of rare documents and books on witchcraft, including Dr John Dee’s Spiritual Diary, and a first edition of James VI/ I’s Dæmonologie. More modern representations of Macbeth will also be on display, including an Arabic translation and a Japanese script from the 1985 performance of Macbeth. London based artist Charlotte Rose has been commissioned to create a new work for the exhibition.

Helen Smout, Chief Executive Officer at Culture Perth and Kinross, said “As we approach our first anniversary, we are thrilled to announce this new exhibition bringing together history, legend and art to explore one of Scotland’s most enduring and enigmatic figures. From the real 11^th  century king to Shakespeare’s tragic character, this exhibition offers a fascinating insight into the myths and reality of Macbeth all set in the heart of Scotland.”

Scottish history

JP Reid, Exhibitions and Interpretation manager at Culture Perth and Kinross, added “Visitors will be surprised to learn just how much the play draws on Scottish history. The extent to which (Shakespeare) is pulling out of historical sources is really interesting. The witches are in the historical record. They’re not a literary invention by Shakespeare. So, these are very old stories. These have very deep roots in Scottish history. And I think that aspect, the connection of that literary character to Scottish history, is something that will really surprise people. Different creative people over the past 200 years have taken Shakespeare’s material and run with it in totally surprising, inspiring, challenging, baffling directions. And at the core of them is this story of power and the abuse of power, and where an individual stands in relation to these huge tides of prophecy and history, and really whether they have any control over that kind of environment. This is such a rich seam for the world’s best theatre producers and directors, actors, film directors, artists, and writers. This is an endlessly rich seam to mine. The topics and themes that Shakespeare is writing about 550 years after the historical king are topics that resonate and are relevant today. So, drawing that thread from the 11th century through the late 16th and early 17th centuries, and exploring themes like power, superstition, betrayal, and how these inform broader ideas around Scottish identity and monarchy, is something that’s absolutely relevant. These are big themes which we have the luxury of being able to contextualise within some specific locations in Perth. And that’s very exciting for us”

Tickets for Macbeth: An Exhibition, running to August 31st 2025, are available to book now through Perthshire Box Office. Visitors can purchase at the Museum on the day of their visit, but advance booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.  Perth Museum has welcomed over 225,000 visitors since opening in March 2024. The museum is open every day: Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm, and Sunday from 11am to 4pm. Entry to the permanent galleries and the Stone of Destiny exhibit is free. For more details see: www.perthmuseum.co.uk/inside-the-museum/macbeth

Manawatu Scottish were crowned Grade One Champions at the 2025 New Zealand Pipe Band Championships, held in Invercargill on the 7^th and 8^th of March. Canterbury Caledonian took the Medley prize, and Manawatu Scottish won the MSR prize. Manawatu were also crowned Grade One drumming champions.

Canterbury Caledonian were the runners up. The Simon Wright Shield, awarded to the Champion Grade One Band, was retired this year, and replaced with the Iain Blakeley Challenge Trophy in recognition of Iain’s significant contribution to the New Zealand pipe band community.

Congratulations to all other prize winners throughout the grades:

Grade Two: St Andrew’s College Pipe Band

Grade Three: Hamilton Caledonian Society’s Pipe Band

Grade Four A: Metro Scottish Pipe Band

Grade Four B: ILT City of Invercargill Highland Pipe Band

Juvenile: St Andrew’s College A Pipe Band

The Australian Celtic Festival (ACF) is set to return to Glen Innes from May 1 to May 4, 2025, marking its 33^rd year with a vibrant celebration of Celtic nations as well as highlighting the Celtic Nations of Brittany, Cornwall, and Wales.  Visit Glen Innes this May to celebrate the enduring spirit and culture of the Celtic nations. The Festival looks forward to welcoming you to an event filled with music, dance, history, and community.

Cultural experiences

This year, attendees can anticipate a rich tapestry of cultural experiences, including:

• Live Music and Dance Performances: Featuring both national and international artists showcasing traditional and contemporary Celtic music and dance including Dalla Duo,  Hiraeth, Austral, Bush Gothic, Siobhan Owen, Kejafi, Cymbrogi, Murphy’s Pigs, Asleep At The Reel, Limerick, The Gathering, Raggle Taggle Gypsies, Australian Celtic Women, Auld Alliance, Abakus Celtic Trio, Moreton Fiddle Club, Brythonics, Lorna & Dave, Michael Atherton,   Matt Scullion, Goldheist, The Scotsman – Graeme McColgan, The Skinner Boyz and Kim Kirkman.
• Celtic Cultural Symposium – Thursday 1 May Highlands Hub 167 Grey Street, join MC Nigel Brown as he introduces presenters chatting about all things Celtic including language, the history of the Standing Stones and much more.
• 100,000 Welcomes – Thursday 1 May, Featuring Asleep at the Reel.
• ACF Celtic Food Trail – follow the ACF Food trail and try delicious inspired Celtic food and drink throughout the week and weekend.
• Busking Friday 2 May – Grey Street comes alive with buskers from 9am, registration open on the day with permits available through registering at the Highlands Hub 167 Grey Street Glen Innes.
• Opening Ceremony – 11 am Grey Street Town Hall Square
• ACF Eisteddfod incorporating the Australian Dance Championships and the Celtic Cultural Awards.
• Friday Night Ceilidh with Celtic Connections with support bands Moreton Fiddle Club and Kejafi.
• Saturday Night Sesh – featuring Bush Gothic and Austral
• Celtic Cauldron – Festival Site – Workshops and presentations as well as session players all weekend.
• Pipe Bands and Competitions: Experience the stirring sounds of massed pipe bands performances at the Street Parade, NSW Pipe Band Quintet Competition and Junior Solo Piper Competition.
• Highland Games and Strongman Events: Witness feats of strength and skill in traditional Highland competitions including Backhold Wrestling.
• Re-enactment Groups: Step back in time with historical re-enactments depicting Celtic life and legends. Jousting and Knights school.
• Celtic Fashion Parade and Dog Parade: Celebrate Celtic heritage through fashion showcases and a parade featuring beloved canine companions.
• Celtic Kids Marquee: A dedicated space offering activities and entertainment tailored for younger festivalgoers.
• Market Stalls and Food Trucks: Explore a variety of stalls offering Celtic crafts, merchandise, and culinary delights.
• Sunday Night after party – Glen Innes District Services Club featuring The Gathering Band.

