Scottish Homecoming Announced for 2014

**Jock Scot** · 25th May 10, 08:15 PM

Originally Posted by Sir William

Aw, fooey! Now I'll have to make another trip to Scotland again.

Well, its a sacrifice to be sure, but I suppose I'll have to do it.

Jock, if its not too much of a bother (and you can avoid flying stones) I'll hold you to that dram...

Sounds like a grand idea to me!

**fluter** · 26th May 10, 04:40 AM

Perhaps this time I won't be stuck in South Britain (so near, yet so far). On the other hand, there are worse situations than hanging out here with a congenial bunch of choristers:

**Livingston** · 26th May 10, 11:48 AM

Some way, some how....... Well, maybe.

**AcuteEnigma** · 26th May 10, 01:10 PM

Yikes! I cannot believe all the negative comments. How sad.

I thought the Gathering 2009 was AWESOME and I am very much looking forward to another one. I just wish it wasn't so very far in the future.

If they did it every year, they'd get lots of practice and everything would run smoothly.

This is the best news I've had all month!!!!!

**Alan H** · 26th May 10, 05:51 PM

I am amused what some of the Scottish Athletes have to say about Lord Semple. The comments were quite direct, ribald, and not flattering in the slightest.

I've never met the guy, myself, so I haven't much to add. 2014, eh? I hope I'm over there long before then.

**cessna152towser** · 27th May 10, 11:23 AM

I thought the Gathering 2009 was AWESOME and I am very much looking forward to another one

Its great to read that you returned home with such a positive experience of the gathering and of Scotland, and I hope you will return to Scotland soon, no need to wait till 2014.
However, from my perspective, living in Scotland, as Scottish Director of a clan society and secretary of a local highland games, I still believe the 2009 gathering in Edinburgh was poorly marketed in the home country and that the clan tent set up, at least as far as many lowland clans were concerned, was largely run by hosts from USA and Canada to the exclusion of willing home based members of Scottish clans and clan societies. No offence to the groups whom Jamie Sempill invited, certainly the American representatives of my family made me welcome when I visited their tent, but what was the point of labelling it a homecoming event if the people at home weren't on the tents to host you?
The cost of taking part in the clan march deterred many of us Scots who would otherwise have participated.
The bands and other entertainers, and the small companies who assembled all the necessary facilities, contributed to a positive experience, but it must be remembered that many of them never received the payments for their services which they had been promised by Jamie Sempill's company. Instead he liquidated his company and my perception is that he took all his personal wealth back to the USA with him, leaving a lot of honest Scots who gave of their time, materials and labour out of pocket.
I also felt that the activities were very limited at Edinburgh in comparison with regular Scottish highland games. I only saw one pipe band performance, not even the one I had come to see as their performance had been re-scheduled for earlier in the day at very short notice. This was a local junior band whose parents had gone to the expense of three nights accommodation in Edinburgh on the promise of a donation to the band by Jamie Sempill's company, which was never received. Nor did I see any of the heavy competitors in action. In fairness though I only attended on the Sunday afternoon and I am assured by others that there had been more going on during the Saturday.

**dfmacliam** · 4th June 10, 08:15 PM

Let's hope that the organizers consider the families at home, and welcoming the families afar... I feel that it put a bad taste in the mouth of many Scots, to be excluded by virtue of no communications with the locally based clans... I would like to see an event where the likes of Jock and Redshanks, et al, are anxiously awaiting their clans Disporia, and feeling like they are just as much about the Homecoming, as Scotland as a whole.
I would enjoy a family gathering of the Cleghorn/Claghorn/Gleghorns, and learn the family history from the locals themselves.. That would definately be an event I would hate to miss.

**Woot22** · 4th June 10, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by AcuteEnigma

Yikes! I cannot believe all the negative comments. How sad.

I thought the Gathering 2009 was AWESOME and I am very much looking forward to another one. I just wish it wasn't so very far in the future.

If they did it every year, they'd get lots of practice and everything would run smoothly.

This is the best news I've had all month!!!!!

I too am looking forward to this. But I feel the timing is great, giving me plenty of notice to start saving some pennies. Hopefully there is plenty of time to build support in Scotland for this event. It would be a shame if this event was unpopular in Scotland. In fact if it was overwhelmingly unpopular I would have to refrain from amending myself.

**Sir William** · 5th June 10, 05:19 AM

Originally Posted by Woot22

I too am looking forward to this. But I feel the timing is great, giving me plenty of notice to start saving some pennies. Hopefully there is plenty of time to build support in Scotland for this event. It would be a shame if this event was unpopular in Scotland. In fact if it was overwhelmingly unpopular I would have to refrain from amending myself.

I'm not so sure it was unpopular as that many Scots felt left out. Most that we encountered usually asked if we were there for the Gathering and it was a great conversation starter.

Some Scots, however, were not even aware of the Gathering - which I think supports my perception that many felt left out.

I'm looking forward to returning. I had a great time and met a lot of nice people. And, I got to wear my kilt in Scotland. When I visited in 2004 I was in the minority, in 2009 there were kilts and tartan sashes everywhere. It was grand!

**AcuteEnigma** · 7th June 10, 08:25 AM

Was the Scotland branch of your Clan asked to host a tent and they declined?

The Clan Sinclair tent was manned by our Chief, who lives in Scotland, and other members of the Clan Sinclair organization who live in Scotland.
Members from the USA attended, but did not host or set up.

OTOH, if the Scottish Sinclairs had not wanted to, we in the USA certainly would have hosted the tent.

Are the Scotland-based members of your clan in frequent contact with the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs? Seems like they used that organization to reach clansmen. I'm not entirely sure how they reached out to clans.

I can really only speak of my Clan's experience.