The Most Westerly Burns Night?

From Alasdair Thornton:

Around the turn of the century, celebrations of Scotland’s greatest poet, Robert Burns, found their way along the Ardnamurchan Peninsula.

Details of exactly when they started are somewhat blurred, we do know however that Selkirk Builder Alan Tough (Toughie) was instrumental in setting things up and remains heavily involved to this day.

The first gatherings were held at Sonachan and moved to Glenborrodale Castle for the last couple of years.

Tickets were invariably scarce and to meet ever increasing demand the venue this year will be the Kilchoan Community Centre where, with the considerable help of the Community Centre Board, we hope to accommodate over sixty guests.

The Bill O’ Fare includes beer and cheese from the Isle Of Mull, May McNicol’s famous tablet, and award winning haggis all the way from Selkirk with an escort of 29 of Selkirk’s finest.

Songs, poems and traditional speeches are all planned with all proceeds from the tickets, at £20, going towards local community projects via the Community Centre.

In addition a raffle, for which donations are welcome, will be held and funds split between good causes in Kilchoan and Selkirk.

Tickets for the event, on 3rd February at 7pm, are available from the Steading Holidays Office in Kilchoan.