1st Annual St Louis Scottish Games and Cultural Festival

The 1st St. Louis Missouri, USA Scottish Games were smashing.

Friday night the Clans gathered in Forest Park for the torch lighting and gathering.  From a small cluster of trees on the fringe of a clearing, shrouded in mist, stepped out each Clan representative announcing their presence at the games. This was followed by a grand Ceilidh. The weather was pure Scottish, cool  and damp.

Saturday was even more so. Early morning drizzle turned into a regular down pour by afternoon. It was grand, almost like being in Scotland. Exhibits, heavy sports, vendors of all sorts (my favorites were the wine merchants), dancers, sheep dogs, re-enactors, and of course the ever-present bagpipes.  We met several new members of the Clan Hannay and hope to have them officially in the Clan soon. True, 8 yards of damp tartan does get a bit heavy after a while but the warmth of the camaraderie more than makes up for it.

The guest of honor was Clan Chief Dugald MacTavish of Dunardry, 26th Lineal Chief of Clan MacTamhais.  Our tent was well located in the center of Clan row, with a grand view of  all the activity. We had a special exhibit of our own that attracted much attention. Chained down and sedated with 12 year Scotch was the rare and elusive "Lowland Strip-Tailed Haggis"; many wee barons and lassies stared on in amazement. Of course by that time my brother, Dennis and I were a bit sedated due to the many toasts to the Haggis and his to us, which had been going on all morning.

The plans are in work for next year and despite our behavior the committee has invited us to return, which we would have done anyway. So there you are and if by chance you find yourself in St. Louis next year give and call and come to the games.  

Larry and Denny Hanna of Loch Sherwood