64th Annual Games
JULY 11-14
Games of the Games Lay of the Land (Games & Clan Location Map inside!)
Scottish Cultural Village Music on the Mountain Great Haggis! Highland Games cuisine A Special Publication of
PHOTO BY ROB MOORE
GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN HIGHLAND GAMES
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Wednesday, July 3, 2019
2019 Highland Games at a glance
PHOTO BY JAMES SHAFFER A staple of every annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, the dulcet tones of pipes and drums are seen and heard often throughout the weekend.
PHOTO BY THOMAS SHERRILL The row of tents are a staple of the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games.
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BY CARTER NORTH carter.north@averyjournal.com
Number of Scottish clans and societies: More than 100 Number of clan tents: More than 150 Honored Clan for 2019: Clan Kincaid Madam Arabella Kincaid of Kincaid: Honored Guest for the 2019 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games Ambassador of the Games: Tommy Burleson, Avery County native and 1974 NCAA collegiate champion who excelled in basketball at the high school, college and professional levels. Corporate Sponsors: • Avery Journal-Times & Mountain Times Publications • Ardberg Distillery • Coca Cola • Duncan Soutar • Chattanooga Tent • Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation • Glenmorangie Distillery • High Country Radio • Scottish Heritage USA, Inc • Lowes • New York Caledonian Club • Scottish Country Dance Thistle School • WNCW Public Radio • Merchant List for 2019: • Adrian Jenkins Photography • Bradley Imports • Celtic Attitudes
PHOTO COURTESY GMHG Piper Jones Band will be performing at the 2019 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games.
• • • • • • • • • • • • •
Grandfather Mountain Souvenirs Harry’s Wood Turning Highland Heritage Hi Ho Silver Company Kiltman Kilts Moon Mountain Clothing Pack Rats R.E. Piland Goldsmiths Scotland Rising Clothing Company Scot’s Corner Scottish Gourmet USA LLC Sonny Fletcher Pottery St. Kilda
Sunflower Trading Company Sylvan Spirits The Complete Knight Welsh Cookie Company Wolfstone Kilt Company & Potomac Leather Company
Food Vendors for 2019: • Avery County Flavored Ice • A&Y Concessions • Cameron’s British Foods • Carolina BBQ • Crossnore Volunteer Fire Dept. • Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria • Ferguson’s Homemade Ice Cream • House of Douglas Bakery • Mookie’s Kettle Korn • Scottish Cottage • Steele’s Concessions Featured musical performers for 2019: • Mari Black • Brother Angus • Brothers McLeod • Chambless and Muse • William Jackson • Loch and Keys • Andrew Finn Magill • Marybeth McQueen • Ed Miller • Piper Jones Band • Seven Nations • Alasdair White
GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN HIGHLAND GAMES
Wednesday, July 3, 2019
FILE PHOTO The Brothers McLeod performing during the 2018 Highland Games.
What’s new at The Games in 2019? BY CARTER NORTH carter.north@averyjournal.com
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he Grandfather Mountain Highland Games has become a tradition in Avery County, as it has seen 64 uninterrupted years of success. The Games are steeped in tradition, but are not above allowing for improvements. This year the Highland Games will still have its regularly served menu of Scottish favorites, but there will also be a new addition to the food options, as Beech
Mountain’s Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria will be onsite to provide attendees of the Games with hot and fresh pizza right out of the oven. The Highland Games will also be hosting a handful of new musicians and performers, as well as welcoming many in return. New performers for 2019 include multistyle violinist Mari Black, Celtic and tribal band Brother Angus, Charlotte-based trio Loch and Keys, fiddler/violinist Andrew Finn Magill and high-energy trio Piper Jones Band.
Get a taste of Scotland at the Games BY CARL BLANKENSHIP carl.blankenship@averyjournal.com
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he Grandfather Mountain Highland Games will feature many a delicacy to suit your needs, with any degree of Scottishness you like. You can satisfy your palate with a variety of Scottish and British food that will be on offer, and for the most adventurous and traditionally inclined among the attendants, haggis will be available. Haggis is a traditional and oft-referenced Scottish dish of sheep’s organs minced with a variety of other ingredients
which would traditionally be cooked inside the sheep’s stomach. It is Scotland’s national dish. Even Scottish baked goods will be available from the House of Douglas Bakery. For those inclined more toward American cuisine, the options are still plentiful. Barbecue from Newland’s Carolina Barbecue, as well as a variety of other typical fare and snacks are available, including ice cream, pizza, kettle corn and shaved ice. Crossnore Volunteer Fire Department will be returning with its own food tent to raise money for the department.
