Announcement

**Glesgalass** · 10 March 2012, 00:16

Re: An International Gathering of Clans 2014

Gosh and I have 2 sisters who live in Stirling, one in Bannockburn actually.

Elda

**WilliamD** · 18 March 2012, 13:37

Re: An International Gathering of Clans 2014

Clan Douglas, which has no official association or society in Scotland, is considering holding its first ever Scottish Clan Gathering at about the same time.

This may be the catalyst to set up a Scotland based association - if appropriate support and office bearers come forward.

Discussion on the proposed Clan Douglas Gathering in 2014 can he found here: http://douglashistory.ning.com/group/clan-douglas-gathering-2014

**Kelly d** · 23 March 2012, 09:58

Re: An International Gathering of Clans 2014

Alastair made a suggestion to me which I have given great thought to.

I have made a vendors list for Balgonie Castle Weddings. I will happily assist folks with finding lodging who will come to the Home Coming 2014 functions.

I live in Fife which is not very far from Stirling. Just let me know what kind of information you require and I will try to find it out for you.

**WilliamD** · 15 October 2012, 15:02

Re: An International Gathering of Clans 2014

The July event is cancelled.
Clans that made plans to gather in July are now reappraising their options.

The following from COSCA:
1. Previous plans for a Gathering at Stirling on July 11 -13, 2014 have been scrapped. The highland games scheduled for that weekend will, we understand, continue, but there is no longer any �Gathering� event being planned at Stirling.
2. The revised plan is to center a general clan gathering directly around the Bannockburn 700th Anniversary activities (June 28 � 30, 2014). An extra day of reenactment has been added to accommodate the clans. Additionally, a Clan Village is now in the works. Bannockburn events are being very capably organised and designed by The National Trust for Scotland and promise to be spectacular (See for yourself at the NTS Battle of Bannockburn website HERE). Bannockburn is a natural pairing for the second Gathering as is explained in the SCSC press release.
3. The Bannockburn gathering activities will be complemented with several regional Clan based events that gather clans and celebrate history and heritage all across Scotland. There are already some very exciting ideas well into development.
4. Finally, the clans will convene a 2nd International Clan Convention to coincide closely with the Bannockburn gathering activities and to conduct the continuing business of the international Scottish clan community.
This is a developing story and we will continue to bring you updates as we can, but here are just a few thoughts and a bit of background and perspective for now:
Background
In putting together the upcoming Stone Mountain Chiefs and Clans conference set for Oct. 19th at the Stone Mountain Highland Games, it occurred to us (COSCA and SCSC) that there was still precious little further to report about plans for the 2014 Gathering. It actually was occurring to many people. Oh Oh.
So, several months ago, we began to make our voice of concern heard as well as our offer to help. The upshot is this: SCSC, through the keen leadership of Sir Malcolm MacGregor of MacGregor, is now deeply and rightly integrated in the correct channels and places in Scotland to begin to kick start and directly influence planning efforts.
What�s Different Now
�More details will be coming�. Of course we have all heard that before. But here is what is different and very encouraging now:
1. We have Dates and a Place to Gather. We have pretty solid dates and a place/event around which to now organise, and as you point out, it�s a good one (Bannockburn). The event is well funded, well directed by National Trust for Scotland, and will be by all appearances, spectacular and energizing. It is solid. Truly something to remember and pretty much something to travel to Scotland in 2014 for, all by itself (CLICK HERE). COSCA will continue working to encourage integration of the clans into Bannockburn events in creative and exciting and meaningful ways.
2. We Have Leadership. We now have a very effective and very reliable pipeline for information and ideas and input straight to the very center of planning for 2014: Sir Malcolm MacGregor currently sits on the right committees and in the right meetings to really communicate and advocate for the clans and greater Diaspora interest. The SCSC is an outstanding partner.
3. We Have Partners. The Scottish Government has been extremely responsive to our concerns and we are confident that we have found an able and effective partner with which to work on 2014 heritage events. We will continue to work with the Scottish government through Robin Naysmith here in North America and the Homecoming 2014 team in Scotland in fine fashion.
4. We Have Ideas. The idea of regional events swirling around the Bannockburn dates and a 2nd International Clan Convention is, to me at least, a truly exciting one. While Bannockburn will give us the opportunity to gather together, the idea of a feast of regional gatherings in various clan homelands around Scotia is tremendously appealing. I believe the possibilities are truly limited only by our own creativity and the idea has real legs within the planning team.
5. We Have Goals. This experience has re-emphasised something that our great friend Robert McWilliam openly suggested to the first Clan Convention in 2009 and that many of us have often contemplated: The Clans need a hame in Scotland � a place that will provide a home and reliable opportunity to gather and conduct our business that lies under our own control.
6. We Are Working. This experience has also drawn together a growing alliance of Scottish Diaspora leaders and organisations that will prove critical in future months and years as we tackle all of the opportunities and challenges of which we so often speak.
I hope the takeaway from all of is indeed an exciting and optimistic one. I clearly understand that the early announcement of dates from Scotland has created difficulties for some folks who have made plans. Here is the lesson: the clans need much closer � indeed direct � involvement in the 2014 planning process itself. I am quite confident that we now have that and we will continue work to enhance it.
Yours aye,
Susan L. McIntosh, President
Council of Scottish Clans & Associations