Celtic culture and traditions

The festival’s main events will be held at the Australian Standing Stones National Celtic Monument on Saturday, May 3, and Sunday, May 4. Additional activities and fringe events will take place throughout the Glen Innes region during the four-day celebration.  Set against the picturesque backdrop of Glen Innes’ autumnal hues, the festival offers an immersive experience into Celtic culture and traditions.

Whether you’re of Celtic descent or simply captivated by its rich heritage, the Australian Celtic Festival promises an unforgettable experience for all. Tickets are available for purchase online. Weekend passes include access to evening events such as the Friday Night Ceili (May 2) and Saturday Night Sesh (May 3) featuring Bush Gothic and Austral, along with all activities at the Australian Standing Stones. Please note that some events, like the “100,000 Welcomes” on Thursday, May 1, and the ACF Eisteddfod on Friday, May 2, require separate tickets. iwannaticket.com.au For those seeking accommodation, the Glen Innes Showground offers camping and caravanners.

For further details, ticket purchases, and the latest updates, please visit the official Australian Celtic Festival website at: www.australiancelticfestival.com.

Main photo: Siobhan Owen.

VE Day in 2025 marks the 80^th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. On Thursday 8 May Victory in Europe Day (VE Day)  marks the day the German forces surrendered to the Allied powers. People are being urged to stop and reflect on this day of this year’s anniversary and one Aberdeen piper, who was taught my one of the world’s top pipers,  will be playing the pipes in honour of those who have served. Pipe Major Lady Jane Macrae will perform Celebratum, which was specially written for the commemoration, at St Paul’s Cathedral in London in May, as Neil Drysdale explains.

Try to picture Margaret Rutherford with a dash of Joyce Grenfell and a sliver of Maggie Smith and you might get close to describing Jane MacRae. Or rather, Lady Jane MacRae. Or, more precisely, Dr Lady Jane MacRae. (“No no, that looks stupid”). Whatever the title, comparisons are futile when it comes to describing this remarkable force of nature who teaches mathematics at St Machar Academy in Aberdeen – even though she could have retired from the classroom years ago.

Lady Jane is, quite simply, a formidable character who regards any obstacle in her path as something to be beaten into submission: the one-time Grease and Oliver singer who has danced to her own tune while strolling down the corridors of academia. If you had suggested a decade ago that she would be playing the bagpipes in front of the King at the official VE Day 80 commemorations at St Paul’s Cathedral in May, she would probably have looked at you with a mixture of derision and incredulity. But here’s the thing. It’s happening, this redoubtable individual will take centre stage in the cathedral on May 7 and at the London Eye on May 8 and she told me all about it.

Stuart Liddell MBE

Lady Jane said: “I was brought up at Carlton Towers in Yorkshire and music was very much part of as life because my mother was a very talented pianist. At school, my music teacher tried very hard to persuade me to have my voice trained but, although I sang in many performances of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, I was not interested at that time in singing as a career.  At no point in my life did I ever even consider playing the bagpipes until one day when a lady I know suggested I should try the chanter, lent me one and taught me the scale. This became a challenge and I’m not somebody to refuse one. I started lessons with the local band (in Deeside), but that didn’t last long as Covid hit (in 2020). For several months, I was floundering, not having any real direction and trying to teach myself grace notes and tunes. But, purely by chance, I was advised to have a lesson with Stuart Liddell MBE and I was shaking in my shoes at the thought of doing this with somebody who is, arguably, the greatest piper in the world today. However, that was the start of what has now become an obsession.”

As somebody based in Monymusk, the mother of two – and grandmother of four – has never been less than competitive. It has inspired her in music, in teaching, in assisting vulnerable children and relentlessly improving her standards. Maths might be difficult for some people, but not when it comes to Lady Jane. And she smiles when she recounts how it has transformed so many lives. She told me: “I have been teaching for many years and, to this day, I love the interaction with the youngsters. It has been a very satisfying career with often wild children taking snippets of the many talks we had and remembering them years later and thanking me for helping them become successful people. You tend to think your advice falls on deaf ears, but this is far from the truth with letters – yes, they did exist – and messages being sent from grateful youngsters. Obviously, all teachers are delighted when their pupils pass exams, especially when they have little confidence in their ability, but these are stepping stones to their careers and it is the proof you have made a difference to a life that gives the most pleasure. I really must have annoyed the heads of several schools because I would sing at the top of my voice in the corridor at all times of the day, irrespective of lessons going on. Nobody objected, but I’m sure that Iona Reid, the headmistress of St Machar Academy, must heave a sigh of relief that she has not been subjected to this… yet!

Climactic commemorations

Last summer, as Britain remembered D-Day, Lady Jane participated in a poignant memorial to those involved in the Normandy landings in 1944 by playing the pipes at 10 different Scottish castles, prior to travelling to the Menin Gate in Belgium. She was joined at Inveraray Castle by her mentor in what became an “especially moving” event and will never forget the haunting lament which Mr Liddell performed at Ypres, one of the towns which suffered the biggest loss of life from 1914 to 1918. She recalled: “My grandfather served in the First World War. When he returned home, he was unrecognisable and was told by the butler to use the tradesmen’s entrance. Obviously, this was soon rectified, but the very fact he was in such a state that his own wife didn’t recognise him, has always resonated with me. I suppose he was lucky being able to return home because so many didn’t, both in the camps and fighting on the front. My mother was in the Signals Regiment during the Second World War and lost friends during those dreadful times.”

Most of those who served their country in the two conflicts are gone now and that is why the 80^th anniversary of VE Day will be a closing salute to the remaining few. In which light, it’s hardly surprising that Lady Jane has a mixture of emotions about being asked to fulfil such a pivotal role in these climactic commemorations. She said: “I’m still reeling from the shock of being invited to play at St Paul’s Cathedral for the Blessing of the Lamp Light of Peace and at the London Eye for the Lighting of the Principal Beacon. This is a great honour,  and I am very aware of its significance. My first thought must be to practise the two tunes as much as possible in order to do the occasion justice. I could have no better teacher than Stuart who, I’m sure, will crack the whip if he doesn’t think I’m working hard enough. But there is little chance of that happening as I will practise as much as possible to perfect the tunes for the events. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Stuart is the single, most important reason I have continued my love of the bagpipes and music in general. Many people think of him as being the greatest piper of his time and the Pipe Major of the World Champion Pipe Band, Inveraray and District, but he is far more than that. He is a consummate musician, plays many instruments, his knowledge of all genres is astonishing, and his ability to teach and motivate both young and old is incredible. The man’s a genius and it is an honour to have him as a teacher. My only worry is just how big a stick will be needed to bring my playing up to the standard required.”

