Councillor's starring role at Burns events in Sutherland
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Far North councillor Willie Mackay is gearing up for his latest series of engagements in honour of Robert Burns.
Willie, a native of Embo who now lives in Oldhall, Watten, has been an admirer of Scotland’s national bard for some 25 years. He will be involved in two events in Sutherland and three in Cathness this year.
He said: “I’ll be doing the famous satire once again, the 101 lines of Holy Willie’s Prayer, and addressing the haggis.”
Mr Mackay. who represents Wick and East Caithness on Highland Council, will appear at a Burns supper and charity auction at Carbisdale Castle next Friday, January 26, and at a Burns supper in his home village of Embo the following day, Saturday, January 27.
In Caithness he will attend two Burns lunches in Wick earlier in the week and will also attend a Burns Supper organised by the Monday Club at the Rugby Club Pavilion in Thurso on Monday, January 29.
Burns celebrations are held annually in Scotland and internationally around January 25, the date of his birth in Alloway, Ayrshire, in 1759.
“Traditional suppers would offer up Scots broth, haggis, neeps and tatties followed by perhaps cranachan and a dram for the toast,” says Willie.
“As for the speakers, we would have a chairperson for the formal introductions, someone to address the haggis and someone to do the Immortal Memory, then a Toast to the Lassies and a reply from a lady.
“Coupled with a few Burns songs, some poetry and pipe music all go down well and make the evening a jovial one.”
Willie added: “There is a great variety of light-hearted speakers in the county and it’s good to see the younger generation getting involved.”
