South Ayrshire Council News

Celebrating The Best Of Scotland

First Minister Alex Salmond today unveiled the nationwide programme of celebration for Homecoming Scotland 2009 that has been inspired by the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland’s national Bard, Robert Burns.

Scotland's Homecoming celebrations will run from Burns Night (January 25) to St Andrew's Day (November 30) 2009 across more than 50 locations. A programme of more than 100 events has been organised around the five main themes of the Homecoming, these are the Bard himself, Whisky, Golf, Great Scottish Minds and Innovations and Scotland's culture and heritage.

South Ayrshire will be the focal point for the Burns 250th Anniversary Weekend that starts the 2009 activities. The official Homecoming Burns Supper being held at the Brig O’ Doon in Alloway forms the central feature of the world’s biggest virtual Burns Supper Celebration, and marks a full weekend of exciting activities taking place in and around Ayr over the weekend of 24 and 25 January 2009.

South Ayrshire Council will be working closely with a wide range of partners, community and voluntary organisations and local businesses to ensure that visitors to South Ayrshire enjoy a really special welcome with a range of exciting events planned throughout the year.

South Ayrshire Council Provost Winifred Sloan said: "As the birth place of Robert Burns and the Open Golf Championship South Ayrshire attracts visitors from all over the world, and I can think of no better year to visit than in 2009, the 250th anniversary of the birth of our national Bard, when South Ayrshire will be at the epicentre of Homecoming 2009. I would encourage people who were born or grew up in this area to come home during this very special time. Likewise for Scottish people who live abroad, have Scottish ancestors, business connections or simply those who love all things Scottish make a commitment to yourself to come to South Ayrshire in 2009. Many international sports stars, inventors, artists, academics and business people are Scottish and know the importance of their heritage and culture. Come and visit South Ayrshire and we can promise you lots to see and do and a very warm welcome."

Many events are being planned across Ayrshire during Homecoming 2009 including:

• January 24 – 25 2009: Burns 250th Anniversary Weekend
• March 29 2009: Mauchline Plough Match. www.mauchlineburnsclub.com
• April 24 – 27 2009 REME Association Reunion Scotland 2009.
• May 2009: Mauchline Holy Fair. www.mauchlineburnsclub.com
• May 16 – 24 2009: Burns an ‘a’ That! 2009. www.burnsfestival.com
• June 1 – 30 August 2009 – The Whole in One Exhibition Maclaurin Galleries www.themaclaurin.org.uk
• July 13 – 18 2009: The Open Golf Championship. www.opengolf.com
• July 24 – 26 2009: Mauchline Homecoming Marquee. www.mauchlineburnsclub.com
• August 7 - 30 2009: Ayr Flower Show. www.ayrflowershow.org
• January – November 2009: North Carrick Burns Celebration. www.may-tag.com
• February – May 2009: Creative Burns. www.futuremuseum.co.uk
• May – September 2009: Ayrshire Innovators. www.visiteastayrshire.gov.uk

The programme will further develop over the coming months. For a full events listing and to register for programme updates go to www.homecomingscotland2009.com

Highlights of the events planned across Scotland include:

• A Burns 250th anniversary weekend, including a campaign to create the world's biggest virtual Burns Supper celebration.
• A Homecoming theme for Aberdeen's Word 09 literary festival.
• An exhibition of contemporary art inspired by Burns, to be held in Glasgow's Mitchell Library, featuring works by John Byrne, Tracy Emin, Graham Fagen and David Mach.
• A celebration of the Caledonian Canal, with a flotilla travelling the length of the canal from Fort William to Inverness.
• The Open's return to Turnberry.
• The first ever Whisky Galore festival, to be held on Barra.
• One of the largest clan gatherings in history, to be held in Edinburgh.