From the Ulster-Scot, December 2008 edition (as given away with the News Letter)
If you live outside NI then you can receive a copy for free by emailing the Ulster-Scots Agency with your name and address requesting to be added to the Ulster-Scot mailing list!
info@ulsterscotsagency.org.uk
http://www.newsletter.co.uk

Preview of the Homecoming Scotland year ahead
www.homecomingscotland2009.com

A spectacular calendar of events will mark Scotland's first-ever Homecoming year and all Ulster-Scots are invited! Homecoming Scotland 2009 will celebrate some of Scotland's great contributions to the world (golf, whisky, ancestry, great minds and, of course, Robert Burns) with a year-long country-wide programme of exciting and inspirational events and activities. The festivities begin on January 25, the 250th birthday of one of Scotland's most famous sons - national poet Robert Burns, and will run until St Andrew's Day (November 30).

The main events listed are:

National Burns Collection Touring Exhibition
Friday February 20 - Friday May 15)

For the first time, approximately 100 items from Scotland's national collection of treasures associated with Robert Burns will be brought together. In a major touring exhibition to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland's national bard, art, books, correspondence to and from Burns and even original manuscripts in the Bard's very own handwriting will provide a better understanding and appreciation of Scotland's national poet. The exhibition, touring Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Dumfries will display pictures, sound and the poet's own words, all ultimately combining to show how Burns consciously created his own myth. Contact: 0131 623 3843.
www.burnsscotland.com

Burns Light
Sunday January 25

This warm and vibrant mid-winter festival in Dumfries promises to be an amazing spectacle, with a stunning lantern procession through the old town. Lanterns large and small will be on show, all inspired by the works of Robert Burns, who spent much of his life in Dumfries. The lanterns will wind through the historic heart of Dumfries, past Burns' house and onto his final resting place at St Michael's Church. The procession ends at the River Nith, with live music, a traditional ceilidh and a spectacular fire show featuring huge sculptures and fantastic fireworks. Contact: 01387 253383.
www.dgaa.net

Celtic Connections Homecoming Celebrations
Saturday January 24 - Sunday February 1

Honouring the influence of Robert Burns on Scottish music and his importance in preserving
the traditions of his own cultural background, the Celtic Connections festival celebrates his legacy with their biggest event to date. 'Auld Lang Syne' at the Clyde Auditorium will feature a range of renowned artists in a fitting tribute to the great bard. Over at The Old Fruitmarket entertainment venue a multicultural feast of music, dance, poetry and food will salute the spirit of Burns with a programme inspired by music from the West Indies. Celtic Connections will also highlight the music and songs of Scotland that travelled with the emigrants of the last 300 years, becoming the roots of the old-time Americana music scene. Contact: 0141 353 8070.
www.celticconnections.com

Creative Burns
Saturday February 14 - Saturday May 16

This exhibition will explore both Burns' creative output and his legacy to the present day. Visitors will be able to discover the creative role of Burns as a writer, poet and performer and his legacy to contemporary artists, composers and designers. The Dick Institute, Kilmarnock, will showcase this series of major new commissions by leading Scottish artists, demonstrating Burns' influence on artists today. Contact: 01563 554902
www.futuremuseum.co.uk

Inspired
Saturday April 4 - Sunday September 20

Inspired is an exhibition of contemporary art inspired by the life, poetry and songs of Robert Burns, featuring work by a distinguished group of artists from the UK and overseas. Fifty of the world's leading contemporary artists, including Tracey Emin, Peter Howson and Calum Colvin, will present new works in the Inspired exhibition to be held at Mitchell Library in Glasgow. The contemporary work will be presented alongside a small collection of previously unseen relics. The exhibition represents a fascinating and unprecedented way to convey the influence and relevance of Robert Burns' work in the present day. Contact: 0141 2876418
www.artruist.com

In the Footsteps of the Reivers Festival
Saturday September 5 - Saturday September 12

For over 350 years and until the end of the 16th century, the clash of steel and the thunder of hooves sounded in the picturesque roaming hills and fields of the Scottish Borders. In the Footsteps of the Reivers Festival examines and celebrates the history of the people of the Borders and the tribal men known as the Reivers. During Homecoming year a special programme is planned, featuring themed walks, story-telling and music encapsulating the fascinating colourful history of the Border Reivers and the distinctive landscape that was their home. Contact: 01835 825060.
www.scotborders.gov.uk/homecoming

Famous Scots
Sunday January 25 - Monday November 30

Scotland's People Centre is the new national family history centre, located in the centre of Edinburgh, which provides access to millions of documents from the 16th century, including birth, death and marriage registers. 2009 sees a rolling programme of exhibitions to both demonstrate the power of this resource and celebrate the Homecoming year. On show will be the results of genealogical research into the family history of sixwell known faces and famous Scots. Anyone wishing to have a free two-hour search using the new software can phone 0131 314 4300 to book a seat.
www.scotlandspeoplehub.gov.uk

Music of the Clans at Piping Live.
Monday August 10 - Sunday August 16.