BOGO COFFEE DRINKS! Mention this ad, the Highland Games, or come in wearing a kilt! Offer expires 07/31/19
FOOD MERCHANTS AT THE GAMES Here is the full list of vendors for the events with their corresponding map locations A and Y Concessions Avery County Flavored Ice Cameron’s British Foods Carolina Barbecue Famous Brick Oven Pizza House of Douglas Bakery Mookie’s Kettle Korn Ferguson’s Homemade! Ice Cream Shoppe Scottish Cottage Steele’s Concessions Crossnore Volunteer Fire Department
Tickets, please: Everything you need to know about getting into the Games
School and Linville are $6 per person. Shuttle tickets from Caldwell Community and Technical College in Boone are $10 per erhaps the hottest ticket in the person. state during the second weekend Tickets for the Thursday night Torchlight in July is tickets to the Grandfather Opening Ceremony at MacRae Meadows Mountain Highland Games, where Scottish are $15 for adults and $5 for children age culture is as thick as the occasional fog that 5 to 12. engulfs MacRae Peak on a cool summer Tickets for the Friday night Preliminarmorning. ies are $20 for adults and $5 for children Attendees can purchase age 5 to 12, while tickets for tickets by mail, phone, using the Friday Night Concert at a credit card or by using the MacRae Meadows only are order form on the Games’ $15 for adults and $5 for website by clicking to www. children age 5 to 12. Click to www.gmhg.org or gmhg.org. Tickets for the Friday Tickets for the Games can call 828-733-1333 for more night Scottish Dance Gala information and to order tickalso be purchased at the enat Lees-McRae College are ets online or over the phone. trance gate or at the Games’ $25 for dancers and $10 for Linville office. Cash or credit spectators. cards are accepted at the office and sales On Saturday, adult general admission tent. Children younger than five years old tickets for the Games are $30 for adults can attend free. and $5 for children age 5 to 12. Ticket cost The prices for this year’s tickets and what for the Saturday night concert at MacRae each package includes are as follows: Meadows only are $15 for adults and $5 • Four-Day Advance Adult Ticket: $75 each for children. • Four-Day Advance Adult Ticket (withFor Sunday Games activities, tickets are out Shuttle Bus Ride): $55 $15 for adults and $5 for children age 5 to • Four-Day Advance Child Ticket: $30 12. (Includes Shuttle Bus Rides on Friday, SatThe Games is also hosting its annual urday and Sunday from all available shuttle Whiskey Tasting at Best Western Mountain locations.) Lodge in Banner Elk from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on • Four-Day Advance Child Ticket (withThursday, July 11. Tickets are $30 apiece. out Shuttle Bus Ride): $20 Click to the Games’ website for more Shuttle tickets from Avery County High information at www.gmhg.org. BY CARL BLANKENSHIP carl.blankenship@averyjournal.com
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PHOTO BY MERCERE COLLINS The opening gate to the field at MacRae Meadows, where the athletic events take place as the sun rises on the Highland Games.
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Grandfather Mountain Highland Games Map
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GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN HIGHLAND GAMES
Wednesday, July 3, 2019
Mountain Times Publications -
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Getting to the Games when parking is limited BY CARL BLANKENSHIP carl.blankenship@averyjournal.com
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ith an expected turnout in the tens of thousands, how are you going to park and get to the Highland Games? This guide will outline all the parking and shuttle options provided by the Games. Parking is limited and varies by event. The
Games does not set prices for shuttle services. The prices are set by the providers and all funds from the shuttle service go to those groups. The following is a detailed summary of the parking status for each day and event: Public parking is available at MacRae Meadows on Thursday night, first come first served. There is no shuttle service for
night programs.
