it would be unwise to forget the local public in all this and two of the major criticisms of 2009 from the locals was that only Edinburgh was involved and the whole event was hi-jacked by those outwith Scotland right from the outset.
So true.
Feelings are still raw among many Scots over the 2009 Edinburgh gathering fiasco.
For example the refusal by the organiser to allow Scottish based clan and family societies to host our visitors and instead so-called clan tents were imposed, staffed by overseas groups.
A hefty charge was levied on people who wanted to participate in the clan march along public streets. I have never yet paid for the privilege of taking part in a clan march, either in Scotland or USA. As some of you may recall I did my own kilted march along the Edinburgh route at no cost on a different day.
Despite the rip off prices the show was very poor compared to some of Scotland's regular highland games such as Aboyne and North Berwick for example, and worse still, the hard working Scottish based performers and the tradesmen who set it all up were never paid because the organiser liquidated the gathering company.
I could go on but there is no point in re-hashing old sores.
The last so-called "clan gathering" in 2009 left such a bad taste that few Scots would welcome another. Time is a great healer so it could happen again but there needs to be the will in Scotland to make it happen and it needs to be organised by the Scots Clans.
Last edited by cessna152towser; 28th March 13 at 05:48 AM.
Regional Director for Scotland for Clan Cunningham International, and a Scottish Armiger.
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