Ancestral Tourism - Latest News June 2009
Cowalfest encourages visitors to walk in the footsteps of their ancestors
linked to Cowal and the buildings associated with them; local history; emigration; links to relevant online research resources, and local information sources including archives, records offices and family history societies. In a further development, walks in the Cowalfest programme that feature places of ancestral interest will be marked with a special symbol, allowing visitors to easily identify the walks that most closely relate to their own particular interest. Dorothy Bruce, Vice Chair of the Cowalfest organising committee says, ‘Cowalfest in 2009 will be a very special festival, reflecting our rich heritage, drawing on the peninsula’s fascinating history, telling of links with Burns, celebrating our outstanding and innovative contributions to the world, highlighting global links, remembering ancestors who left these shores in search of new challenges and new lives. Whether visitors are celebrating their Scottish roots, are a frequent visitor, or have never visited before, Cowalfest will welcome them home’. Organisers are also keen that the local tourism trade uses the information on the site as part of its own marketing effort. ‘It’s the first time this type of information has been pulled together in this way in Cowal, and hopefully it will make tourism businesses more aware of the great strengths the area has so that they can go out and sell the stories to visitors,’ Dorothy added. Cowalfest takes place from 9th – 18th October 2009. Further information from www.cowalfest.org Update from the ScotlandsPeople Centre
At each of the events there will be a stand wherevisitors will be able to:
Famous Scots Exhibition - Shirley Manson Therock singer and actress Shirley Manson is the latest Famous Scot to feature in theyear- long exhibition at ScotlandsPeople Centre. From now until 17th July visitorscanfind out lots more aboutShirley's family history.The exhibition isfree and is open Monday to Friday, 9am and 4.30pm. Therewill also bespecial weekday evening opening on 23rd June and 7th July, 6.30pm – 9pm. On these dates the exhibition will close at 4.30pm and re-open at 6.30pm. Additional dates may be added, so please check the web site http://scotlandspeoplehub.gov.uk for updates. New Interactive Beginners Guide A new interactive guide on theScotlandsPeople Centre website has been launched. The guide consists of a slideshow of images introducing aspects of family history research and is ideal for beginners.To see an interactive demonstration of how to carry out family history research, go to http://www.scotlandspeoplehub.gov.uk/Interactive/interactive-experience.html Family History Summer Fest at Hawick Heritage Hub
Duns (6th July from 5pm to 7pm), Peebles (14th July from 4pm to 7pm), Kelso (15th July from 4pm to 7pm) and Eyemouth (16th July from 2pm to 6pm). Kristian Pedersen, the Heritage Hub’s Ancestral Tourism Worker, is also available to give talks and surgeries on family and local history at events and meetings.
In addition, the Heritage Hub is hosting a number of research visits throughout the summer months for family clans and associations including the Turnbulls, Scotts and Elliots. To complement the surgeries and research visits, a new exhibition about Border Family Names opens on 1st July at the Heritage Hub and runs till 25th August. Featuring fact sheets on some well known local surnames as well as privileged access to family items and documents from the archive, this new exhibition provides a chance to learn about local people from the past - an example being the story of the Police Force career of an Armstrong man revealed through old documents from Kelso. Further information from www.heartofhawick.co.uk/heritagehub North East Clan Fortnight and Aberdeen’s Tartan Day
For booking and ticketing information go to www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/homecoming International Genealogy Festival at University of Strathclyde
including stands, exhibitions, Ask the Expert sessions, Family History workshops, lectures on family history topics, library and archive visits, historic walks plus whisky tasting, a comedy night and a ceilidh. A special feature is two Celebrity Genealogy recordings by BBC Radio Scotland before a live audience – the subjects are newscaster Gavin Esler and singer/songwriter/composer Dougie MacLean. This will be an ideal event for anyone of Scots ancestry, those have relatives who moved or now live abroad and are interested in tracing roots in Scotland, or anyone who loves the place and the people. More information, events listing and online ticket sales at: www.strath.ac.uk/homecomingscotland e-mail: homecomingscotland@strath.ac.uk Tel: 0141 548 4147 And don't forget…… The University of Strathclyde has a range of genealogy courses from introductory daytime and evening up to professional postgraduate qualifications. Agenda for Diaspora Conference Announced
Evening Castle Tour with Sir Lachlan Maclean
These will be small group tours and will include parts of the private side of the castle. The ticket price of £20 includes the tour, refreshments plus a guidebook. Further information from www.duartcastle.com The Hidden Jewel
The Hidden Jewel drama follows the fortunes of the Brooch through the ages – from its seizure in 1306 and on through dangerous times of sieges and loss through the centuries. The Hidden Jewel will be performed over 7 nights at Dunollie, Oban, from 17th to 23rd July 2009, as part of the Year of Homecoming programme. Tickets are available online at www.dunollie.org The theatre performances are at the heart of a whole week of events at Dunollie, which include the presentation of a new Clan flag by the US Clan society and a formal dinner hosted by the Clan Chief. New Pipe March celebrates 50th anniversary Homecoming for Clan Currie Society
