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Charles to oversee mass clan gathering



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Published Date: 04 November 2007
By MURDO MACLEOD
PRINCE Charles is to be the patron of the largest Scottish clan gathering in almost 200 years.
The heir to the throne, who in Scotland is titled the Duke of Rothesay, will oversee The Gathering 2009, which is expected to bring together more than 8,000 clan representatives from all over the world at Holyrood Park.

The Scottish Government is
promoting 2009, the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, as the Year of Homecoming in an effort to attract people worldwide who have Scottish roots.

Already more than 60 clans have said they want to take part, including Clan Donald, the world's largest clan. The two-day event will be the first time since Sir Walter Scott's Royal Pageant in 1822 that so many clans have assembled in the city.

Many US-based clan organisations have already booked hotel rooms in Edinburgh, with VisitScotland and EventScotland estimating the overall economic impact of the event at around £5m across the country.

Jamie Sempill, director of The Gathering 2009, said: "To have HRH The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay as Patron is a great honour. His presence will mean so much to all those who have travelled from overseas to take part in this unique gathering, which celebrates the clans' contribution to the history and culture of Scotland.

"It is important to remember that the renaissance of Highland games and clan gatherings can largely be attributed to Queen Victoria's patronage and her love of the Highlands with all its traditions."

The event will take place at Holyrood Park on Saturday, July 25, and Sunday, July 26, 2009. The programme features the 2009 World Highland Games Heavy Events Championship and an International Gathering of Scottish Clans and Families.



The full article contains 293 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 03 November 2007 7:38 PM
  • Source: Scotland On Sunday
  • Location: Scotland
  • Related Topics: Prince of Wales
 
1

JayDeeTee,

04/11/2007 00:49:39

As long as that idiot wee Joke McConnell doesn't turn up in his wee "Skirt" we will be alright.

2

Boy Wonder,

04/11/2007 00:59:09

I can confirm now that the MacHinery clan will be coming to get well-oiled!!

3

Guga II,

Rockall 04/11/2007 03:34:18

What's the Duck of Rothesay got to do with it?

Anyway, it will be mobbed with a bunch on yanks dressed in bumbee tartans and their weird ideas of what constitutes Highland dress; so I suppose it should be good for a laugh.

4

Sierra Foothills Scot,

California 04/11/2007 06:10:01

#3 Guga II

I agree that you can laugh at some, but don't forget there are many "yanks" who are genuinely interested in true Scottish culture and don't wear "bumbee tartans" and "weird"dress (á la Jack McConnell, for instance).

Also, the "yanks" have incorporated some Scottish traditions into serious American culture. The funerals of many police and firefighters who are killed in the line of duty, as well as some servicemen killed in action, are honored by pipers or sometimes by complete pipe bands. Many towns have pipe bands in their Independence Day parades.

Scotland is really well-regarded by Americans. And even the "weird" ones who come to Scotland bring money, so don't knock them. Remember the Highland tradition of hospitality.

5

Beergut,

Embra 04/11/2007 09:22:47

Good on you Sierra Foothills Scot. It wouldn't be a bad thing if a few more Scots wore their national dress instead of whingeing about what others wear. It will get to the stage where they are the ones setting the standard.

6

nell from falkirk,

04/11/2007 10:32:50

So, remind me - what does the Battenburg Saxe-Coburg Gotha tartan look like again?

7

Douglas,

Bathgate 04/11/2007 10:40:14

#6 nell from falkirk: Alternate pink and yellow squares with stripes of Uno white on a background of dysfunctionality.

8

Boy Wonder,

04/11/2007 10:46:45

#4. Don't take it too seriously, Sierra. We don't!

The real laugh is that the Gathering is taking place in Edinburgh. Really, it should be at any point north of the Highland Line, which is from Helensburgh via Balmaha, Aberfoyle and Callander and continuing northwards to Stonehaven.

Still, I hope many of you Septics, Canucks and Antipodeans can manage to be here for the great event.

We have tonnes of tartan tat we want to sell you! :))

9

TimW1234,

Ottawa, Canada 04/11/2007 13:45:45

Guga II

The Duke of Rothesay has a LOT to do with it.