One suspects both will be equal to the task. After all, nothing else has held them back.

Strathclyde Institute for Genealogical Studies (SIGS) has launched Ken Your Kin, an exciting new event being held in Glasgow, Scotland from the 4^th to the 11^th of June 2025. Whether you’re a seasoned genealogist or just beginning your journey into Scottish family history, the Ken Your Kin summer school is the perfect opportunity to both celebrate and bring Scottish ancestry and heritage to life. The Ken Your Kin experience will provide opportunities for participants to ask questions, engage in discussions, and benefit from one-to-one genealogy research input from qualified genealogists.

Delegates will be warmly welcomed to the City of Glasgow with a civic reception at Glasgow’s historic City Chambers building.  Step back in time and hear talks from Scottish historians, museum curators, and family history experts. Explore fascinating topics such as what your ancestors ate, migration to and from Scotland, the connections between clans, families and DNA and the history of Scottish entertainment – with music hall songs and a bit of a sing-along!

Scotland’s rich history and culture

Delve into Scotland’s rich history and culture through visits to museums, cultural landmarks, and historical sites. Explore iconic venues such as The Tenement House, New Lanark, The National Museum of Rural Life, and enjoy a dedicated research day at Edinburgh’s ScotlandsPeople Centre.

If that’s not tempting enough, you’ll also have the choice between a hands-on ‘try the bagpipes’ workshop at the National Piping Centre or a tour of the Clydeside Distillery, where you’ll discover the art of single malt whisky making—and enjoy a few drams along the way. The 7-day programme will wrap up with a final night dinner at the historic Trades Hall in Glasgow’s Merchant City. Non-Ken Your Kin participants are welcome to join for an additional fee.  Before arriving in Glasgow, participants will have exclusive access to a secure online portal, where they can connect with fellow delegates and the SIGS team. The portal will also provide top tips, valuable resources, and the latest updates from the organisers. SIGS look forward to sharing our Scottish culture and history and meeting new friends!

To find out more visit: www.strath.ac.uk/studywithus/centreforlifelonglearning/genealogy

 

At last, you say, CelticFest Warwick is back in 2025! Tickets will soon be available for the now-biennial event, to be held at the Warwick Showgrounds on Saturday 4 October and Sunday 5 October, 2025, with CelticFringe events running from Friday 3 October in Warwick and surrounds.

The highly-anticipated local volunteer-run event, which last year sold almost 9,000 tickets, will bring back favourites such as the Australian Highland Games Championships  hosted by Highland Muscle, The Gathering Irish band on the main stage, Highland coos (cows) from Keans-Agri, a living Medieval Village, family ceilidh on the Saturday night, pipe band displays, Irish dancing, Celtic-themed markets, Celtic animals, the gathering of the clans, Celtic-inspired bar and food – and much more.

CelticFest 2025 will run over two days at the Showgrounds, with a full program of music on the Main Stage both days, and a headlining performance from ‘kick arse’ Irish band, The Gathering, on the Saturday evening. CelticFest will also welcome back popular past performers, with new acts also being added to the musical line-up; these and other program inclusions for the event will also be announced over the coming months.

There will be a full program of events in the Main Arena both days, including the Australian Highland Games Championships, medieval combat, and Jacobite black powder displays. CelticFest visitors will again be able to cheer on professional strongmen and women, as they perform many feats of strength, including the perennially popular caber toss.

CelticFringe

The medieval village will be open for CelticFest attendees to stroll back in time, providing a window into a bygone era, including thumping battles between knights of yore, graceful dancing displays of women through history, and experiencing the daily life of those who lived in feudal times.  You will be overtaken by powerful tunes from the roaming pipe bands and delighted by the Highland dancers. Wander through Celtic-themed markets to purchase your Celtic keepsakes, have a photograph with the gloriously gentle Highland cows, trace the genealogy of the clans, and feast on Celtic-themed food and drink….and if you’re game, try some Haggis!

CelticFringe events will include the Australian Celtic Women performing a feature-length gig at the Club Warwick RSL on the Friday night, a Southern Downs heritage train trip to Clifton, and a Celtic-themed parkrun hosted by Warwick parkrun on the banks of the Condamine River. More CelticFringe events will be announced over the coming months.

When tickets go on sale, they will be available from the CelticFest website: www.celticfestqld.com.au. For further information, and to receive updates on CelticFest Warwick 2025, please follow the event on Facebook and Instagram.

Orkney is a place of innumerable wonders great and small. Most visitors tend to gravitate towards a handful of well-known sites like Skara Brae, Scapa Flow, and the Broch of Gurness. Across the archipelago, however, are historic sites and natural landscapes of staggering variety and character which relatively few tend to tread. These are a few of my favourites, all freshly visited during a month-long stay in February 2025.

The Brough of Birsay

The Brough of Birsay is a very special place, cherished by Picts, Norse, and modern Orcadians alike. Sloped like a cresting wave with towering cliffs on its seaward face, the Brough of Birsay is an island only accessible at low tide by a meandering causeway traversing a wonderland of tidepools and rock formations.

A large Pictish settlement was established on the island, later superseded by a Norse settlement which was possibly the base of operations for Thorfinn the Mighty, a mighty Norwegian Earl of Orkney. It is holy, too – pilgrims make their way to the Brough of Birsay to pay tribute to St Magnus, whose body was possibly taken here after his murder-cum-martyrdom on the island of Egilsay. George Mackay Brown, Orkney’s quintessential writer, set many stories and plays on the island and along its sea-swept causeway.

Built heritage aside, the Brough of Birsay is a prime puffin-spotting location in May and June and affords spectacular views across Birsay Bay to the south and to Westray to the north. On my recent visit I took great pleasure in wandering the island’s fringes, searching for seashells among the tidepools, and contemplating the countless generations and multiple cultures who invested the Brough of Birsay with an air of both secular and spiritual reverence.