The Music of the Clans at Piping Live! 2009 will be a fantastic series of events celebrating the shared history between the clans and piping. A dedicated area in George Square will be given over to free displays and musical performances that relate to some of the great families of Scotland. The week will culminate in the grand Clan Banquet. As the pinnacle of the week's events, everyone is encouraged to don their traditional family regalia and help celebrate the music inspired by the clans of Scotland. A spectacular mix of song, dance and piping will make sure that the Music of the Clans is an event well worth coming home for. Contact: 0141 353 0220.
www.pipingfestival.co.uk/homecoming-scotland-2009

Angus & Dundee Roots Festival
Saturday September 26 - Monday October 5

The Angus and Dundee Roots Festival will provide a focus for people with ancestral roots in the Dundee area, encouraging them to visit and find out more about their ancestral homeland. The Festival includes a packed programme of core and specialist fringe events including visits to ancestral sites, workshops and demonstrations. The festival will provide a true flavour of what life was like for our ancestors in days gone by. The packed programme will include workshops on tracing ancestors, a tour of Arbroath Abbey, scene of the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320, and a traditional music workshop with your chance to try your hand at playing some of the musical instruments still in use today. The festival will conclude with a grand farewell ceilidh to see out the week in style. Contact: 01307 473263.
www.tayroots.com

This Is Who We Are
Sunday January 25 - Monday November 30

Homecoming2009 sees a great new photographic exhibition tour Scotland throughout the Homecoming year. The exhibition will explore and demonstrate the strong influence of Scots in Canada, in particular when they travelled and named 1,000 Canadian towns after their homeland. The exhibition will add a new dimension to the cultural and historic links between the two countries by pairing 12 of these towns and exhibiting a photographic project between them. The photographs will be taken by Scots Canadians and create an exhibition which will tour Scotland throughout 2009.
Contact: 07776148907.
www.culturalconnectscotland.com

North East Clan Fortnight
Saturday July 18 - Monday August 3

The clan ball held in the 13th century ancestral clan seat of Drum Castle heralds the start of North East Clan Fortnight. The festivities continue with one of the world's oldest Highland Games in Aboyne, where you can meet your chief at your clan hospitality tent and join fellow clans-folk of the 16 represented clans for the March of the Clans. The famous Turriff Show provides a fine finale to North East Clan Fortnight as one of Scotland's most spectacular agricultural fairs with special attractions for 2009 including Ally Bain and Phil Cunningham. Contact: 01358 726402.
www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/visit/TheClanFortnight.asp

The Gathering 2009
Saturday July 25 - Sunday July 26

The Gathering 2009 sees clan members from 140 clans around the world, Scotland's largest ever Highland Games, the best Scottish food and drink, live music, a mass of pipers and Highland dancers all join together. Held in Edinburgh's inspiring Holyrood Park, athletes will battle it out to win the 2009 World Highland Games Heavy Events Championships. The clan tents also offer the opportunity to find out more about family and heritage. The centrepiece of The Gathering is the spectacular Historic Clan parade on the Castle's esplanade and the famous Royal Mile. There are two types of tickets available: Highland Games tickets: Day passes can be purchased from the online ticket shop. Passports: These are all-entry tickets for the weekend and include: Entry to both days of Highland Games, a place in the Clan Parade, a seat on the castle esplanade for the Clan Pageant. Contact: 0131 561 1323.
www.thegathering2009.com

Return to the Ridings
Year round 2009

The historic Border Common Ridings & Festivals have united for the first time ever to form one major event as part of Scotland's first Homecoming celebrations. Since the beginning of the 16th Century, common ridings and festivals have formed an integral part of Scottish Borders tradition, with common riding an annual celebration that involves townsfolk in a grand ride-out around the town boundaries. In total, 11 towns in the Scottish Borders use horses for the ride out. The events are friendly, heart-stirring and steeped in local history, including rousing music and song specific to each town. Visitors are always made welcome and often find themselves joining in, whether it's linking arms as the procession moves through the town or cheering the stunning displays of horsemanship as the riders gallop back into the town. During Homecoming2009, the towns of Hawick, West Linton, Selkirk, Peebles, Melrose, Galashiels, Jedburgh, Duns, Kelso, Lauder and Coldstream will all be inviting their exiles back home to join the celebrations. Contact: 01835 825060.
www.scotborders.gov.uk/homecoming

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival
Friday May 1 - Sunday May 10
Ten days of unique events to mark Homecoming are planned throughout Speyside's stunning scenery. Whisky, music and food will all combine to create the biggest ever Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival. The bash will entertain and enthral not only whisky lovers but friends and family from around the world. Key to the revelry is the Speyside Salute, a dramatic musical celebration of Speyside's heritage and traditions. Visitors can enjoy a whisky themed events including master classes, visits to distilleries seldom open to the public, open days, walks and dinners. Contact:
www.spiritofspeyside.com