Friday There is no public parking available at MacRae Meadows during the day on Friday or Saturday. There will be first come, first served public parking at the Meadows for the night programs on Friday. There are special parking privileges for Chieftain Patrons. Shuttle service from Av-
ery County High School’s parking lot will begin at 7 a.m. The service is provided by Crossnore Volunteer Fire Department on Friday and Saturday. Round trips are $6 per person, which is subject to change. Shuttle service at Caldwell Community College in Boone will begin at 7 a.m. and is provided by Emma’s Busing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
GMHG Clan and Vendor Listings Clan Tent Assignments 2019 9 (Alphabetical) Anderson Armstrong Baird Bell Buchanan Buchanan Burnett Caledonian Soc. Cincinnati Cameron Cameron Campbell Campbell Clanranald Trust Cochrane Colquhoun Cumming Davidson Davidson Donald Donald Donnachaidh Donnachaidh Douglas Dunbar Ewen Farquharson Fergusson Forbes Forrester Fraser Fraser Galbraith Galbraith GMHG Handicapped Tent GMHG Lost and Found Gordon (USA) Gordon (USA) Graham Graham Grant Gregor/American Society Gregor/American Society Gunn Gunn Guthrie Hamilton Hamilton Hay Hay Home/Hume Hunter Innes Johnston/e Keith Keith Kennedy Kennedy Kerr Kerr Kincaid Kincaid
1-56 1-55 2-60 1-73 1-64 2-70 2-68 1-14 1-65 2-71 1-50 2-55 2-19 1-51 1-54 1-75 1-25 2-29 1-66 2-72 2-61b 2-62 1-01 2-12 X-14 2-34 2-31 2-61 2-50 1-24 2-28 1-43 2-47 1-57 2-01 1-49 2-54 1-38 2-41 2-45 1-48 2-53 1-67 2-73 1-13 1-63 2-69 1-62 2-67 1-02 2-39 2-74 2-75 1-68 2-76 1-61 2-66 1-69 2-77 1-03 2-05
Kincaid (Society) Kirkpatrick Lamont Leslie Leslie Lindsay Logan Losantiville Highlanders MacAlpine Macaulay Macaulay MacBean/MacBain MacBean/MacBain MacBeth MacCallum/Malcolm MacDougall MacDougall MacDuffee MacDuffee MacFarlane MacFarlane Macfie MacInnes MacInnes Mackay Mackay MacKenzie MacKinnon MacKinnon Mackintosh Mackintosh MacLachlan MacLaine of Lochbuie MacLaine of Lochbuie MacLaren MacLaren MacLean MacLean MacLellan MacLeod (Carolina's) MacLeod (USA) MacMillan MacMillan MacNab Macnachtan Macneil Macneil McPherson MacPherson MacRae MacRae MacRae (Cocke) Matheson Maxwell Maxwell Moffat Montreat Scottish Society Montreat Scottish Society Morrison Morrison Munro Munro
2-06 1-10 2-14 1-39 2-43 2-21 1-46 1-15 1-36 1-22 2-26 1-60 2-65 1-41 2-40 1-44 2-48 1-06 2-09 1-07 2-10 1-37 1-05 2-08 1-59 2-64 2-42 1-47 2-52 1-71 2-79 2-51 1-58 2-63 1-12 2-16 1-40 2-44 2-56 2-27 1-23 1-42 2-46 1-27 2-22 1-26 2-30 1-52 2-58 1-34 2-38 1-35 2-33 1-04 2-07 1-18 1-08 2-11 1-21 2-25 1-11 2-15
Murray Murray Napier Pollock Ramsay/Ramsey Ramsay/Ramsey Ross Ross St. Andrews Soc. of Carolinas St. Andrews Soc. of N.C. St. Andrews Soc. of N.C. St. Andrews Soc. of Savannah Scott Scott Scottish American Military Soc. Scottish District Families Assoc. Sinclair, USA Skene Skene Society of William Wallace Stewart Sutherland Thompson Wallace Wallace Wardlaw Wardlaw Young Young
1-53 2-59 1-28 1-33 1-20 2-24 1-70 2-78 1-29 1-32 2-36 1-17 1-72 2-80 2-32 1-16 2-57 1-09 2-13 2-18 2-37 2-17 1-30 1-19 2-23 1-31 2-35 1-45 2-49
Round trips are $10 per person and each trip takes about 30 minutes. The Games recommends this service to those staying in the Boone area to avoid traffic congestion in the Linville area.
Saturday There is no public parking available at MacRae Meadows during the day on Friday or Saturday. There will be first come, first served public parking at the Meadows for the night programs on Saturday. Shuttle service from Avery County High School’s parking lot will begin at 7 a.m. The service is provided by Crossnore Volunteer Fire Department on Friday and Saturday. Round trips are $6 per person, which is subject to change. Shuttle service from the Linville lot located behind the post office will begin at 7 a.m. The service is provided by Crossnore Volunteer Fire Department on Friday and
Saturday. Round trips are $6 per person, which is subject to change. Shuttle service at Caldwell Community College in Boone will begin at 7 a.m. and is provided by Emma’s Busing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Round trips are $10 per person and each trip takes about 30 minutes. The Games recommends this service to those staying in the Boone area to avoid traffic congestion in the Linville area.