North Ronaldsay Lighthouse and seaweed-eating sheep

North Ronaldsay is the northernmost of the Orkney Islands, reachable by a 2.5-hour ferry from Kirkwall or, in my case, a spectacular 15-minute flight in an eight-seater propeller plane. The island’s fertile inland contrasts with a precipitous and rugged coastline, and it is along this coastline that you will find North Ronaldsay’s most numerous and distinctive residents – beach sheep

The North Ronaldsay breed is unique in subsisting on foraged seaweed. Their sure-footedness on the stones is unmatched, and they resemble the ancient sheep breeds which prehistoric Scots would have farmed. They’re not fazed by much, sometimes even approaching human observers and mingling with basking seals. The whole island is encircled by a Grade A-listed Sheep Dyke, a stone wall first built in the 19^th century which keeps the sheep on the shore and has pens for shearing them. Much of their wool is processed in the historic North Ronaldsay Lighthouse, the tallest land-based lighthouse in the UK at 42 metres high. It was built in 1852 by Alan Stevenson, a member of the renowned ‘Lighthouse Stevensons’ family. The lighthouse has a visitor centre with guided climbs up its 176 steps, atop which you can easily see Fair Isle and sometimes even Shetland on a clear day. Within easy sight of the newer lighthouse is the Old Beacon, the third lighthouse built in Scotland first lit in 1789 and now abandoned.

The Broch of Borwick

Orkney has dozens of brochs, stone towers from the Iron Age which, when complete, resembled the cooling towers of modern nuclear power plants. Brochs were certainly defensive in part, with thick stone walls and a towering height advantage, but they were also homes for extended families and even places of worship – several brochs have wells and subterranean passages which were likely used to commune with the ancient gods and the dead.

The Broch of Gurness and Midhowe Broch, both along the Eynhallow Sound, are the most famous and best-preserved of Orkney’s brochs, but few stand in locations as spectacular as the Broch of Borwick in West Mainland. The Norse who gave it its name called it as they saw it – Borwick is derived from Old Norse ‘borg’, meaning ‘fortification’, and ‘vik’, meaning ‘bay’. The broch stands immediately upon the edge, and will no doubt begin to vanish with a few more centuries’ worth of winds and waves chewing away at the cliffs. Excavated in 1881, locals quickly availed of its fine worked stone when in need of repairs and extensions to their field dykes and cottages. The broch was likely built around 500BC and occupied until as late as 700AD. Remarkably, there was once a path carved into the cliff face leading down to a cave evocatively known as ‘Hell’s Mouth’. Combined with extensive Iron Age cultivation terraces found in the grounds in front of the broch, this was clearly a place of strength, prominence, and high status in the landscape, hardly less impressive today than in its heyday.

The Yetnasteen and the ‘Fingersteens’ of Rousay

Much of the Norse legendarium took root in Orkney during the Viking Age. There are the goblin-like trows who stalk hillsides at night and ancestor spirits called Hogboons who guard tombs. Looming largest, literally and figuratively, are stories of giants. Some throw great stones to settle inter-island rivalries, and others have become great stones themselves. The Yetnasteen in the east of Rousay is one of the latter. Its name comes from the Old Norse jotna-steinn, meaning ‘stone of giants’. The Yetnasteen was once a giant but was caught out by the rising sun and turned to stone by its rays. Now, it thirsts for a drink from the nearby Loch of Scockness. At the stroke of midnight on Hogmanay it comes to life, makes its way to the loch in two great strides, takes a drink, and then returns to its position. Those who attempt to see this transformation occur are invariably distracted, fall asleep, or have imbibed too many drams to be believed.

Two boulders in Rousay are said to bear the fingerprints of Cubbie Roo, an infamous giant resident in the island of Wyre derived from a very real Norse strongman, Kolbein Hruga. These boulders, called ‘Fingersteens’ were thrown by Cubbie Roo in anger at other giants. Antiquarian sources are vague as to their location, but on a recent visit I managed to track down two very likely candidates.  One, on the slopes above the Knowe of Yarso in Frotoft, bears four incredibly deep and unmistakeable holes as if massive fingers bored into them. Alongside it is another boulder with deep markings which resemble a three-clawed hand. Another boulder in the shore of the Leean in North Rousay has less obvious ‘fingerprints’ but is said to bring disaster to passers-by who do not place a pebble atop it. With my ferry back to the Scottish mainland due to depart in the next few days, you can be sure I added one to the pile!

Text and images: David C. Weinczok.

The 47^th annual Savannah Scottish Games will take place on Saturday, May 3, from 8:45 am to 7 pm at Bynuh’s Field, Bethesda Academy, located in Savannah, Georgia. “At Bethesda Academy for our 17^th year, we will host Celtic competitions, Scottish food, gathering of the clans, and outstanding live music from bands including our headliners, Ally the Piper and Seven Nations.

Providing an iconic venue for heavy athletes, pipe bands, and Highland Dancers to compete and obtain feedback from highly esteemed judges, we celebrate our love for Scottish culture and heritage with our surrounding communities,” states Savannah Scottish Games President, Murray Marshall.  The Savannah Scottish Games are set at Bethesda Academy on 650 picturesque acres which sits on the pristine banks of the Moon River. This event promises a day filled with wide-ranging entertainment for the whole family.

Celebrate our Scottish heritage

Title Sponsor, Stewart Marshall, with Daniel Ravenel Sotheby’s International Realty adds, “With a long Scottish family history in Savannah, It is an honor and a privilege to celebrate our Scottish heritage as title sponsor of the 47^th Savannah Scottish Games, leveraging the Daniel Ravenel Sotheby’s International Realty brand and my brand Stewart Sells The Lowcountry.

From the manicured town squares and horse-drawn carriages to ornate antebellum architecture of Historic Savannah it’s no wonder Savannah is one of the most visited cities in the South. Come for a visit and let Stewart Sells The Lowcountry find you a home in this beautiful community.”

Athletic Competitions are one of the highlights of the Scottish Games. This thrilling event features skilled athletes competing in seven traditional athletic events. The Games are proud to host the ScotDance Highland Dancing Southeast Regional Championships, one of six Highland Dance competitions held throughout the United States each spring. The top three Savannah Regionals winners in each group can compete in the ScotDance National Championships. Music lovers will enjoy performances by renowned Celtic bands, including Ally the Piper and Seven Nations.

