Strath of Kildonan Commemorating a time of upheaval (Truncated)

Herald Scotland ^ | Saturday 17 August 2013

[ConorMacNessa]

Standing in a park overlooking the east Sutherland village of Helmsdale, a statue depicts a young family from the 19th century.

The father is looking out to the North Sea, while the mother faces inland - casting a final glance at her beloved Strath of Kildonan.

The Emigrants is a tribute to the thousands of Highlanders who sailed to the New World after being evicted from their homes during the Clearances in the 19th century.

Between 1807 and 1820, approximately 2000 people were removed from their homes in Kildonan to make way for more profitable sheep farming. These traumatic and life-changing events are still passionately talked about and remembered by descendants.

Two hundred years on from this turbulent period of history, Timespan Museum and Arts Centre in Helmsdale is marking the bi-centenary of the Kildonan Clearances with a Translocation Festival which will see the locals and the diaspora uniting in a series of events.

The festival is as much a celebration of the human spirit as it is a commemoration - from a service in the tiny Kildonan church where the evicted heard their final sermon before leaving the strath, to sending out candles from Helmsdale harbour, bearing the names of the evicted who had no choice but to set sail for Canada on August 12, 1813.

[ConorMacNessa]

Full title: "Strath of Kildonan Commemorating a time of upheaval, when families were robbed of their land and livelihood"

Not Pipes and Drums, but of interest to any who share Scottish Descent.



"Dia shábháil ar fad anseo!"

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[ConorMacNessa]

Scotland Ping!

"Scotland The Brave"
Black Watch Pipes And Drums
(Click)



The Pipes and Drums of the Black Watch 3rd Battalion, The Royal Regiments of Scotland and The Band of the Scots Guards

Please FReepmail me if you would like to be admitted to or released from the Pipes and Drums of Scotland Ping List.

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[Hugh the Scot]

Please add me to the list.

[omega4412]

As the song BORN BEYOND ON THE BORDER puts it

Some set sail for Africa with bibles in their hands
Some were forced to the Colonies to build a new Heartland
Even those on the work of the Lord could scarce forbear to weep
But the bitterest tears were shed by those who made way for the sheep

Chorus:
Though were born beyond the border don't say we don't belong
We've a legacy of Bruce and Wallace too
We're the children of the Clearances, the wanderers old and young
And the heart and soul of Scotland just like you

Gaberlunzie does a nice version of this.

[ConorMacNessa]

Music Of Scotland!

"Born Beyond The Border"
Gaberlunzie
(Click)



The Pipes and Drums of the Black Watch 3rd Battalion, The Royal Regiments of Scotland and The Band of the Scots Guards

Please FReepmail me if you would like to be admitted to or released from the Pipes and Drums of Scotland Ping List.

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[ConorMacNessa]

You're on, Friend!



"Dia shábháil ar fad anseo!"

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[WildHighlander57]

Conor,

Could you add me to the list?

Many thanks,

WildHighlander57

[ConorMacNessa]

Done, Friend, and well met!



"Dia shábháil ar fad anseo!"

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[Tainan]

Excellent timing. Its early Sunday afternoon here and my chores for the day are finished. The wife has just returned from church, food is cooking and I'm just about to open a bottle of Glengoyne for a wee dram.

Sláinte Mhath!...and for those teetotalers among the crowd...Cheers!

[ConorMacNessa]

Excellent, Tainan!

Did I mention to you that on our trip from Clark to Taipei in 1963 we lost an engine and landed at Tainan AFB? We were shuttled to the NCO Club for lunch and back to the plane a couple hours later.

A CAT DC-6 - If I recall, CAT was a CIA surrogate.



"Dia shábháil ar fad anseo!"

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)