30,000 travel to Edinburgh for clan gathering

Monday, 27th July 2009

Officials estimated that over 30,000 people descended on the city for a gathering that was significantly larger than the last one held – in the 19th century. One hundred twenty-four clans were said to be in Holyrood Park for the Highland Games and the 8,000-strong march that followed, heading back up the Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle.

Prince Charles launched the Homecoming Year Gathering at Holyrood Palace. Visitors from around the world were attracted to the event, including Pouroto Ngaropo, a 40-year-old claiming both Scots and Maori descent, who made the journey to Edinburgh from his home in Whakatane, New Zealand.

He said: “Maoris and the Scots are very similar people – we have a clan system, too. I lead a hapu, or sub-tribe, of 841 people and we have many similar rituals, including long wakes.”

Dick Boyd, also of Scots descent, and a resident of Stratham, New Hampshire, in the US, said the clan gathering brought out a lot of emotions.

“This is a coming home for me, as I can trace my family back to the Clan Macintosh in the 1100s,” he said, as his eyes filled with tears. He went on to say: “I am a direct descendent of the Seventh Earl of Kilmarnock and we Scots Americans are fiercely proud of our roots.”

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