Ally the Piper is a viral internet sensation, renowned for modernizing the Great Highland bagpipe. She blends classic rock and heavy metal with Celtic influences, captivating audiences worldwide. Ally showcases her talent on various traditional instruments and is redefining the bagpipe’s place in contemporary music.

Throw away preconceived notions about Celtic music .. Seven Nations has invented its own sound veering from roots in folk, dance and fusion-rock.  The pipe and drum and solo competitions provide the stirring and haunting melodies of the bagpipes which characterize the very soul of Scotland. Did we mention that Savannah is known as a haunted city?

The Scots in you

Children might encounter Zephyr, a magical fairy, while enjoying a captivating selection of Scottish tales and games like the kilt run, tug-of-war, sheaf toss, caber toss, haggis hurl, stone throw, welly toss, and the sack race. Children’s Passports are provided to collect stamps from clan tents and collect a special prize.

The Shire of Forth Castle, will host interactive demonstrations and displays showcasing a variety of medieval European activities. This authentic southern venue is the perfect backdrop for Clan Nan Con, a passionate group of historians and reenactors who specialize in studying and bringing to life the world of Scottish Highlanders between 1736 and 1746. Living history reenactors from Fort King George in Darien, Georgia will also be representing some of the finest soldiers of their time and demonstrating life as a settler.

Ever wondered if you have a bit of the Scots in you? Explore forty-three clan tents surrounding the Scottish Games arena, each offering a treasure trove of artifacts, history, and a list of surnames tied to their clan. For those eager to dig deeper, visit the genealogy tent, where experts and historical associations will help you trace your family tree and uncover your roots. But beware—this fascinating journey into your past can quickly become an addictive adventure.

Savannah, Georgia is full of manicured parks, cobblestone streets, and southern charm – perfect opportunity to visit on May 3^rd.

For more information visit: www.savannahscottishgames.com

All images courtesy of Duion Furgason, Tybee Light Photography.

The remarkable story of a how a small group of skilled craftswomen in the Orkney island of Sanday built a knitwear business that went on to supply prestigious clothing outlets around the world, has been recounted in a new book. How to Knit a Bathroom, The Story of the Isle of Sanday Knitters, has been written by Sandra Towrie, who played a key role in the pioneering company that ran between 1970 and 1999.

When the business started, few opportunities for women to work outside of the home existed in Sanday, reflecting the situation across Orkney’s North Isles. But many Sanday women had a particular talent for knitting and, around 1970, their skills caught the attention of Mary Baker, wife of the newly appointed Sanday School headteacher, Ron. She saw there was an opportunity for local women to make a little money for themselves, making crochet squares for a fashion company which had advertised for outworkers in a sewing magazine.

Camaraderie

Under Mary’s encouragement and leadership, the Sanday knitters ultimately moved on from crochet squares to jumpers, combining their talents to create a new cooperative enterprise, Isle of Sanday Knitters. For three decades, the company grew and flourished, with the women designing and making traditional wool jumpers that quickly became much sought after throughout the UK, and further afield. It was a venture that had a tremendous impact on the local community, changing the lives of many of the knitters. The book’s title reflects how income generated from knitting work brought a greater degree of financial independence to local women, paying for everything from clothes for their children and family holidays, to new television sets and even complete bathrooms. The knitters’ efforts placed Sanday firmly on the international fashion map, with the company producing knitwear for exclusive boutiques and large, well-known stores, including Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman in New York, and Hackett and Harrods in London. They were also commissioned to knit Christmas jumpers for actors, Martin Clunes and Neil Morrissey, for a festive episode of the Men Behaving Badly sit-com in 1997.

Although Isle of Sanday Knitters wound up in 1999, an extensive archive of documents and photographs relating to the company had been kept by Sandra Towrie, a Shetland born teacher who designed and knitted for the company during its heyday. Sandra had passed the archive material to the island’s heritage centre for a 2016 exhibition on the business, but last year was approached by the North Isles Landscape Partnership Scheme (NILPS) with a view to running some hand knitting classes in Sanday, as part of a project aimed at preserving traditional skills. That then led her to explore the idea of writing a book on the Isle of Sanday Knitters and sharing the unique story of the venture with a wider audience. Funding for the book has come from NILPS, with proceeds from sales going to the Sanday Heritage Centre. “It was a tremendous thing for the island,” said Sandra. “The abiding memory I have of that time is of the camaraderie. None of the women involved ever set out to run a business, but because they were managing houses and running farms, multitasking to a degree nobody would believe, they discovered they had all these transferable skills. They’d fit the knitting around whatever else they were doing.”

A great deal of pride in Sanday

“I just bumped into somebody recently who had lived in Sanday a long while ago and been one of the knitters,” continued Sandra. “She remembered how her kids had wanted designer jeans, but the family were scrimping and saving at the time and couldn’t afford to buy them. But with the knitting, she was able to pay for the jeans. And somebody really did pay for a bathroom!” What’s perhaps most surprising about the Isle of Sanday knitters is the scale of the operation at its peak. It got so busy the company had to enlist the help of knitters all the way from Shetland to Wolverhampton. “It was all big orders,” recalled Sandra. “The knitters were working for the mass market, with 200 pieces for places like Hackett. It was huge quantities and tight, tight timelines, and we had agents in London getting us those big customers. And there was me, a mum of three small children, who had been no further than Aberdeen or maybe Edinburgh, and suddenly I was having to go to trade fairs in Paris, Munich, New York and London!”

By the 1990s, many of the people who had worked hard to establish the company were no longer able to devote as much time and energy as they’d done in the past. And some of the business’ long-standing customers found they could source similar products much more cheaply from overseas. In 1999, the board of Isle of Sanday Knitters unanimously agreed to wind the company up. Sandra added: “The aspect of the Isle of Sanday Knitters that’s hard to quantify is the feeling it created within the community. People had that little bit of extra money, and it was a positive thing for everyone, even if they weren’t directly involved with the company. There was a great deal of pride in Sanday for what was achieved and it’s a pleasure to be able to share the story of the company through the new book.”

Valerie Dawson, programme manager/project officer for NILPS, said: “We are delighted to fund the publication of Sandra’s book about the Isle of Sanday Knitters. NILPs aims to support and celebrate traditional local crafts and this excellent book documents how ingenuity and hard work by the Sanday community saw the craft of knitting develop into an important small industry for the Island for over 25 years.”

