Stirling Castle pays respect to musicians and sportsmen of WW1 with a special tribute on 29th October

Stirling Castle pays respect to musicians and sportsmen of WW1 with a special tribute on 29th October

 

Edinburgh, Scotland, 2016-Oct-15 — /Travel PR News/ — Stirling Castle is to host a special tribute to the pipers and shinty players who lost their lives in the First World War. On 29th October, The Somme and Shinty’s Heroes will use music, storytelling and song to relate the little-known story of the impact shinty players had on the war – with a particular focus on the story of Pipe Major Willie Lawrie.

The origins of shinty date back nearly 2,000 years. It has long held an important role in Scottish, particularly Highland, communities, and was played by Highland Regiments during both World Wars. The Somme and Shinty’s Heroes will uncover some of the stories of these players through visual images, stories, songs and music.

At the centre of the event is a tribute to Pipe Major Willie Lawrie of Ballachulish, composer of the well-known tune ‘The Battle of the Somme’, who died in November 1916. His pipes are displayed in the Regimental Museum of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders at Stirling Castle, and will be on display at the event.

In addition to hearing about PM Willie Lawrie, moving stories will be told of Dr Johnnie Cattanach, commonly regarded as shinty’s greatest ever player, who died at Gallipoli; Dòmhnall Ruadh Choruna and the Great Gaelic song An Eala Bhàn; the Paterson of Beauly pipes from Festubert and an account of the 1913 and 1914 Camanachd Cup Finals. Many of the players who appeared in these matches never returned from the war. Attendees will also hear the tale of the three ‘Ballachulish Musketeers’, who did return from World War 2 in an extraordinary adventure.

The performance is presented by broadcaster, author and sporting academic Hugh Dan MacLennan, and the musical director is former Scottish shinty captain, accordionist and Mànran star Gary Innes, who has now taken over the BBC’s Take the Floor dance music programme.

Hugh Dan MacLennan said: “The impact shinty players had in the Great War and vice versa is a fascinating tale that deserves to be told. Not a lot of this is known beyond the families concerned and not known even in some communities.

“At Stirling Castle, we’ll be building on the success of previous WW1 commemoration shows which have been performed from Skye to Glasgow and everywhere in between. It’s shinty’s way of paying tribute to those who died in the wars, and telling their stories in a slightly different way – through the eyes, stories and tunes of shinty-playing communities.”

The main performance features singer Linda MacLeod, and musicians Megan Henderson, Ewan Robertson, Duncan Lyall, James Mackintosh and Gary Innes himself.

Top piper Duncan MacGillivray of Calrossie, will play the Paterson pipes of Beauly which were returned from the Battle of Festubert and have since been played world-wide. The BBC’s Iain Anderson will also read specially chosen historical extracts along with Prof Ewen Cameron of Edinburgh University and Brigadier John MacFarlane of Taynuilt.

Also appearing will be a group young local musicians from the Fèis Fhoirth Ceilidh Trailers. They will welcome guests from 1830 and also play at the interval of the main performance.

Liz Grant, Executive Manager at Stirling Castle, which is operated by Historic Environment Scotland, said, “We’re pleased to be hosting this event at the castle, which is a unique blend of history, music and storytelling.  The performance will bring to life some of the less well known stories of Scotland’s sporting heroes, as well as giving new insight into some of the memorabilia held at the Regimental Museum of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. It promises to be a touching and fascinating tribute.”

The Somme and Shinty’s Heroes is supported by shinty’s ruling body the Camanachd Association and Fèisean nan Gàidheal.

The event takes place at Stirling Castle on 29th October, 7pm – 8.30pm.

Tickets are £17 for Adults, £15 for concessions, and are available to purchase online.

A discount is available for Historic Scotland members.

About Historic Environment Scotland

• As of the 1st October 2015, Historic Scotland and RCAHMS came together to form a new lead public body charged with caring for, protecting and promoting the historic environment. The new body Historic Environment Scotland (HES) will lead on delivering Scotland’s first strategy for the historic environment, Our Place in Time.
• Historic Scotland is a sub brand of Scotland’s new public heritage body, Historic Environment Scotland
• Historic Environment Scotland is a registered Scottish Charity. Scottish Charity No. SC045925
• You can keep up to date with news from Historic Environment Scotland and register for media release email alerts. If you wish to unsubscribe, please contact us.

Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design 2016

• 2016 will shine a spotlight on Scotland’s achievements in innovation, architecture and design through a wide-ranging, variety of new and existing activity.
• The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design started on 1 January 2016 and will end on 31 December 2016.  It will build on the momentum generated by the current 2015 Year of Food and Drink as well as previous years including Homecoming Scotland 2014, the Year of Creative and the Year of Natural.
• Through a series of exciting events and activity, the year will showcase Scotland’s position as an “innovation nation”, its outstanding built heritage, and its thriving, internationally acclaimed creative industries sector.
• The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design is a Scottish Government initiative being led by VisitScotland, and supported by a variety of partners including Scottish Government, Creative Scotland, Architecture + Design Scotland, Scottish Tourism Alliance, Scottish Enterprise, The National Trust for Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS).
• The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design events fund is managed by EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate.

 

Follow Historic Environment Scotland:

Twitter:
@HistEnvScot
@welovehistory
@edinburghcastle
@stirlingcastle
@ScottishTen

Facebook:
Historic Environment Scotland;
Historic Scotland
Instagram
LinkedIn
Pinterest
YouTube

Blogs:
Historic Environment Scotland
Historic Scotland Chain Mail
Stirling Castle
Edinburgh Castle
Climate Change

For further information:

Ali George
Historic Environment Scotland Media Office
Direct Line: 0131 668 8714
Mobile: 07583 018 790
ali.george@hes.scot

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

###

Subscribe to Notifications