Once again Hannah and I had the opportunity to travel to another Scottish Highland games. This time we headed to Gatlinburg, TN to celebrate our Highland heritage, eat some great Scottish food and listen to some fantastic music. Hannah and I can both trace our ancestry back to Scotland on several branches. I connect with Clan Anderson and Clan Fraser while Hannah can claim ties to Clan Robertson and Clan McIntyre. It’s a pretty cool thing to go to the events and be treated like family because of  links that are thousands of years old.

This will be our third set of games we’ve been to in the past year and it proved to rank right up there at the top. We woke up about 6am  on Saturday and were on the road by 7(yeah I was up that early). We made it all the way to the front gate of Proffit High School where the games were being held by about 11:30 Eastern. We were a little worried when we got there as experience had taught us that parking lots filled up fast. We saw very few cars and no tents at first so I started questioning whether I flubbed on the dates. I rolled down my window to ask somebody but as soon as I did I heard the pipes. No question that we were at the right place at the right time. There;s something about bagpipes that draws you in. Just ask Hannah. She knows if I hear a banjo, fiddle or the bagpipes she might as well starting turning that direction because I’ll already be gone.

We found a parking spot and worked our way in to the ticket booth. Tickets were reasonably priced so we paid and got our official wristbands for entry all day. The most direct path to the games took us directly through the pipe band tents. I was amazed at the number of bands that were entering the competition.

Massed Pipe bands during the opening

There were several vendors to browse through so we took our time head through each tent. They carried everything from kilts and Glengarrys to Scottish food and T shirts. We didn’t see anything we had to have this time so we made our way to the clan tents. Clan Anderson wasn’t attending and neither was McIntyre.  However we did make good friends with the folks at the Clan Fraser tent. I talked with them a little about our shared lineage and looked at maps showing family lands that were still held in Scotland. I can stand proud with them as our ancestor Sir Simon Fraser was captured while fighting with Robert the Bruce and put to death by Edward I in 1306. Frasers were there at Scotlands proudest moments. Clan Fraser is still active in both Scotland and the US with thousands of people claiming common kinship.

After bonding with lost brothers we headed towards one of our other favorite parts of the festivals, food! There hasn’t been a game thats gone by where I haven’t treated my self to haggis and Scotch eggs and I wasn’t going to let this be an exception. They did a great job with both this time and I was throughly satisfied. Nothing like a little haggis and chips for lunch and Scotch eggs for dinner

Finally one of the main reasons we come to these games time after time is the music. We have seen a world famous piper in Atlanta and amazing bands at Stone  Mountain so we had high expectations.  We were really looking forward to a particular band this time that we had missed in  NC.  Albannach (which is Scots-Gaelic for “Scotsman”) is not your everyday pipe and drum band. These folks (all native Scots) take Scottish music back to a primal level that you don’t find everyday. You can close your eyes and envision Celtic warriors at Bannockburn (Alexander Fraser was there!)and Stirling hurling themselves toward Edward I’s forces when you hear them play. Honestly listening to them is not something that can be described. You have to see them.

We dodged the downpours to check into our hotel and went back to the games at 7 for just that. At most festivals they have a night where they celebrate with a Celidh, which is basically means “party”.  We got there early to get front row seats since we had Dad’s new Kodak Zi8 to try out.  First up was Colin Grant-Adams, a great Scottish folk singer. Next was Thistledown Tinkers,  a NC based duo. Thirds came the surprise of the night. Cutthroat Shamrock is a Knoxville based band that blends Celtic folk with punk while using traditional instruments. These guys put on an amazing show! Not only were they very talented musicians and songwriters but the were excellent entertainers. When their set was over I grabbed all three of their cd’s, a shirt, and two stickers for the Forester. We had a great time watching these guys and will try our hardest to catch them again when they play in Cookeville.

Next came the band we had been waiting on. Albannach came out of the gate strong. Drums pounding and Donnie wailing on the pipes it took you away from the first strike. Like I said before it is beyond me to convey the feeling seeing these guys live has on you. The drums are totally consuming and the pipes grab your mind and hold on. The whole crowd was mesmerized by their sound. That is till the guys from Cutthroat pushed pas the barrier and started dancing. It brought all of us to our feet. Imagine a pounding rainstorm, 250 people packed into a small tent, everyone on their feet screaming, and music so loud you can’t hear anything but the drums. Incredible. Leaves a lasting impression.

Needless we say we had a great time and we both walked away with a renewed sense of who we are. Cuimhnich air na daoine o’n d’thaining thu which is Scots-Gaelic for “Remember the men from whom you are descended” We all come from different backgrounds. Some of them we can be proud of, some bring us shame. Regardless they all contributed to what makes us who we are. We can take pride in the warriors, patriots and poets and live to show that reverence and we can learn from those in our past who have strayed and live our lives to show our strength despite them.  Live with the knowledge that the blood of paupers and kings runs through your veins and that one day your descendants will look back to see who you were. What kind of legacy will you leave for them?

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