Main photo: Above Sanday. Photo: VisitScotland.

In partnership with the Lower Clarence Scottish Association, the Queensland Highland Pipers Society are bringing Stuart Liddell to Brisbane for its April Recitals. The two groups have been working together now for over a decade to share the costs of bringing the worlds best pipers for the Highland Gathering every year, names such as Glenn Brown, Roddy Macleod, Alasdair Henderson, Callum Beaumont, just name a few.

Even in this part of world, Stuart Liddell is a megastar of the Piping World. As soloist he has won every major prize several times, including the Glenfiddich on 4 occasions. Stuart is bringing his young family for the trip, and will enjoy some “holiday time” in South East Queensland, no doubt enjoying some good weather, a swim at the beach, and no doubt being dragged to a couple of themes parks by his young children.

Stuart’s time will be spread across several events whilst he is here, including the Inaugural Pipe Major MacNeill’s Invitational contest at St Pauls Church on Saturday 12 April. The event will see ten of Australia’s young piping talent compete for the McNeill Claidhmhor Trophy across two elements, a March, Strathspey & Reel element, followed by a Scottish Hymn, Hornpipe and Jig. There will be a Ceilidh after this event and no doubt someone will try and persuade Stuart to give us a quick tune!

The main Brisbane event is the Recital at the Queensland Multicultural Centre in Kangaroo Point on Wednesday 16 April starting at 7pm. Tickets are selling out fast for this one, which is a brilliant venue for a recital. Stuart will be supported by some local emerging pipers, during the show, and will include a short Q&A session with Stuart about the 20^th anniversary year of Inveraray & District Pipe Band, stories, successes, and challenges in those early years of forming the band.

One of the most gifted pipers in the world

The Lower Clarence Scottish Association is proud to announce that PM Stuart Liddell, one of the world’s premier pipers, will be visiting Maclean for the 2025 Maclean Highland Gathering, after guiding his band, Inverary & District Pipe Band, to success at the Grade One World Pipe Band Championships in 2024. PM Stuart Liddell hails from Inveraray, Scotland and started piping at the age of nine. Stuart was originally taught by his grandfather, the late Pipe Major Ronald McCallum M.B.E. and later, Arthur Gillies. He has also had tuition from Jim Henderson and Hugh MacCallum.

One of the most gifted pipers in the world today, he has won three Clasps at Inverness, the Senior Piobaireachd at Oban five times, both Gold Medals, is a three-time Glenfiddich Piping Champion and has won the Donald MacLeod Memorial in 2016 and, most recently, The Springbank Invitational in Campbeltown 2023. Stuart is founder and Pipe Major of the Inveraray & District Pipe Band, winners of the Grade 1 World Pipe Band Championship in 2017, 2019 and 2024. Previously he was a member of the Scottish Power Pipe Band for seven years, subsequently joining the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band from Vancouver, Canada with whom he played for ten years. The recital will be held at the Former Maclean Services Club 36-38 River Street, Maclean from 7.30 pm on Saturday 19^th April 2025. The event is free, and no bookings are required. Do not miss this unique opportunity to hear one of the world’s best in person.

Tickets for the Inaugural Pipe Major MacNeill’s Invitational on April 12 can be ordered at:  www.trybooking.com/au/event/1358482

Tickets for the QHPS International Piping Recital on April 16^th can be ordered at:  www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1350374

The 120^th Maclean Highland Gathering will take place April 18-19 (Easter weekend) in Maclean, NSW. For more details visit:  www.macleanhighlandgathering.com.au

The Scottish Banner speaks to Jason Barrett, Chief Executive, of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is a world-class event, rooted in Scottish tradition, offering audiences an experience like no other. Performed to a global live audience of 220,000 each year in August on the iconic Edinburgh Castle Esplanade, the Tattoo showcases creativity through music, precision performances and dance from military and cultural acts from around the world.

Jason Barrett, Chief Executive, of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo took the time to speak to the Scottish Banner on the Tattoo’s special 75^th year, how Edinburgh Castle plays such a starring role in the Tattoo and just what it is like to be part of ‘the greatest show on earth’.

2025 marks 75 incredible years of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The event has grown to become a benchmark of Scottish global celebrations. What is it about the Tattoo do you feel is so enduring and also continues to hold such broad global appeal?

JB: I’m a firm believer that if you’re standing still you’re falling behind, which is why we continue to evolve and innovate creatively throughout the entire company.  From our plans to tour internationally, to enhancing our arena for a better experience, to upgrading our systems and processes throughout the business, we are committed to growing the brand and elevating the Tattoo at all levels.

We’re excited to celebrate the 75^th anniversary of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and while naturally people think of the lights, sounds and skill featured on the Esplanade, we have so much more going on throughout the year to signify this celebration.

Our 75^th allows us to look back proudly on our legacy, and enthusiastically to the future.  In this anniversary year, we recommit to giving more to our charitable partners and to honouring those who’ve made the Tattoo so successful.

Can you tell us a bit about 2025 production The Heroes Who Made Us and what can audiences expect with this year’s performance?

JB: In 2025 we are celebrating 75 years of the Tattoo with our new Show, The Heroes Who Made Us. The Show will celebrate the heroes across the Tattoo, military and wider society in Scotland who help better the lives of others through their efforts and take audiences on a journey through our rich history.  The Show, which will run from 1-23 August 2025, will also see the introduction of a storyteller, who will not only guide audiences through the Show, but immerse themselves in the performance to provide an even deeper and enhanced emotional audience experience.  The Heroes Who Made Us will be the first Tattoo from new Creative Director Alan Lane, who places storytelling at the heart of his creative process. The performance will also nod to Scotland’s proud history in the arts and military connection with Skipinnish’s song Eagle’s Wing being performed as part of the finale with the whole cast, supported by state-of-the-art projection and lighting.

Can you briefly explain just how much work, logistics and preparation goes into bringing hundreds of performers from around the world together to create the magic that is the Tattoo?

JB: A lot! We work about 18- 24 months from each Show, preparing the Show theme, content and production elements as well as the logistics of the venue and our ongoing marketing campaigns. We have a core team of 36 employees who work tirelessly across the year to bring together the incredible spectacle that nearly 230,000 people get to see live every August. We’re lucky to have such supportive partners and stakeholders that help bring the Show to life, from selecting the performers to writing the music. It’s a team effort – and one that is very rewarding for all involved.