**Alastair** · 22 October 2012, 00:13

Re: An International Gathering of Clans 2014

Got this in from COSCA...

The Caution Flag Is Out Again:

New Confusion Surrounding 2014

For those of you following the continuing Gathering 2014 saga:

After specific reassurances last Friday that Scottish clan events, including a clan village and parade, would be integrated into the spectacular Bannockburn 2014 re-enactment activities, the Scottish newspaper The Scotsman reported this morning that there would in fact be no clan village and no parade associated with Bannockburn reenactments. Many of you have seen the article. We haven't yet been able to confirm or discredit the report, but it is notable that, according to The Scotsman article, both VisitScotland and EventScotland have declined to comment on the story.

At this point, it is certainly fair to say that it would probably be prudent to put plans for traveling to Scotland in 2014 on hold until we gain better clarity about what is and is not going to happen in 2014. Of course we know that Scotland's 2nd Year of Homecoming will offer many fine opportunities for visitors from the Ryder Cup to the Commonwealth Games. Additionally, we do still expect several smaller regional clan and Diaspora based events to materialize - eventually. At present, however, the fate of any sort of unified clan gathering occurring in 2014 is, at best, unclear.

Several Scottish organizations with interest in a second Gathering, including the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs, COSCA, The American Scottish Foundation and the Society of Scottish Armigers have been in discussions regarding how best to proceed. While no decisions have been made, one point certainly emerges: The second Gathering as well as the 2nd International Clan Convention are events of tremendous import to the Scottish Diaspora. The Diaspora, in partnership with clan organizations in Scotland, must take on the primary role of designing and planning the second Gathering and Clan Convention. We must and can accomplish this through our leading Diaspora organizations.

Clearly, though, given the ever shortening timeline remaining before 2014 and the difficulty in making progress, it may well be that a second Gathering will not occur until 2015. It is more important to do it right than to do it in 2014.

Please stay tuned for further information as it becomes available.

Yours aye,

Susan L. McIntosh, President
Council of Scottish Clans & Associations

The Scotsman article is at http://www.scotsman.com/news/arts/or...lans-1-2590723

Alastair

**Alastair** · 22 October 2012, 00:25

Re: An International Gathering of Clans 2014

I can't help wondering why these events cost so much money.

Perhaps the clan folk within the Scots Diaspora could find an area in the Highlands of Scotland where there would be plenty of room to host this event and enough room to park cars. Then you'd only need to arrange toilet facilities and a decent camp ground. Plenty of land in the Highlands after all.

Also there always has been talk in the Scots Diaspora about having their own building to host clan gatherings by individual clans and also be a family research center. Many folk enjoy travelling the off beat roads in Scotland so I'm sure this could be accomplished for quite a low cost and then we just need to organise a fund raising event across the Diaspora.

I mean this doesn't need to be in the central belt of Scotland where everything is expensive. This might also be great for the young folk as we could build our own building and perhaps other basic accommodation and the Kids and Adults could build it? We might even take over an old village that was cleared and bring it back to life?

Alastair

**Alastair** · 27 October 2012, 11:48

Re: An International Gathering of Clans 2014

Got in an email from COSCA...

Homecoming 2014: Let's Stick To The Facts

A recent report by STV, a Scottish TV news channel, suggesting that Americans are canceling trips to Scotland in 2014 is not true.

At present, Scotland is in a fairly early stage of planning some spectacular and extremely exciting heritage events to take place during the summer of 2014. Americans are generally prudent people and prefer to know the facts of a situation prior to acting. We are not confused; we are patient and we are excited to come home to Scotland.

We know that Bannockburn 700 will offer a once in a lifetime opportunity to actually be part of a remarkable and thrilling event of historic proportions - there is no question whatsoever about that. Check out the website at www.battleofbannockburn.com. We have every confidence that whatever the final configuration of the Bannockburn activities, The National Trust for Scotland will offer a first rate and extremely worthwhile event that many Scottish Americans will want to be part of.

