Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th of July 2009

Transcription

1 September 2007 Edition Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th of July 2009 The Gathering 2009 will take the form of an international clan gathering and the largest highland games ever held in Scotland, and will be one of the key events of Homecoming Scotland. It is estimated that there will be over 80 clan tents, with around 7500 clan and Scottish association members from around the world. The highland games will attract a further 30,000 people over the two days. It will showcase competitors from all disciplines that constitute a traditional highland games such as piping, dancing, and heavy athletics. Top quality vendors of Scottish produce, genealogists, children's entertainment and contemporary musicians will all be present. The special clan ceremony will take the form of a clan parade on the Royal Mile culminating in a unique clan pageant on the magnificent esplanade of Edinburgh Castle. Over the next two years The Gathering 2009 team will appear at select highland games and Scottish festivals around the world promoting the event. If you really want to experience the magic of an historic clan gathering and memorable highland games set in the Royal Park in the Capital of Scotland then register your details here. We will be sending out regular newsletters about the event and the website will provide all the up to date information when it is fully up and running at the end of June. In the meantime if you would like to contact us please us at: info@thegathering2009.com. Dear Members, As some of you may have all noticed the second quarter newsletter for April-June was never sent out. This is due greatly to the fact that not much clan activity was accomplished or reported during this period. It is my hope that this does not mean you all are losing interest in the Clan. If this is the case please me with your thoughts and or suggestions. Sandie and I could use your help, as we do not want this to become the Sandie and Raymond Clan Newsletter. Please remember that the Newsletter is your newsletter as well and hearing from you is what we need to keep putting out a newsletter that is of interest and records our clan activities. The website is still up, but could use some new blood in the way of updates and additions from members. Please take part and help us make it what you want to see. My address is Raymond@clanmuirhead.com

2 From Our Members From: Connie Frandson Sent: Saturday, August 18, :48 PM Subject: Denver Festival Last weekend we attended the 44th Annual Colorado Scottish Festival and Rocky Mountain Highland Games in Denver, CO. Only 13 of our family was able to come this year due to new jobs, etc., but we had a great time. We missed having Jan Muirhead there this year, but I received a letter from her with pictures, etc. from Scotland, and she said she is planning on attending Estes Park's Festival. I'm excited to report that I'm pretty sure we will have two separate individuals join the Muirhead Clan Society. I have visited with one of them the last two years at Denver, but I'm pretty sure he will join this year. Another individual was very excited to find a Muirhead tent at the festival. She wants me to write to her and give her some more written information. I really think she will join too. I have attached a couple pictures of this year's festival. Five of our family also participated in the Fur Trade Days Parade here in Chadron. I decorated a float with a Celtic theme. We wore our tartan and walked along side the float that carried a celtic band and people from other clans. It was fun and I had a good time making the celtic decorations. We can t do this ourselves. Please, if you have something to put into the next edition of the Dair Roun, let us know! You can it to our Chief Elect at raymondktj@msn.com or our Clan Secretary at Isobael@gmail.com Thanks!!

3 Clan Muirhead and Clan Hunter Remember September 9, 1513 Among some 10,000 dead on the Field of Flodden Sir John Muirhead, Laird and chief of Clan Muirhead and over 200 Muirhead, kith, kin. So too was John Hunter Chief of Clan Hunter and many of his name. We remember our clansmen one and all today, September 9, 2007 Flodden Field Revisited On May 22, 2001, Four hundred eighty years after one of the most disastrous battles in Scottish history, I, a descendant of the once Muirhead Clan and President of the Muirhead Clan Society, visited the battlegrounds that would forever change Muirhead/Morehead History. On that day in our family history I walked on sacred ground where Scottish King, Nobles and Kinsman alike died, many of whom are still there to this day covered by a blanket of earth and the new flowers of the English Field called Flodden at Branxton Moor. It is said by the locals around the fields of Flodden which are now livestock grazing fields, that if when plowed, by law the grounds may not be plowed deeper than the depth of a plow blade to limit and prevent the unearthing of human remains. It has been estimated the majority of the remains of King James IV's great Scottish force still lie where the fell on that most disastrous day. The King of Scotland was dead along with it is estimated over 9,000 of his loyal subjects, among them was almost the entire ruling class of his country. I have read much about this battle and yet I know so little, for much of what was written was from the English side. Yet of all that has been written I most favor Sir Walter Scott's brief but poignant romantic account. Not for its historical or fact filled content but his ability through his use of words to project the reader into the company of the honored warrior spirits and carry the reader through the events of one of Scotland's most fatal days. I have stood at Flodden Ridge where James and his army stood and beheld through Scott's lines and verses of "Marimon" and his quoted ballad of "The Laird of Muirhead" the grand spectacle of the impending storm of Flodden Field on that September afternoon. Where two massive forces like mighty waves crashed together and many a brave men went down lost forever in the undertow of the death waves that surged back and forth in such shortness of time that gray, wet and stormy gloom. From the thunderous cannon blasts and battle cries, to steel striking steel, the cracking snap of wood in spear and pike and the crushing of armor under swords, hammers and axes blow, yet still through it all the screams and cries of fallen horse and dying men filled the air in mournful howl and wail that relentlessly pierced the air like daggers through one's ears to the depth of one's heart. Again and again I envisioned the two forces struck head on and still more lives were cast upon an already blood soaked ground. Still the deadly swell rushed and crashed in and all around the uncharitable masses of dead and would be dead at the foot of this bloodied hill.