How hard, or easy, is it to secure performers, especially from the military, each year given the length of the run of the Tattoo each August?

JB: As you can imagine, for many services times are tough just now with reduced numbers of serving personnel and even more reduced numbers of musicians taking up the ranks. However, we have such a strong and important relationship with the MOD that we work very closely together to ensure we continue to represent the best of military music in our Show each year. It’s quite the commitment for performers to be part of the Tattoo, but the experience and opportunities that it opens – not just for individuals, but countries and militaries – is unmatched and one that everyone who joins us in August recognises.

Some feel Edinburgh Castle itself is always one of the stars of the Tattoo. How does the Castle serve up both logistical challenges but also provide such a unique stage that few productions can replicate?

JB: There’s nowhere else in the world quite like Edinburgh Castle. And we absolutely refer to it as one of the stars of our Show! It’s unique backdrop and iconic location has lent itself to many classic Tattoo moments – not least our Lone Piper appearing on the historic ramparts. That doesn’t mean to say it doesn’t come without its challenges – something our Operations team will attest to. Each night of our 26 Show run, we welcome up to 9,000 audience members – and not to mention the 1000s of cast and crew members – to a venue with only one exit and entrance, up cobbled hills and steep steps. That’s why it’s so important that we work closely as an organisation with our stakeholders and suppliers to ensure the best experience for all visitors to our event. We work hard to make the event accessible by all and will continue to do this.

The Tattoo not only honours tradition and Scottish culture but also uses cutting-edge production technology. How important is it to merge modern technology to showcase military tradition?

JB: It’s very important. The Tattoo has always been at the forefront of technology or techniques when it comes to presenting the best show we can. Even 75 years ago, we were using innovative ways to light the Esplanade. Today we have so much at our fingertips, and so much opportunity to present the best of military and Scottish traditions. It’s vital to us that while we introduce or make use of new technologies, whether that be in projection or special effects, the core of the Tattoo will always remain our values of military, tradition and charity.

Every year the Tattoo celebrates comradery and friendship through music, dance and military alliance with a variety of nations. How does it feel to witness that connection and unity of performers coming together to create what many consider ‘The greatest show on earth’?

JB: In one word? Incredible. There is no feeling that matches that of witnessing the whole cast come together on the Esplanade in the finale of a Show and the connection between them and the audience. Many of whom have travelled far and wide to be there. It’s made that extra special for me as I get to see the backstage friendships forming, and the coming together throughout the year that goes on behind the scenes. But really nothing is better than sitting back and seeing the magic come to life on the Esplanade.

The Tattoo has been performed previously in both Australia and New Zealand. Are there any plans to again take the Tattoo to international audiences?

JB: This is such an exciting time for us just now, with many great opportunities on the table. I’ve spoken before about the potential for the Tattoo and where we could take it – whether that be around the world, or just to different venues. Now we have ambitions to go back to Australia and New Zealand soon, and potential for presenting something in the US. Already in 2025, we’re heading out to the US to be part of the Washington Tattoo and New York’s Tartan Week. So, watch this space for more to be announced soon!

The Royal Edinburgh Miliary Tattoo celebrates their 75^th in 2025. The Heroes Who Made Us will run at the Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle from 1-23 August 2025. For details and tickets visit: www.edintattoo.co.uk

All images courtesy of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

 

Glasgow 850 is calling on Glaswegians who have gone international to be part of this year’s celebrations.

This year, Glasgow is celebrating its 850^th birthday with its first living remembrance book to celebrate the people who have taken the Glasgow spirit globally. The physical book, which will also be available to view online for a limited time, is aiming to contain the names of at least 850 Glaswegians that no longer reside in the city but still call it ‘hame’(Scots word for home).  Once ready, the book will be displayed in Glasgow City Chambers and will include a mix of names, stories and images capturing the memories and special moments of the people that make Glasgow what it is today. The book allows Glaswegians living abroad or away from the city to be part of this year’s celebrations.  Entrants can share as much or as little as they like about their time in the ‘Dear Green Place’.

Where did you GlasGOw? is an open invitation for those abroad who have an affinity to the city and a story to tell – whether about themselves, a fellow Weegie (Scots word for Glaswegian), or on behalf of an ancestor, family member, or friend.  To share your memories, stories and images please visit glasgow850.com and complete the online form. Entries will be available to view towards the end of the year and will serve as a legacy from the Glasgow 850 celebrations.

The unique spirit of Glasgow

Cllr Jacqueline McLaren, Lord Provost of Glasgow said; “Glasgow has long been known for having some of the world’s best banter and that sense of humour doesn’t fade when they move away. They carry their memories and stories of home with them, sharing the unique spirit of Glasgow wherever they go. It’s long been said that ‘story telling is the oldest form of education’, and we hope by having global Glaswegians share their authentic stories and experiences that people will be able to gain a real understanding of our famous slogan, People Make Glasgow.”

The launch of the book is part of a much wider yearlong citywide programme of curated events and community-based activities for citizens and visitors. It will let people at home and abroad, share their experiences and tell their stories, celebrating Glasgow’s rich heritage and culture, reflecting on its transformation, and inspiring future ambitions. Themes for the year include heritage, young people, diverse communities, climate change, culture, innovation, business, and skills. Central to the programme, are the ‘signature’ activities including Taste the Place, a scheme providing the chance for locals and visitors to learn more about the history of Glasgow’s hospitality scene by eating their way around the city, Clyde Chorus, a three-day music extravaganza in May, and People’s Palace pop-up exhibition running June to November.

Submissions for Where did you GlasGOw? can be made through an online form at: https://glasgow850.com/article/12243/Where-Did-You-GlasGOw. Celebrate Glasgow’s 850^th birthday, join in marking this milestone at:  www.glasgow850.com.

Main photo: Cllr Jacqueline McLaren, Lord Provost of Glasgow.

Britain’s only private regiment, The Atholl Highlanders, are about to commence an 11-day US tour marking the fourth time in its history it has embarked on a tour of the States.  The Atholl Highlanders, raised and commanded by the Dukes of Atholl, and based at their ancestral home of Blair Castle in Highland Perthshire, have announced that they are honoured to be leading New York’s Tartan Day Parade.

