Message from the President – Nicola O’Driscoll
Welcome to the 22nd Annual Aberdeen Highland Games this year being held on International Tartan Day.
It gives me great pleasure to announce that The Chief of the Day this year is The Rt. Hon. Simon Abney-Hastings, The 15th Earl of Loudoun. The Title carries with it the right to carry the Golden Spurs (the emblems of knighthood and chivalry) at the Coronation of a British Monarch. Thus, The Earl of Loudoun is the only Australian to have an official role at the Coronation of King Charles III this year.
It is interesting to note that The Earl of Loudoun is a member of the Campbell Clan which has been so significant in the Upper Hunter as indicated by the under check of the Upper Hunter Tartan being the Campbell of Breadalbane.
Once again, there will be numerous stalls to keep you busy. The pipe bands play and compete throughout the day and provide the typical Highland soundtrack. There will be displays by Highland Dancers on the stage and the Kilted Warriors will be showing off their feats of strength with the Caber toss returning this year. There will be Clan stalls so that you can meet current Clan members and those with an interest in Scottish ancestry can follow their Clan’s history. Subject to availability, we welcome back the Australian Federation Guard – Precision Drill Team, to entertain us with their wonderful display.
We are very pleased to be holding the Ceilidh again this year. We have not held a Ceilidh since 2019 and are sure that the event, being held at the Muswellbrook RSL, will be well received. The final event in the program is the traditional Kirkin’ of the Tartan service which is held at St Marks Anglican Church in Aberdeen on Sunday morning. I would like to thank all the members of the Aberdeen Highland Games committee. We have a very hard-working committee with many years of experience.
I would like to specially thank Charles Cooke and Elizabeth Birch who work so hard throughout the year to bring this event together. To all our wonderful sponsors, events like the Aberdeen Highland Games cannot be held without you and we appreciate all the help you give us.
I invite you to be at the Aberdeen Highland Games to enjoy the day with us.