Julie and I had the privilege of attending the International Gathering 2009 in Edinburgh, Scotland on 25 & 26 July and for those of us who love our Scots heritage, it was a splendid event!

Over thirty thousand people from all over the world attended the two-day event. The Gathering was well organized and any minor problems that may have occurred went unnoticed. The Holyrood Palace grounds provided ample room for the music, clan tents, athletic contests, pipe bands, and vendors. Even though The Gathering was a large event, it seemed spacious and friendly. The concession lines were short and moved quickly. Music, dancing, food, and fellowship were everywhere. The weather was as close to perfect as it gets in Scotland with plenty of sunshine to warm the spirits.

The Gathering was historic because it provided a place and opportunity for all clans and their chieftains to assemble. The Clan Chieftains, all 125 of them, were presented to the Scottish Parliament for the first time in over 200 years.

Margaret & Roy Colquhoun, and George Kilpatrick, the incoming chairman, staffed the Clan Colquhoun tent. Our Chieftain, Sir Malcolm Colquhoun, his wife, Lady Katherine, and his two sons, Patrick and Fergus were also at the tent, as was, Charlotte, Patrick’s fiancé.

His Royal Highness Prince Charles, heir to the British Crown, arrived at around 9:30 a.m. on Saturday and greeted each Clan Chieftain individually. Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Rothesay, graciously moved down the receiving line stopping to shake hands and chat with each Clan Chief. The Royal couple seemed relaxed and very friendly.

Clan Colquoun of the UK held it annual meeting late that afternoon and George Kilpatrick was elected Chairman to succeed, Roy Colquhoun, who has done an excellent job as chairman these last many years. Also discussed at the meeting were the ongoing negotiations with the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park Authority about establishing a Clan Colquhoun museum to be located in the former visitor’s center in Luss. The prospects of such a museum excited all members attending the annual general meeting and Sir Malcolm pledged financial support for the endeavor.

The Parade of Clans up the Royal Mile from Holyrood Palace to Edinburgh Castle was the highlight of The Gathering. At six o’clock Saturday evening, Clan members lined up six abreast for the march. Clan Colquhoun was near the front of the parade behind only two other clans and the Canadian Massed Pipes & Drums. Leading Clan Colquhoun was Sir Malcolm and his family, followed by George Kilpatrick and another gentleman carrying clan banners, and a few more lines of Colquhouns.

Over eight thousand clansmen were in the parade, which was viewed by over twenty thousand spectators lining the parade route and hanging out of windows. There were video cameras, flash cameras, and TV cameras lining the streets as we passed by. Clan members waved to the cheers and shouts of excitement as the Canadian Pipe Band started tune after tune. The Parade of Clans was quite thrilling!

Aisling’s Children – Tales of the Homecoming, a pageant about Scot families scattered across the globe, followed the parade. The story begins with the Declaration of Arbroath followed by historical events that changed Scotland and the world up to the present day. The story was well told and touched all who had come from Australia, America, or other countries whose history contains the noble deeds of Scottish immigrants.

The following Monday, 27 July, we joined other clan members in Luss for a tour of the Clan Lands, the interior of Rossdhu and its castle ruins, St. Mary’s Chapel, and Luss Parish Church. Even though Rossdhu is now home to the Loch Lomond Golf Club, the magnificent structure still contains many family relics and portraits. Roy Colquhoun conducted most of the day’s tours and proved to be a font of information about clan history.

A Clan Colquhoun gathering is held every year in conjunction with the Luss Games and our clan again proudly hosted a tent in Luss even though the Luss Games overlapped with The International Gathering on Sunday, 26 July. The International Gathering received good reviews and there is talk of holding an International Gathering every fourth year. Sterling has been mentioned as a possible future location.

We had a marvelous time and a wonderful stay in our ancestral homeland. This was our first trip back to Scotland in several years, but now we can’t wait to return – and very soon we will.

~ Patrick Calhoun
Little Rock, Arkansas