Sterling International Clan Gathering - July 2014

I can confirm that plans are afoot to host another International Clan Gathering in Stirling in early July 2014 as part of the 2nd Year of Homecoming. It is too early to provide any detail, but rest assured that Panalba will be keeping you up to date. As you can imagine there will be a lot to report as we get closer to 2014, but in the interim we will keep you abreast of any relevant developments.

Stirling sits right in the middle of Scotland and through its combination of road and rail provides easy access to the rest of the country. The centrepiece of Stirling is its magnificent castle, recently renovated to capture the spirit of 16th century Scotland. No trip to Scotland could be considered complete without a visit to this historical landmark.

As if that was not enough, the country will be celebrating the 700th anniversary of the battle of Bannockburn, a decisive battle that forged the nation of Scotland. The National Trust of Scotland will be commemorating the battle with a series of events and a brand new visitor centre.

All this is but part of a greater Homecoming programme. Glasgow will be hosting the Commonwealth Games and Gleneagles will be hosting the Ryder cup . Not all at the same time, of course, but close enough to seriously consider renting a house and spending all summer in Scotland! The Diaspora Tapestry

This tapestry is to be created by volunteers in communities around the globe. It will be assembled and displayed in Scotland as part of the 2014 Homecoming celebrations. It will tell the stories of Scots, who have migrated all over the world and have often, had a profound impact on the areas where they settled. This project will see 25 such communities documenting their Scottish connections on a series of embroidered panels. The organisers are still seeking out communities who wish to be considered. For more info read the article entitled the Diaspora tapestry.

We are striving for the newsletter to be useful as well as informative keeping you in touch with stories and events from around Scotland, from the serious to the quirky. We hope that you enjoy reading it, your comments are always welcome and you can send them to suggestions@panalba.com.

Jamie Sempill

P.S. You can follow us on Twitter and be kept up-to-date not just on Panalba, but also things to do and see around Scotland.

Thanks to Barbra Bartz for this information