He has Stuart blood in him, for your information, and HRH has every right to be oversee the clan gathering.

Please read up on some Scottish history before you make silly comments.

10

Guga II,

Rockall 04/11/2007 14:59:19

#9 TCW. As far as I am concerned, the Duck of Rothesay has as much Stuart blood in him as my parrot; and my parrot has a better Scottish accent than him, and probably has a better claim to the Scottish throne than him.

Did you know that the Duck's mammy's maiden name is Elizabeth Hanover Saxe-Coburg Gotha, and that (foot in the mouth) Phil's real name is Philippos Schleswig-Holstein Soenderburg-Glucksburg?

Very Scottish sounding names, aren't they? That's why #7 has it right on the tartan he should be wearing.

11

S MacLeod,

04/11/2007 15:48:47

Guga II,

could not agree with you more.

12

Boy Wonder,

04/11/2007 16:05:50

#9. I think you'll find a good many of us are not interested in the so-called royal family, Tim. You're on a sticky wicket being a supporter of them. I know I ranted at you last time ... but seriously, as a Canadian ... what you really think has no resonance here. Like I said, if you want them ... make a case for having them in Canada and we'll expedite their one-way trip to you as soon as the Revolution is over!

13

Mac Coinneach,

04/11/2007 17:51:19

Boy, we haven't seen such interest in Scotland, from Die Windsorfamilie, since the days of Victorian England. Didn't I recently read somewhere that they've managed to nick the title of Lord of the Isles, and I also gather that Charles and his missus will be opening the new Visitor Centre at Culloden Moor? Yes, it's true, the descendent of the fellow that went on a rampage in Scotland, murdering and raping the innocent, will be cutting the ribbon. All brought to you, of course, by the National "Trust" for Scotland.

Keeping with the general theme, perhaps one of Adolph's grandsons will be available to open the new Visitor Centre at Auswitch.

I suppose it's only the seriously suspicious that would say that the Windsors are getting a little nervous that Scotland is on her way to independence and are simply trying ensure they don't lose their subjects from the Northern bit of their rapidly diminishing empire.

14

Jock Tamson,

Scotland, Caledonia, Alba 04/11/2007 22:07:43

10, Guga, did you know that Hanover is spelled Hannover in Germany?

Come to think of it, does the Queen know?

If Battenberg had to become Mountbatten why did Hannover not become Winndsor?

Anyway, those Hanoverians didn't actually stay in Hannover. Their cooncil palace was in Celle. And still is.

That was today's piece of useless information.

PS. I agree the gathering should be held a tad further north. Culloden Moor would be more apt as that is the main reason the clansfolk are so far flung across the globe.

Perhaps one day that could be organised. I'd make the effort to see it as long as it was a spiritual event and not a money making exercise worth £5 million across Scotland (as reported righ here on this page).

15

Tricia,

04/11/2007 22:29:56

Hopefully with Bush and Dick gone by then, the dollar will have recovered enough to make a trip to the Gathering somewhat affordable.

16

S MacLeod,

05/11/2007 00:52:45

6. nell from falkirk, "So, remind me - what does the Battenburg Saxe-Coburg Gotha tartan look like again?"

like this:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Lyons_...

now I realise why I don't like marzipan!

17

Roger Tichborne,

McAuld Reikie 05/11/2007 13:15:47

Well said Guga II - The Stuart blood in Charles is very much diluted, but sorry to disappoint the rest of you; the Stuart heir is Franz Wittlesbach, the de Jure King Francis II of UK, along with Bavaria..

I wonder whether they will acknowledge the important role of the Sobieski Stuart brothers who invented over 50 tartans(alongwith their surnames) in the mid C19th ? Yes, many of these long established Lowland tartans owe their existence to two Welsh-born Englishman...

18

JMKC,

US 23/03/2008 03:14:09
"#6 nell from falkirk: Alternate pink and yellow squares with stripes of Uno white on a background of dysfunctionality."

LOL
I daresay that some of our Scots can kick your Scots @ in the Highland Games, cousins. ;O


 

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