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Clan Currie Society Announces Games Schedule for 2005 Selected As Honored Clan for 2005 Clanjamfry Scottish Festival The Clan Currie Society today announced their preliminary schedule for Scottish games and festivals for 2005. Society members and friends are cordially invited to meet up with fellow Clansfolk at the following events: June 4, 2005 – Bonnie Brae Scottish Games – Millington, NJ
Clan Currie returns to the popular Bonnie Brae Scottish Games on Saturday, June 4. The games will be held at Bonnie Brae School in Millington, New Jersey. “Clan Currie is thrilled to be returning to Bonnie Brae” said Robert Currie, President of the Clan Currie Society. "We think of Bonnie Brae as our clan’s home games in the United States. Our only wish for the day is that the sunshine returns after a two year absence”. Currie was part of the original planning committee for the first Bonnie Brae Games and served as Director of Piping and Drumming until 1992. In recognition of his efforts in establishing the games, he was named Honorary Chieftain for the 1993 gathering. Produced by East of the Hebrides Entertainments, the games will feature traditional piping, highland dance, and athletic competitions. For further information and tickets, contact East of the Hebrides Entertainments at (610) 825-7268, or visit their website at www.eohebrides.com. July 7-10, 2005 – Grandfather Mountain Highland Games – Linville, North Carolina
Clan Currie makes their third visit to the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and Gathering of Scottish Clans to help celebrate the Gathering’s 50th anniversary. Clan Currie made their first appearance at the games in 1994. The Grandfather Games are considered America’s grandest highland games because the spectacular mountain setting is so reminiscent of Scotland. The deep blue peaks of 6,000-foot Grandfather Mountain tower above a grassy green meadow ringed by 170 red, blue, yellow and green striped tents. The color is augmented by thousands of Scots luxuriously costumed in tartan plaids, and the energy is amplified by the sounds of bagpipes and kettle drums echoing across the moor. For more information phone 828-733-1333 or visit online at www.gmhg.org. For lodging and other travel information, contact North Carolina High Country Host at 800-438-7500 or www.mountainsofnc.com. August 6, 2005 – Brodick Highland Games – Isle of Arran, Scotland
Clan Currie returns to the Brodick Games after a long absence. Held at Ormidale Park under the magnificent peak of Goatfell, this is an ideal setting for traditional highland games. Events include traditional heavy athletics, running, solo piping, and highland dancing. Program commences at 1:30 pm. For additional information, contact Games Secretary, Stewart Clark, telephone +01770 600849. August 20, 2005 – Bute Highland Games – Rothesay, Isle of Bute, Scotland The Society made their fist visit to the Bute Games in 2003. According to Currie, “we enjoyed a wonderful homecoming on Bute during our first visit and were quick to return again in 2004. We are now considering hosting an international clan gathering on Bute to coincide with the 2006 games. The island is home to many significant MacMhuirich/Currie farms and estates, including Balliecurrie farm and the lands formerly known as Balilone and Achmor – two sixteenth century estates overlooking Loch Fad.” Curries from throughout the region are cordially invited to attend the games and visit with Alan and Avril Currie of West Lothian, Scotland who will serve a host and hostess for the gatherings. For additional information on the Bute Games contact the Rothesay Tourism Office at +01700 502151.
September 23-25, 2005 – Clanjamfry Scottish Festival – Memphis, Tennessee The Clan Currie Society makes their third appearance at the annual Clanjamfry Scottish Festival in Memphis, Tennessee as the 2005 Honored Clan. The festival will be held on the grounds of the Evergreen Presbyterian Church in the Vollentine-Evergreen historic district neighborhood in midtown Memphis. Produced as a fundraiser for the Church’s Recreation Outreach Ministry, the popular festival will feature traditional piping, highland dance, athletics, as well as a whole host other music and craft demonstrations. There will also be children’s events and a Kirking of the Tartans worship service on Sunday, September 25. For further information and tickets, visit the Clanjamfry website at www.clanjamfrymemphis.org.
October 22-23, 2005 – Richmond Highland Games & Celtic Festival – Richmond, Virginia Clan Currie makes its second visit to the Richmond Highland Games and Celtic Festival this October. As with last year’s event, Clan Currie is the proud sponsor of the Games’ “Harpist of the day” competition. The 2005 event will again feature Celtic entertainment on two stages, with continuous live performances. The Celtic Harp competition will take place on Sunday, October 23. Additional competitions are scheduled for highland dance and fiddle. For advance ticket locations and information, call (804) 569-3200 or visit: www.richmondceltic.com. About Scottish Highland Games The origins of Highland Games in Scotland can be traced back many hundreds of years. King Malcolm is thought to have begun the Royal Association with Highland Games at Braemar during the 11th Century. Clan Chieftains used the Games to recruit staff – winners of races made excellent couriers while winners of strength events made fine bodyguards and soldiers. Events were developed to test for strength, stamina, accuracy and agility using the elements and materials of their day-to-day life. The caber toss, stone putt, hammer throw, weight lift, sheaf toss, archery, wrestling, foot races up steep hills and Highland Dancing all combined to tax the endurance and strength of the competitors. While many of the events have become more sophisticated and refined over the centuries, they retain the essence and flavor of the ancient days. About The Clan Currie Society The Clan Currie Society, an international, non-profit cultural and educational organization, is active in preserving and promoting highland heritage at Scottish Games, ethnic festivals, as well as community groups and classrooms. The Society has over 2,000 members worldwide. The organization started as a family name society in Glasgow, Scotland in 1959 to further the knowledge and appreciation of the MacMhuirich bardic dynasty. The MacMhuirichs served for over 700 years as professional poets to the Lords of the Isles and later to the MacDonalds of Clanranald. The Red Book of Clanranald, one of Gaelic Scotland’s literary treasures, was penned by successive generations of the MacMhuirich family. Today, the organization is a leading American-based foundation that focuses on celebrating the Scots-Gaelic origins of the Currie name as well as producing outstanding programs and events to honor Scotland’s rich culture and ancestry. The Clan Currie Society also hosts the annual National Tartan Day celebration at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. The Society also produces a number of highly successful concerts featuring Scottish music and Gaelic poetry readings. Clan Currie is now venturing into the field of documentary filmmaking with a concentration on Scottish themes.
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