Strong scottish roots some kiwis have!

Each year, the teeny little town of Turakina holds a Scottish Festival - this year was the 149th - competitions of all sorts and clan tents with information and goodies for sale. Needless to say we made a little visit to the MacDonald/McDonald tent and lo and behold - they have a brochure listing other 'related' names.There were certainly some surprises there - and although we didn't find Tinto on the list, we did find Forrest! There's a thing!

 

The paddock literally came alive with dancers and pipers - at times just a jumble of drones and pipes filling the air as solo pipers piped for adjudicators housed in little 'shacks' - just big enough to fit a chair in. These were dotted all over the place and each had a continuous stream of pipers or piper and drummer duets to judge!

The dancing was glorious and included the traditional Highland Fling and Sword Dance, as well as the lesser known Country Dances and Sailors' Hornpipe sections. Many of the sections did have 'live' pipers but some had to rely on a recording - especially when there were 30 dancers to a section! All in all a lovely day and enough to have any true blue Scot's heart swell with pride!
Dis al! PS the piper's headgear in both of the pictures above makes one smile and wonder  - I guess if it's hot enough in New Zealand, you forego the traditional and slap on something which protects you from the fierce rays of the sun!