IF your name is MacDonald, Stewart, MacRae, Urquhart or Colquhoun you should be celebrating because your clan is among the successful applicants for grants to help pay for clan events in 2019.
A total of 14 clan and community events across nine local authorities have been told they will receive a share of £52,000 funding through the Scottish Clan Event Fund.
The 2019 grants include £4740 for the Hawick Reivers Festival which will bring mid-16th century society to life in the Scottish Borders, and £5000 for the Tricentenary Commemoration of the Battle of Glenshiel in the Highlands.
Also supported are the International Gatherings of the Clans MacRae, Stewart, MacAulay, Ewing, Urquhart, Munro, MacDougall and Colquhoun.
The Scottish Clan Event Fund supports the growth of clan events across Scotland and helps to fund clan gatherings, games and historical re-enactments as well as walks and tours, ceilidhs and festivals.
For the 11 events funded in 2018, Visit Scotland estimate 47% of those attending were international visitors and the net economic impact was around £1 million.
Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop annoiucned the awards yesterday, saying: “Scotland’s rich history, heritage and culture appeals to visitors around the world and with up to 50m people globally claiming Scottish ancestry, we know our clans are a huge draw for tourists.
“The Scottish Clan Event Fund is helping to build on the benefits of the ‘Outlander effect’, and encouraging international visitors with clan connections to visit Scotland, while also involving people in the local
communities.
“From the Highlands to Argyll and down to the Borders, this year’s clans and families events are delving into more areas than ever and will help continue to promote Scotland as a must-visit destination.”
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