Saturday Night Concert Public parking is available on a first come, first served basis. The general public should shuttle off the mountain by 5:30 p.m. and drive back to MacRae Meadows. There are special parking privileges for Chieftain Patrons.
Sunday Parking arrangements are identical to Saturday, with the exception of the Avery County High School lot, which will not be available.
Corporate Sponsors/Exhibitors Avery County Chamber of Comm. Council of Scottish Clans Duncan Soutar Duncan Soutar Glenmorangie Distillery Lees McRae Mountain Times Publications National Trust for Scotland Scotland County HG Novel Adventures Scottish Cultural Org. of Triangle Scottish Heritage USA Scottish Heritage USA Scottish Spinning & Weaving Scottish Spinning & Weaving Scottish Tartans Museum Sheep Dog Tent Scottish Tartans Authority Scottish Tartans Authority
X-15 X-01 X-10 X-11 U-3 X-16 2-01 2-03 X-07 X-09 X-05 2-02 2-04 X-12 X-13 X-04 1-74 X-02 X-03
*Note: Clans are not to cook on the field. Also, front row tents are not allowed to have blinds up that restrict the view of the field.
FILE PHOTO Avery County High School’s main parking lot. The school will be one of three locations where shuttle service will be provided to the Highland Games.
SHUTTLE LOTS BY DAY Friday, Saturday and Sunday: Beginning at 7 a.m., shuttle service at Caldwell Community College in Boone provided by Emma’s Busing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Round trips are $10 per person. The approximate ride time is 30 minutes. Friday and Saturday: Beginning at 7 a.m., shuttle service from Avery County High School provided by Crossnore Volunteer Fire Department on Friday and Saturday. Round trips are $6 per person, which is subject to change. Saturday and Sunday: Beginning at 7 a.m., shuttle service from the lot located behind the post office in Linville begins on Saturday and Sunday. The entrance to the lot is located on Hwy. 105 on Saturday and Sunday. Round Trips are $6 per person, which is subject to change.
GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN HIGHLAND GAMES
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Symphonic Scottish Sounds The music of the 2019 Games BY CARTER NORTH carter.north@averyjournal.com
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he air around MacRae Meadows will be filled with both traditional and modern Celtic music throughout the duration of the 2019 Highland Games, coming from an array of talent both new and old to the Games. The following is a listing of the acts that will be taking center stage to perform during the 2019 Games weekend.
Mari Black Multistyle violinist and champion fiddler Mari Black’s virtuosic fiddling, sparkling stage presence, and commitment to bringing people together through music have made her a favorite with audiences across the country and around the world. A master of diverse musical styles and winner of several major international competitions, Mari sweeps her audiences away on a spirited musical adventure featuring dance music from around the globe. She and her dynamic band will treat you to an unforgettable experience that will have you tapping your toes and dancing in the aisles!
Brother Angus As a founding member of the Celtic, Tribal band Brother Angus toured the world, recording fifteen albums and a DVD along the way. Often cited as a trailblazer of the indie scene, Brother was the only independent band to play the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Visiting Scotland with the band every spring for the last six years on the wildly successful Bronach tours, Angus discovered his Celtic heritage in a way he’d never imagined. Finding a fascinating connection between his own wanderings and the Celtic myths and histories, Angus has
created a captivating show like no other.
Brother McLeod Brothers McLeod, David and Michael, began performing in 2014. Both have been members of numerous bands including Palmetto Pipes and Drums of Columbia, SC; Upstate United of Clemson, SC; and the Atlanta Pipe Band. They also perform at events such as weddings, Burns Dinners, Kirkin’ o’ the Tartan services, parades and veterans’ services, and debutante balls. Most notably, they have performed as entertainers on the Alex Beaton Stage at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games since 2015.
FILE PHOTO Seven Nations performs at the 2018 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games.
Chambless and Muse For more than 25 years, Alabama natives Jil Chambless and Scooter Muse have been performing the music of Scotland, Ireland and early America with various ensembles in a wide variety of venues, from house concerts to festivals and concert halls. As singer and flute and whistle player, Jil Chambless has performed across the US as well as in Canada, Scotland, and Israel with many artists and bands. Jil brings to any audience a wonderful listening experience from haunting ballads to upbeat songs with a smooth delivery that never fails to bring both smiles and tears. Scooter Muse has his roots in Bluegrass and is an award-winning 5-string banjo player, and in the late 1980s he moved into the world of Celtic guitar.