Spirit of the West
Saturday-Sunday May 16/17
Spirit of the West is a brand new celebration of all that the West coast of Scotland has to offer. The event will showcase the mysterious and magical coastline and celebrate the culture and heritage that dominates the west coast of Scotland, with whisky the major theme. Held at Inveraray Castle, Spirit of the West will also focus on the themes of Scottish ancestry and heritage, featuring battle re-enactments, storytelling and educational information points. A superb range of Scottish produce including Highland beef, lamb, venison and world famous west coast seafood will also be available. Visitors can enjoy a round of mini golf; take their seats for the fabulous catwalk shows: a fashion showcase of all the west coast clan tartans; chill out with a dram whilst listening to one of the many traditional Scottish music jamming sessions and learn about their ancestors and how to trace their family tree. Contact: 01369 704153.
www.whiskycoast.co.uk

Isle of Barra Whisky Galore Festival
Friday/Sunday September 18-20
The first ever Isle of Barra Whisky Galore Festival will bring the sprit of the legendary film to this beautiful Hebridean outpost. Based on a true story, the film tells of a group of Scottish islanders who raided a shipwreck off the island of Eriskay (later fictionalised as Todday in the 1949 film, Whisky Galore) for its consignment of 24,000 cases of whisky. A rare wartime commodity, the islanders were keen to save the ship's precious cargo from a watery end. With a weekend of events celebrating the story and its place in Hebridean history, the 60th anniversary of the film promises to be a great opportunity for those who want to explore this serene part of the world and whisky lovers alike. The festival will have opportunities galore to take part in hunt the whisky, enjoy a round of golf, or simply get the craic with the locals. Contact: 01871 810 088.
www.whiskygalorefestival.com

The Open Championship
Thursday-Sunday July 16-19
Scotland is recognised as the birthplace of golf and the Open Championship will provide one of the focal points for the year of Homecoming in 2009. The 138th staging of The Open Championship, golf's oldest major, will find The Champion 'Golfer of the Year' at Turnberry. Over the winter of 2008/2009 the Westin Turnberry hotel will undergo major renovation and early in 2009 will be rebranded to a Luxury Collection Hotel. The venue is legendary for golf fans, recalling the famed "Duel in the Sun" in 1977 when Tom Watson finally triumphed over Jack Nicklaus on the 72nd. Homecoming2009 will see players and fans alike both return to the home of golf, Scotland itself. contact: 01334 460000.
www.opengolf.com

A Whole in One Golf Exhibition
Monday June 1 - Monday August 31
This exhibition will be staged at Roselle House, Ayr, coinciding with the Open Golf Championship played at Turnberry in South Ayrshire in July. Iconic artefacts such as the Claret Jug and the Challenge Belt will be on display in this exhibition which explores the story of golf and the Open and its impact on fashion, tourism and social history. The exhibition will chart the history of the sport and incorporate a wealth of unusual and rarely seen exhibits. Contact: 01292 445447.
www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/galleries

St Anza
Wednesday-Sunday March 18-22

The only regular festival dedicated to poetry in Scotland, St Anza was founded in 1998 and is held each March in St Andrews, Scotland's oldest university town. The festival is an opportunity to engage with a wide variety of poetry and to hear world class poets reading in exciting and atmospheric venues. For Homecoming 2009 Scots from around the world will feature as poets and speakers, while a series of events will focus on one of the world's best loved poets, Robert Burns. Exhibitions linking poetry with art and the part poetry has played in the lives of a diverse range of writers, musicians and media personalities will also be on show. Contributing writers feature, amongst others, Ian Rankin, Carol Ann Duffy, Peter Porter and Kate Clanchy. Contact:
www.stanzapoetry.org

Perthshire Amber
Thursday October 30- Saturday November 8
Internationally renowned songwriter and composer Dougie MacLean will keep the spirit of Homecoming to the forefront of the celebrations in 2009 with his unique Perthshire Amber festival. Dougie will share his inspiring music, celebrate the history and culture of Perthshire and showcase the beautiful scenery of the area. The concerts are staged in a variety of wonderful venues from prestigious theatres to historic castles to an Iron Age crannog on Loch Tay, to atmospheric Dunkeld Cathedral. For the first time the finale will be staged in Perth concert hall, on Sunday November 8, featuring Dougie and very special guests. Tickets available from February 2009. Ticket prices: five concerts £85, four concerts £70, three concerts £54, Individual concerts £20. Contact: 01350 724281. 281.
www.perthshireamber.com

Scottish Traditional Boat Festival
Thursday-Sunday July 2-5
Picturesque Portsoy in the Grampian Highlands is the setting for the four-day Scottish Traditional Boat Festival. This colourful celebration of Scotland's great maritime heritage will witness a superb gathering of traditional boats and international exponents of traditional boatbuilding and sailing, as well as music, fashion and design from the North East coast. The first two days of the Festival will be devoted to presentations and demonstrations by national and international experts in each subject. The second two days will
follow the Festival's well established form of nonstop spectacle, music, good food, and things for all members of the family. Contact: 01261 842951.
www.scottishtraditionalboatfestival.co.uk

• Homecoming Scotland 2009 is a Scottish Government initiative managed by Event Scotland in partnership with Visit Scotland and part financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund. Homecoming Scotland 2009 seeks to motivate people of Scottish descent, as well as those who simply love Scotland, to come home and join us in a national celebration of our culture, heritage and the many contributions Scotland has given the world.
www.homecomingscotland2009.com