Robert Currie, president of the Society, said, ‘We are so excited to have been able to commission one of the top pipers in the world, Stuart Samson MBE, to compose “The Currie Tartan” for the 50th anniversary of the Currie Clan Society – and I’m delighted that it will also mark our visit to The Gathering in this Year of Homecoming. Stuart is very well known and well respected in the piping world, having achieved some of the highest accolades in the piping world’. ‘I would like to extend a very warm invitation to all Curries, wherever they may be, to join us in Edinburgh at The Gathering on 25 and 26 July. Whatever the spelling of your name - Currie, Curry, McMhuirich, MacMureach, MacVurich or another derivative - if you are part of our clan network, we’d love to hear from you. And if you are not able to come to Edinburgh, please get in touch through our website on www.clancurrie.com to find out more and register for updates on all of our activities.’ Discover your Ancestors at Blair Castle
Her talk will explore different themes around the four clans including where they lived in the local area, the marriages and alliances they made and information about notable individuals. There will also be a special opportunity to view original maps and documents relating to the clans that are not normally on public display. The Clans display in the Castle’s Banvie Hall will include displays of Clan tartans, maps and the wild man of Atholl from the Murray coat of arms. To complete the family history theme, visitors will be treated to live costumed performances of The Stewarts by Historic Scotland throughout the day. Further information from www.blair-castle.co.uk Homecoming Pass
Passes can be used until 30th September 2009 and are valid for 7 consecutive days. 20% commission is offered on all sales. Passes are supplied on a ‘sale or return’ basis, with no payment required until the passes expire, making them ideal for groups or FITs. An added benefit to visitors is that the pass will give ‘fast-track’ entry at many of the larger attractions including Edinburgh and Stirling Castles. More information from Donna Laidlaw, Historic Scotland Travel Trade Sales Manager, hs.explorer@scotland.gsi.gov.uk Schools involved in Island Emigrants Conference
Book token prizes will be awarded to the winning entries by Scottish Government Minister Mike Russell - eligible projects include a painting, poem, or short essay or report on the theme of emigration – by Scottish Government Minister Mike Russell on the final day of the conference. The competition is open to children in the Outer Hebrides on either an individual or group basis, and separate prizes will be given for primary and secondary school children. The closing date is 31 August. . The conference will be attended by a mixture of academic experts, local people, and returning emigrant families from places such as Canada, the United States, and Patagonia. As well as the more formal sessions, there will be films of emigration, a ceilidh, a major exhibition put together by internationally-renowned genealogist Bill Lawson, plus a visit to places in Harris from which emigrants left. Further information from www.theislandsbooktrust.com Ancestral information added to Scotland.org website The Scottish Government’s online gateway to Scotland, www.scotland.org, has been enhanced by the addition of a new page on ancestry. The page, which aims to aid people researching their Scottish roots and potential ancestral tourists alike, contains ancestry features, information on ancestral Homecoming events, and links to further sources of help and information. Check out the new page at www.scotland.org/homecoming2009/ancestry/ My Scottish Heritage My Scottish Heritage is a new family history research company set up by Charles Currie, following 20 years in the tourism and heritage industry with the area tourist boards, VisitScotland and the National Trust for Scotland. Charles says, ‘While I was working on the promotion of Culloden Battlefield I wondered whether any of my ancestors had fought at the battle and this led me to research my Isle of Arran and isle of Tiree family trees. The resulting family trees led me to follow my ancestors around Scotland and abroad to Canada, America, Australia and New Zealand’. ‘I now have brought my professional experience in the history and geography of Scotland to My Scottish Heritage to make finding your family more than just a list of names’. The company can help people find out more about their family, who they were, how and where they lived and facts about their lives and those of the communities in which they lived. More information from www.myscottishheritage.co.uk Mapping Scotland’s Heritage Paths The National Library of Scotland (NLS) has launched a new website on heritage paths in Scotland. The site documents heritage paths with information about their history and heritage value, surveys of the route, photographs and maps. The website showsheritage paths ascoloured overlays using NLS historical mapsto create dynamic Google 'mash-ups.' View the website at www.heritagepaths.co.uk Gunnister Man: A Life Reconstructed
At a conference on 19th September, speakers will explore theories surrounding the Gunnister man: who was he?; how did he die?; why was he buried in a bog? Historians will consider the wider context of life in the north 300 years ago and curators from Shetland Museum will explain the process of creating accurate replicas of the items found. Further information from www.shetlandmuseumandarchives.org.uk Tourism Intelligence Scotland
meet increasing customer expectations. The project aims to encourage companies to enhance their business and improve the visitor experience by better capture andutilisation of customer feedback, and includes a practical guide, a dedicated web space with templates and a series of workshops which are being delivered across Scotland. ‘Knowing Our Markets….Scotland’s Visitors’ looks at how well we really know our visitors and helps businessesunderstand who comes to Scotland and why. It looks at how to get the basics right, how to attract the right visitors for your businessand how to market to them. Both guides are available via www.tourism-intelligence.co.uk |