Further, the National Trust for Scotland and Homecoming 2014 have absolutely committed to working with COSCA and others to integrate a strong clan and Diaspora perspective and activities into their program and we very much appreciate and look forward to that opportunity.

Wouldn't it be grand if we all could spare the time and money to spend all year long in Scotland in 2014. Unfortunately, most folks have to make decisions about exactly what days they will be in Scotland and where they will spend those limited number of days. It just makes sense at this point to allow the planning and facts to come together just a bit more so that we all can make the most informed decision about how and when we will all come home to Scotland.

In closing, lets settle down a bit. Good people are working hard to make sure that Scotland offers a great lineup of heritage events in 2014. The Diaspora is engaged and excellent ideas are coming into the mix. Homecoming 2014 will be a success and Americans will be a happy and important part of it all. The Diaspora will be stronger and more vigorous going forward and that is good news for us all.

Yours aye,

Susan L. McIntosh, President
Council of Scottish Clans & Associations

**Glesgalass** · 27 October 2012, 20:25

Re: An International Gathering of Clans 2014

I've been to the Bannockburn site and it's true that it's not all that big.....and quite hilly in parts if I remember correctly.

Elda

**John Graham** · 28 October 2012, 08:32

Re: An International Gathering of Clans 2014

Originally posted by Alastair View Post

I can't help wondering why these events cost so much money.

Perhaps the clan folk within the Scots Diaspora could find an area in the Highlands of Scotland where there would be plenty of room to host this event and enough room to park cars. Then you'd only need to arrange toilet facilities and a decent camp ground. Plenty of land in the Highlands after all.

Also there always has been talk in the Scots Diaspora about having their own building to host clan gatherings by individual clans and also be a family research center. Many folk enjoy travelling the off beat roads in Scotland so I'm sure this could be accomplished for quite a low cost and then we just need to organise a fund raising event across the Diaspora.

I mean this doesn't need to be in the central belt of Scotland where everything is expensive. This might also be great for the young folk as we could build our own building and perhaps other basic accommodation and the Kids and Adults could build it? We might even take over an old village that was cleared and bring it back to life?

Alastair

Ideal time and place would be in Inverness, the Capital of the Highlands and home to the Highland Clans. The Inverness Highland Games takes place on the 19th July which is ideal as it is the week before the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow which starts on the 23rd July, so those from Canada, Australia and New Zealand can do a two in one!. We have the accommodation, the Venue -Eden Court. We have the Inverness and Strathpeffer Highland Games. We have the Highland Archive Centre and Family History Centre. We have the Culloden Visitor Centre with masses of parking and we have Urquart Castle and Eileen Donan, two of the most photographed Castles in Scotland. We have Castle Stuart where you can stay for the full effect. We have Castle Leod, Achnaharry, Dunrobin and the Castle of Mey to name but a few. We have the Clans. We could even do a replay of the Clans Challenge where we rowed up Loch Ness in Canadian Canoes as the yoyageurs in Canada would have done of old! We even have a building in Beauly which is recently vacant which would make a great Clan Centre. Latterly "Made in Scotland/House of Beauly". After all this is the heart of the Highlands and the home of many major Clans: Fraser of Lovat, Chisholm, Mackenzie, Munro, Urquart, Grant, Cameron, Macphearson, Macrae, Sutherland and many many more. What is more we would really like to see you which is better than many a welcome in the Central Belt!

**Alastair** · 28 October 2012, 11:03

Re: An International Gathering of Clans 2014

You can also add MacKay and Fraser to that list. The A9 up from Perth also passes the Queen's View and Pitlochry as well as the Highland Village at Newtonmore where the MacPherson Museum is.

Also the drive to the Isle of Skye is a beautiful drive should you want to head there after or before the event.

I still think some permanent place for the Scottish Clans should be created. And if we get the various Scottish Studies departments from Universities around the world involved it could create a wonderful research center.

Alastair

**Alastair** · 12 March 2013, 10:06

Re: An International Gathering of Clans 2014

Homecoming 2014:

What's In & What's Out

Dear Friends:

Way back early in 2012 COSCA joined with most of the rest of the Scottish diaspora in welcoming the news from Stirling Council and the Homecoming 2014 planning team that the ultra successful 2009 Gathering would be repeated in 2014 as part of the 2nd Year of Homecoming. Initially we understood that the 2014 event would build on the successful experience of the 2009 Gathering and be of a similar character and scope.

