__________
Stonehaven
Wallace Day
- this year's event
will be held on Saturday 18th August 2007 -
___________________________________
www.cranntara.org.uk
Also check David Ross's web site
at
www.walkforwallace.com
Stonehaven
Wallace Day will 27 years old when it takes place on Saturday the 20th of
August 2005. The march is held the week after the main Wallace Day in his
birthplace of Elderslie in Renfrewshire. This ensures that people can attend
both events and we like to think that the Stonehaven march is second only to
the Elderslie event.
-
Why Stonehaven, 150 miles away from the Wallace lands?
Around 1297 Wallace came into the North East marching through the Mearns to
Dunnottar castle which at the time was being besieged by Scottish troops.
Wallace, a man not renowned for his patience, decided that the siege would
have to be ended. He managed under the cover of darkness to scale the castle
wall and enter the fortress once the main body of his men were in the castle
the english retreated to the Chapel the chapel was fired and they all
perished.
Up until recently the part of the wall where Wallace was reputed to have
entered the castle was called "Traitors Gate". A group of local
Nationalists eventually managed to get the name changed to Wallace's Gate as
we all know Wallace was no traitor and a greater patriot we have never known.
The Wallace day itself is one which has grown over the years and last years
event became an all day affair for the first time.
___________________________________
-
How will it be in August 2007?
There will be an event in Aberdeen on Friday 17th August at the Wallace Statue from 7.45
PM.
Following this it will be on to the nearby Rusty Nail where Ted Christopher will provide the entertainment.
(Ted Christopher released "I'm Coming Home",
a musical compilation inspired by William Wallace, featuring six tracks
written and performed by Ted Christopher, including the title track 'I'm
Coming Home'.)
On Saturday 18th August, there will be a march from the leisure centre in Stonehaven to Dunnottar
Castle, the march will leave at 2pm. The march will be followed by speaches at the castle.
In the evening the entertainment will be provided by Albannach and Gaberlunzie in Stonehaven town hall with the doors opening at 7
PM.
Tickets are priced at Ł8 and can be had on 01569 730859 or on line at www.cranntara.org.uk
-
How it was in August 2006?
organised
by Crann Tara
At 7.45 pm at the Wallace statue in Aberdeen, there
was a ceremony and wreath laying. Then it was on to the Rusty Nail for
entertainment from Ted Christopher and Shiltrum.
On 18th August, in Stonehaven
At 2 PM started the March from leisure centre to
Dunnottar Castle for speeches. In the evening in Stonehaven Town Hall from
7.30 pm it was Albannach and Gaberlunzie.
-
How was it in August 2005?
There was a wreath laying and speeches in Aberdeen at the Wallace statue on Friday 19th
August at 8.15 PM.
Following that, to the Forum in Skene Terr (less than 5 minutes walk), there was music
provided by Scottish folk duo Shiltrum and straight from their US tour Clann
An Drumma.
(Clann an Drumma provided music for the Hollywood hit
"We Were Soldiers" and this band will just blow you away to get some
idea of their music go to www.clannandrumma.com,
click on radio and
turn your speakers right up.)
The following day, on Saturday 20th, was the Stonehaven march which
went from Stonehaven up to the castle. There were speeches and wreath
laying at the castle.
Entertainment in the evening was in Stonehaven Town Hall with the doors
opening at 7 PM. Gaberlunzie
and Clann An Drumma played in the evening in the Stonehaven town hall.
Quite a few folk from outside of Scotland were attending as many
were heading to London for the culmination of Davie
Ross's walk (www.walkforwallace.com)
on Tuesday 23rd August.
Anyone wishing to help can purchase Scottish
passport covers from www.siol-nan-gaidheal.com/store/index.php.
The profit from these goes to help run the events in
Aberdeen and Stonehaven. And it also gives you a Scottish passport cover that
is not a joke item.
___________________________________
two
photos here - more to come
-
How was it in August 2004?
Great day, as usually! The 2004
Stonehaven Wallace day took place on Saturday the 28th of August 2004. The
march left Stonehaven at 2 pm to make its way to the Castle. Wreath was laid
in front of the Castle and David Ross spoke about William Wallace, greatest
son of Scotland.
At night Gaberlunzie were the
entertainment in the St Leonards Hotel.
Another site worth a look at is the www.walkforwallace.com
as it will provide up to date information on Dave Ross's plans for his walk to
London.
-
How was it in August 2003?
The
2003 was yet another sucessful year, it was however a particularly poignant
day for quite a few people there following the death of Alan Knight who had
started the Wallace Day 23 years ago and had been a regular at every Wallace
Day since if it wasnt for Alan there would be no Wallace Day.
The day started with Davie Ross doing a talk in the Royal Hotel in
Stonehaven as usual there was a good turnout for this and Davie was able to
supply more details of how plans were progressing for his walk to London in
2005. (for more click here)
The march itself was blessed with good weather up to the castle, once there
there was a change in plan from previous years, as organiser I have always
felt it unfair that many people didn’t see the wreath laying so it was
decided for this and other reasons not to enter the castle and instead have
the wreath laying near the spot where Wallace entered the castle the wreath
was jointly laid by HRH Prince Michael of Albany and David R Ross.
At night the entertainment was provided by Gaberlunzie, I was once asked
why not change the band around at night and I replied that as soon as someone
comes up with a better band than Gaberlunzie I might think about so until the
Gabs decide to call it a day they will be playing, I hope.
A change of venue was used this year with the St Leonards hotel being used
for the first time,this is a popular venue during the famous Stonehaven Folk
festval and proved a popular venue for Gaberlunzie,so another sucessful year
and we are already begining to think about 2005 and the big one,once we get
next year out the way of course.
-
How was it in summer 2002?
(see photo album)
There was a
wreath laying at the Wallace statue in Aberdeen at 7.45pm on Friday the 30th
of August followed by Jaggy Thistle in the Masada bar function room in
Rosemount.
On 31st
August, Wallace expert and noted author David R Ross started the day off with
a talk on Wallace. This was followed by the march with David and HRH Prince
Michael Stewart as the guests of honour. At night, top Scottish folk band
Gaberlunzie entertained a large crowd in the Stonehaven town hall.
-
How was it in summer 2001?
(see photo album)
(find
photos & mp3 from
Wallace Day 2002 at www.scotlandia.com)
download
the leaflet
Find
everything you need to know about Stonehaven visit
stonehaven day
