Homecoming Scotland 2009
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2019}}
File:Bridge over the Swilken burn.jpg - golf is one of five themes of Homecoming]]
File:Glenfiddich Distillery stills.jpgs at Glenfiddich - whisky is another theme]]
File:Enter The Haggis Bagpipe.jpg combine rock music and Highland bagpipes]]
Homecoming Scotland 2009 was a series of events designed to attract people of Scottish ancestry to visit Scotland. The campaign, organised by EventScotland and VisitScotland on behalf of the Scottish Government, and part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund, claimed that "for every single Scot in their native land, there are thought to be at least five more overseas who can claim Scottish ancestry."
2009 was the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, the national poet. In addition to Burns-related events, the other four themes of the Homecoming were Scotland's culture and heritage, great Scottish minds and innovations, and golf and whisky.
Calendar of events
On 16 June 2008 Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond MSP MP, officially launched Homecoming Scotland 2009 at Edinburgh Castle.{{cite web|url=http://www.stv.tv/info/news/20080616/First_Minister_launches_yearlong_Scotti_080616142926232 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205123312/http://www.stv.tv/info/news/20080616/First_Minister_launches_yearlong_Scotti_080616142926232 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2008-12-05 |title=stv news |publisher=Stv.tv |access-date=2010-02-11 }} The Homecoming started on 25 January 2009 (Burns night) and ran until 30 November 2009 (St Andrews Day).{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7790384.stm | title=2009 Homecoming events unveiled | publisher=BBC News | date=2008-12-18 | access-date=2009-05-16}}
On 24 July 2009 a Clan Convention, composed of the clan chiefs, clan commanders and leading clan representatives of Scottish clans, met to discuss the "Role of the Clan in the 21st century".{{cite web|url=http://www.clangathering.org/events/view/116 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071105165942/http://www.clangathering.org/events/view/116 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-11-05 |title=clangathering.org - events }} The Clan Convention took place within the Scottish Parliament.{{cite web|url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-08/pa08-038.htm |archive-url=https://www.webarchive.org.uk/wayback/archive/20081126230923/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-08/pa08-038.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2008-11-26 |title=scottish.parliament.uk - news }}
The centrepiece event of the year was The Gathering 2009, on 25 and 26 July, centred on Holyrood Park in Edinburgh. The clan gathering included highland games over the two days, a parade up the Royal Mile and a 'clan pageant' on the castle esplanade.{{cite web|url=http://www.clangathering.org/|title=clangathering.org home page|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080401082950/http://www.clangathering.org/|archive-date=2008-04-01}}
Prince Charles, the Duke of Rothesay, is to be Patron of The Gathering 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.clangathering.org/news/view/10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513030830/http://www.clangathering.org/news/view/10 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2008-05-13 |title=Royal Patron announced }}
There was a long list of homecoming events, including several well-established events, e.g. (in date order):
- Celtic Connections
- Burns Night
- Aye Write!
- Glasgow International Comedy Festival
- Edinburgh International Science Festival
- Heineken Cup Final
- Edinburgh Sevens
- Return to the Ridings
- Royal Highland Show
- Edinburgh International Film Festival
- World Fly Fishing Championships
- Open Championship, Turnberry
- Inverness Highland Games
- Wickerman Festival
- Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival
- Johnnie Walker Championship, Gleneagles
- Edinburgh International Festival
- Edinburgh Military Tattoo
- World Pipe Band Championships
- Cowal Gathering
- Doors Open Days
- Wigtown Book Festival
- Loch Ness Marathon
- Royal National Mòd
- Scots Trad Music Awards
Scottish Cup Sponsorship
In October 2008, it was announced that the Scottish Cup would be re-branded as The Homecoming Scottish Cup for the 2008/09 competition. Glasgow-based businessman Willie Haughey signed a two-year sponsorship deal for the cup, handing the branding rights over to the Scottish Government. A new name was applied to the 2009/10 competition.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/7659053.stm|title=Homecoming Scottish Cup unveiled | date=14 October 2008 | access-date=5 January 2010 | work=BBC News}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080924020412/http://www.clangathering.org/news/content/press-page.html links to press coverage of The Gathering and Homecoming]
- {{Official website|http://www.homecomingscotland.com/default.html}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080401082950/http://www.clangathering.org/ The Gathering 2009, Edinburgh]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090127025042/http://comebacktoayrshire.com/ Homecoming Ayrshire]
- [http://www.livingphilosophy.org.uk/Edinburgh_Festival_Fringe/ Robert Burns- Bard of the Scottish Enlightenment, play at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090708133909/http://www.fyviehomecoming.com/ Fyvie Homecoming Festival, 28-30 August 2009 Fyvie, Aberdeenshire]
{{Scottish clans}}
{{Scotland topics}}
{{Authority control}}