4 There are many ways to die and many the heart of man could and did conceive by both sides that day. Yet to the Scots, there be only one way to live and that is free or dies in the attempt to be. Now night chases day from the crimson heath and I find some solace in the coming of pending night that will cover the carnage that is spread out before my tear filled eyes in a sea of death under still darker tormented, weeping skies. Scotland's center host of many a plumed crests of chieftains bore and but one of two hundred or more of his own name was that of the chief of the Clan Muirhead wore, where with King and others broke from crest to meet at last their final tidal force of England's tempest thunderous roar. Charging down from Royal Standard post they crashed together with such force, it seemed all would soon cross through Death's door. Both sides relentlessly seeking the others standard through blood and gore and through it all still the Royal Scottish Standard flew on to near end of light there upon the bloodied heath of Branxton moor. Around their Monarch they made a valiant last stand, gallant Scots from many a clan formed a sacred ring around their doomed King, for they sealed with their blood their fate and honor on Flodden that day. No more the coming of the dawn they would see, they who bore the weight of Scottish Crown with King to their last breath and then no more. Flowers of Scotland's pride withered and died in the death vale mist that descended with the dying moans now shrouded in silence of the cold wet dead of night. No folly was this where bleeds and dies some ten thousand or more of Scotland's pride. Chiefs, Knights, Nobles and commoner a many one, not Highlanders, not Lowlanders, but all true Scotsman around their King lay. They fought for honors of country and freedoms name, nearly all were lost that day on the fields of Flodden where some would later say around their King lie in lifeless sacred ring, and green Flodden field now plaid in crimson red and will forever to Scotland remain. So there on the 22nd of May I stood upon the Crest of Flodden ridge and I Proclaim in Muirhead name that the Muirhead Clan will proudly rise and gather once again, For Muirhead Chieftain, two hundred clansmen and over nine thousand more Scots did not die in vain, nearly forgotten there upon Flodden Plain. Today I wear the Muirhead Tartan bold red and green, the red for the bold courage on the many fields of green for ancient homelands to make free, and in remembrance of our fallen chief is the Argent so white of his shield, the blue in the bend Azure, and yellow of gold of three acorns he earned with honor so long ago. Let this wee story go out to all the lands of man, the Muirhead Clan is a gathering once again. Never to be forgotten again are those that were lost in Scotland's past. Though each of us today descends of our ancestors past, they with honor who died will be remembered always, for they gather and their spirits walk at our sides into our Clans new day. Chev. Raymond L. Morehead, KTJ President, Chief Elect, Muirhead/Morehead Clan Society

5 From Laura Muirhead In July, Janice Muirhead and Laura Muirhead-Matthew attended the Clan Gathering with Clan Hunter at Hunterston Castle near West Kilbride, Scotland. Due to the Link of Friendship Clan Muirhead Society has with Clan Hunter, Clan Chief Madame Pauline Hunter has been gracious enough to invite all members of Clan Muirhead to the last two Clan Gatherings, the first in 2004 and then again this year. The Gathering this year was particularly significant, as Clan Hunter celebrated its 900 th Anniversary. In honor of this momentous occasion, our Clan Chief Elect, Raymond Morehead, arranged to give Clan Hunter a Red Oak tree to be planted on the grounds of Hunterston Castle. Our Clan Chief had prepared a few words to be read at the ceremony, as well as a presentation of a beautiful plaque to accompany the tree. Madame Pauline had already had the tree planted, and she advised us she would keep the plaque inside Hunterston Castle in the glass enclosed case where she keeps other Clan Muirhead gifts and memorabilia. Madame Pauline Hunter is truly a remarkable hostess. We cannot thank her enough for the kindness that she has always extended to Clan Muirhead. She told the members of Clan Hunter that Clan Muirhead no longer has an ancestral home in Scotland, so she wants our members to feel like they have a place to come to in Scotland. Robert Hunter, personal Standard Bearer to Clan Chief Madame Pauline Hunter, Janice Muirhead, Madame Pauline Hunter, Laura Muirhead-Matthew, standing in front of the Red Oak Tree given to Clan Hunter. The Gathering lasted from Friday night until about noon on Sunday. The events on Friday included a dinner and then a special storytelling session that was quite humorous and involved some audience participation. Saturday was the presentation ceremony and the official welcoming to the Gathering. In the afternoon, there was a display of ancient weapons, armour and other battle accoutrements. The Masonic Lodge in West Kilbride was the site for the Saturday night dinner and ceilidh, which was quite enjoyable. The food was delicious and the band entertained us with some classic Scottish folks songs. This year, we were unable to attend the events on Sunday, but there was to be entertainment by a Pipe band as well as Highland dancers. We definitely enjoyed the fun and fellowship we had with Clan Hunter members.