Published on:
24
June 2008
Homecoming Scotland is set to be a huge nation-wide occasion in 2009. Led by Visit Scotland, there will be visitor attractions and events across the country from Burns Night until St Andrews Day, with the emphasis on attracting visitors who have an ancestral connection with Scotland, as well as those who just love the country.
Clackmannanshire is taking a starring role in Homecoming Scotland, after Clackmannanshire Council's plans were awarded a grant of £10,000, in the face of stiff competition, from EventScotland. This will help to fund a new Historic Kirkyards Trail, a postcard campaign, an art installation and live perfomances in the kirkyards. Residents will also be encouraged to bring friends and family to the area and to discover more about their ancestry, using an online resource introducing family history research
Museum and Heritage Officer Susan Mills said, "Clackmannanshire Council is delighted to be taking part in Homecoming Scotland 2009. We'll be encouraging local people to send postcards to their friends and relatives to ask them to come to Clackmannanshire. Everyone will be able to take part in a new Historic Kirkyards Trail to discover some of the county's built heritage and the fascinating trade gravestones which tell us what people did for a living, while promenade performances will 'bring to life' some of the inhabitants who helped to shape Clackmannanshire. Art installations in an old kirkyard will help visitors to focus on the importance of family and ancestry and we'll also show people from near and far how to investigate their family history in the area. Clackmannanshire has a remarkable heritage and beautiful countryside and we'll be proud to invite people back to see this special place."
Provost Derek Stewart added, "Clackmannanshire's central location and transport links make it a great base for discovering Scotland, while the Homecoming year will build on our links with places as far afield as Nova Scotia and allow us to introduce yet more fans to our beautiful county. As Homecoming in 2009 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, we're expecting even more visitors than usual to trace his connection with Clackmannanshire, where Burns was 'knighted' and inspired to write his poetry. With our stunning hills, famous golf courses and historic connections with the whisky industry, Clackmannanshire really is 'Scotland in miniature'."