Unless you have been under a rock for last six months you now know that there appears to be no central Gathering at Stirling in 2014. While we appreciate the Scottish Government Homecoming 2014 team's efforts to save the day through the Bannockburn Anniversary events, logistically, the Bannockburn field carries very difficult limitations for hosting an international clan gathering as does the Bannockburn event itself. So, while Bannockburn looks to include a spectacular high tech next generation visitors' center, a stellar reenactment and a medieval village possibly with clan elements, it's no Gathering.

Alright, we're over it. And what is the teaching moment? In future, we will design and plan our own gatherings. We will work collaboratively with the Scottish government and Scottish commercial enterprise to nail it. Indeed, there are many very keen minds thinking about that right now. The concept of a gathering is rooted in history, culture and tradition. It is the work of the chiefs to summon a gathering for clearly articulated reasons. Unless the diaspora regains control of the concept and reality of an international gathering of Scottish clans and families, our traditions will remain in danger of being boiled down into a commercialized festival event just like any other instead of the special and authentic cultural and heritage celebration that they should be.

So, as it is currently all the buzz, you may want to check out the Scottish Parliament's politically tinged inquiry into whatever happened to the Gathering 2014. Click here to read the written testimony and evidence submitted to the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee of the Scottish Parliament on the subject.

I highly recommend beginning with the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs' written submission as those comments are driven neither by politics or profits and instead they, alone among the group, contain a clear history and discussion of what happened and why. You can read the SCSC testimony here.

And yes, do look at the National Trust for Scotland's written testimony, where the NTS suggests that a final decision on what is in and what is out as far as Bannockburn Anniversary events will not be made until May 2013. Yes, according to NTS, even the Bannockburn reenactments may be scrapped if the stars are not correctly aligned.

In spite of the fact that the clan gathering element of Homecoming 2014 didn't come off, the truth is, Scotland has put together a truly incredible lineup of events for their 2nd Year of Homecoming. While I am certain that the Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup will be compelling athletics, in the minds of the active ancestral diaspora, the Bannockburn Anniversary events, including the new visitor's center and reenactments, are among the most intriguing offerings.

It is notable that Bannockburn represents the only currently supported ancestral element in the entire Year of Homecoming and that makes for a missed opportunity to optimize the unique advantage of the remarkable Scottish diaspora. We encourage NTS to stay the course and produce all of the successful events to commemorate the 700th Anniversary of Bannockburn that can be produced.

Additional and further to the big splashy events, are the smaller and thus far independent regional gems that have caught the 2014 buzz. We understand that Glamis Castle, already a veteran at hosting large complex events, continues to consider holding a 'dry run' games and clan gathering in 2013 to see what a larger event might look like in 2014. The folks in West Lochaber in association with the Arisaig Games are working feverishly to give ancestral visitors to their region an outstanding experience in 2014 and beyond. And of course, Struileag plans to live-stream it's culminating diaspora heritage and cultural production in October 2014, in association with the National Mod at Inverness.

So that is nothing to shake a stick at. The energy is there; it needs to be harnessed. Still, the diaspora will have to undertake to produce our own gatherings in the future. We must all note however that there is not absolute unanimity about the details of a gathering. Where, when, why, who, what? Those are our questions and it is our obligation to begin to explore and answer those questions before heading down the gathering road once again.

Yours aye,

slm

Susan L. McIntosh, President
Council of Scottish Clans & Associations

_______________________________________________

Please mark your calendars and join us at Grandfather Mountain Highland Games for our Annual General Meeting at 2:00pm on Saturday July 13, 2013.

**sandyc** · 12 March 2013, 10:44

Re: An International Gathering of Clans 2014

Guess this needs another "Walter Scott" to get this together.
Management "by committee" is often beset by all the problems of different agenda. A "benign dictator" is what is needed (and please not oor Eck)...

Sandy

**Glesgalass** · 12 March 2013, 23:35

Re: An International Gathering of Clans 2014

Originally posted by sandyc View Post

Guess this needs another "Walter Scott" to get this together.
Management "by committee" is often beset by all the problems of different agenda. A "benign dictator" is what is needed (and please not oor Eck)...

Sandy

This amused me Sandy. I used tell my kids when they were wee that our house was not a democracy but a benign dictatorship....:-)

Elda

**sandyc** · 13 March 2013, 09:32

Re: An International Gathering of Clans 2014

Originally posted by Glesgalass View Post

This amused me Sandy. I used tell my kids when they were wee that our house was not a democracy but a benign dictatorship....:-)

Elda

Ditto...
Sandy

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An International Gathering of Clans 2014

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