In what is the fourth tour of the States undertaken by the Atholl Highlanders in its long and proud history, and having last toured there as a regiment in 2012, the 62 strong contingent of Atholl Highlanders, including its Pipe Band and support staff, will visit Washington, Boston, and the Massachusetts town of Athol, which claims a historical connection to the Atholl Highlanders, along with New York City itself.

Parade marches

Having performed parade marches many times in the States as part of other US tours, the Atholl Highlanders have never marched in the Tartan Day Parade before, and, as such, are honoured to be not only taking part, but to be leading the parade. Their band, which consists of ten pipers and nine drummers, will lead the colourful procession and will wear the Clan Murray Tartan. The following day will see them parade at the British Embassy in New York. Touring the East Coast of America, to coincide with New York Tartan Week, was the idea of His Grace, The 10^th Duke of Atholl, who funded the very first trip in conjunction with the Murray Clan in 1987, visiting Boston, Athol, Concorde, the Loon Mountain Highland Games, New York, Washington, plus the Virginia Military Institute at Lexington and Williamsburg.

After the 10^th Duke passed away, and the title moved to John Murray in South Africa, an Atholl Highlanders Council was created, which went on to operate a Tour Fund. It allocated money that the Atholl Highlanders received as payment for Duties at the Keepers of the Quaich, and through the Atholl Gathering, towards overseas tours, which usually had a link to the Murray family and/or Blair Castle itself. Subsequent tours followed, in 2000 and 2012, visiting other destinations such as Quebec, Toronto, and Bermuda, along with the Massachusetts town of Athol, an approximate 90-minute drive from Boston.

Athol

In the mid-18^th century, Athol was chosen as the place to settle by an emigrating Scot, John Murray. Becoming a prominent businessman and landowner, he named the town Athol to remind him of his Scottish roots in Highland Perthshire.  Although his connection to the Murray Clan remains unfounded in Blair Castle archives, the town, has, since the Atholl Highlanders first American tour in 1987, developed close links with the Regiment, and Blair Castle. Following the Regiment parading at The State House, Boston, during its 2012 tour, a ceremony officially recognised the town of Athol’s 250^th anniversary, with June 6^th declared “Athol Day”. On this forthcoming tour, local Athol families will host pairs of Atholl Highlanders in their own homes for four nights, before the Regiment returns to Scotland.

Started three years ago, as a result of a special Atholl Highlanders organising committee reaching out to the local community to foster even closer links between them, the hosting provides a more personal experience than a hotel, and enables all parties to gain a deeper understanding of each other’s culture. Kindly transporting the Atholl Highlanders to parades, and other trips and activities during their time with them, such as this year, the Girardi’s River Rat Race, a canoe race on the Athol-Orange River, the Host Families are instrumental in organising cultural and educational visits to local schools and businesses in Athol and the surrounding area. Once again, as on previous trips, the Athol Highlanders will take part in the State House Parade in Boston on the 11^th April. Their packed itinerary also sees them parade at the British Embassy in Washington, attend a Black Rose Dinner in Athol, and enjoy a Legion Spaghetti Supper.  With Atholl Highlanders often recruited through their family lines, there are presently six sets of brothers in the regiment and its band, together with three sets of father and sons.

Incredible trip

RSM Graham Jack, an Atholl Highlander since 1977, and a veteran of three previous USA tours, commented on the forthcoming trip: “We are all really looking forward to this incredible trip. Although many of our members have been on a US tour before, each one always offers something new. This time, it’s the honour and privilege to lead the Tartan Day Parade, which came about through our previous Adjutant, John Bullough, planting the seed of the Regiment leading the Tartan Day Parade in New York. It will be an amazing experience for us all, one that we will never forget, and particularly poignant and memorable for the Atholl Highlanders attending for the first time with their sons, and for our many sets of brothers.”

Graham, who can trace his family ancestry regarding the Murray Clan back to the Battle of Culloden, went on to say: “On behalf of the Atholl Highlanders, we’d like to take this opportunity to thank the extremely hospitable host families in Athol who look after us so well. Many of us have become firm friends, with visits taking place outwith official tours, something we are sure will continue into the future.   This year’s itinerary in Athol will be particularly fun with some of our members taking part in the Athol Rat Race, a break from the formality of other tasks. We always welcome the chance to get right into the heart of the community through the school and business visits too.”

On a final note, Graham said: “We’d say to any of Americans who love their history, and who’d like to find out more about the Atholl Highlanders, to make the very worthwhile trip over to Scotland to visit us at Blair Castle. May is a fantastic time to come, as we have our annual Military Parade and take part in traditional Highland Games. It’s a true Highland spectacle not to be missed! The regiment was actually formed to fight American Independence on behalf of the Crown, which is another fascinating fact. However, they ended up in Ireland and never made it over to get involved in the conflict. Now, we are happy to say that we enjoy the best possible connections to the USA!”

 

Did you know?

-The Atholl Highlanders remain Britain’s only private Regiment, raised and commanded by the Dukes of Atholl, they are based at the ancestral home, Blair Castle, Perthshire where they parade every year on the last weekend of May. They wear Murray tartan, Murray being the family name of the Dukes of Atholl.

-The original Atholl Highlanders were a regular regiment in the British Army, the 77^th raised in 1777 for service in America.  However, after being stationed in Ireland, the war concluded before they had embarked for America and they were disbanded in 1783.

-The Atholl Highlanders, a band of local men, were first deployed in 1839, by Lord Glenlyon, later 6^th Duke of Atholl, to participate in a tournament at Eglinton in Ayrshire, Scotland’s celebration for Queen Victoria.  In 1842 the Duke entertained Queen Victoria on her first visit to Scotland and two years later she chose to stay at Blair Castle to rest after the birth of her second child. Throughout her stay the Atholl men provided her with a guard.   In recognition of this service she granted them the Queen’s Colours and the right to bear arms the following year.  This unique grant constituted the Atholl Highlanders.

-The Atholl Highlanders are primarily a ceremonial regiment, however during the two World Wars many of the men served in the regular British Army.

-During the first half of the twentieth century the regiment went into abeyance and was only revived by the 10^th Duke of Atholl in 1966.   Today, officers are drawn from the Duke’s relations and local lairds and the men are invited to join by the Duke, usually having an estate or family connection.  They wear the Murray tartan kilt, plaid and juniper as a cap badge. Their present 12^th Duke, Bruce Murray, hails from South Africa.