William Jackson William Jackson has been at the forefront of Scottish traditional music for nearly 30 years. In addition to his stature as one of the leading harpers and multi-instrumentalists in Scotland, William has gained an international
FILE PHOTO Alasdair White performs at The Groves during the 2018 Highland Games.
to come out of the Scottish Folksong Revival” and as “one of Scotland’s best singing exports.” Originally from Edinburgh, he has for many years been based in Austin, Texas, where he gained graduate degrees in Folklore and Geography at the University of Texas. Ed’s repertoire covers the whole spectrum of Scottish folk music, from old ballads and songs of Robert Burns to more recent songs that add to the huge store of Scots songs.
Piper Jones Band reputation as a composer.
Loch and Keys Loch and Keys is a Charlotte-based trio playing contemporary Celtic music. While respecting the traditions of the music they play, the group doesn’t shy away from putting their own twist on things with their dynamic arrangement, driving rhythms, and seamless blending of Celtic traditions from Ireland, Scotland, Scandinavia, Brittany, and Canada.
Andrew Finn Magill Andrew Finn Magill is a fiddler/violinist who straddles genres. He has toured the US, Europe, Africa, and Brazil and performed with many Irish and Scottish lu-
minaries from John Doyle to the Paul McKenna Band. By age 16 he was a twotime finalist at the All-Ireland fiddle championships.
Marybeth McQueen Marybeth McQueen grew up in an environment filled with Scottish music, the closest source being her father Gregory McQueen, fiddle player for Clandestine. She began learning the Highland pipes at age 8, and has been attending the North American Academy of Piping and Drumming for many years. In 2014 she placed 2nd in the US Scottish Fiddle championship.
Ed Miller Ed Miller has been hailed as “one of the finest singers
The Piper Jones Band is a lyrical, high energy trio based on the moving and beautiful sounds of the Highland bagpipes, accompanied by unique percussive chords from the bouzouki and inspired drums. While maintaining a strong musical base in traditional tunes from Ireland, Scotland, and Appalachia, the group also performs original instrumental compositions and powerful vocal harmonies, as well as stepping off stage from time to time to lead the audience in traditional Celtic dances. The Piper Jones Band brings authentic, traditional music to your audience in a fresh, entertaining way. Seven Nations
Through its touring schedule and dynamic live performances, Seven Nations has become one of the fastest growing live acts nationwide. They have logged in more than one million touring miles trying to make the music universal for old and new fans alike. To the five member band, that means being on tour 85 percent of the year, melding guitar and vocal elements of American pop and rock with Highland bagpipes and fiddle. The result is a high-energy performance that has fans jumping out of their seats, and has sparked interest nationwide. Lead singer/songwriter and founding member Kirk MacLeod attended bagpipe summer schools in these mountains from the age of 12 and won the first ever John McFadden award for “most promising piper.” Many years later he has led a band through almost a quarter of a million albums sold and some of the most brilliantly powerful and creative Celtic rock ever played. “We are lucky,” says McLeod, “because we come from two unique cultures. We love American pop and rock and roll, but we also love our Celtic roots. We want to touch everybody with our music.”
Alasdair White Alasdair White is an exceptional exponent of West Coast Scottish music and is widely regarded as one of the foremost Scottish fiddler players of his generation. He was born and brought up on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, a chain of islands of singular importance to Gaelic Scotland’s musical heritage and is perhaps best known as having been a member of Scotland’s seminal Battlefield Band for over 16 years, touring extensively in that time throughout North America, Europe and Asia.
Wednesday, July 3, 2019
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Wednesday, July 3, 2019
Games of the Highland Games TEST ATHLETIC METTLE BY JAMIE SHELL editor@averyjournal.com
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RANDFATHER MOUNTAIN — Thousands of spectators converge on MacRae Meadows every year for the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. People come to celebrate Celtic culture, for the music, the gathering of the clans, but ultimately we are drawn to the games themselves. Scottish highland games throughout history were a time to gather and compete to determine who was fastest and strongest. Today, champions can still claim those titles and revel in victory. The caber toss and hammer throw are iconic to the games. Appropriate to the Scots, these sports demand more than the average measure of strength, stamina and sheer determination. As highland games where world records have been set, the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games attract professional athletes and amateurs alike who are up to the challenge. Athletes can participate in heavy events, or events more associated with the games, and light events, such as foot races. Heavy events include the Clachneart, or stone throw. The athlete must throw a 16-pound stone without using overhand, underhand or two-handed techniques. In order to throw the stone a greater distance, athletes will spin to gain centrifugal force before flinging the stone as
PHOTO BY ROB MOORE Field events such as wrestling are always a popular attraction and spirited competition at each year’s Highland Games.
PHOTO BY ROB MOORE Heavy athletic events, such as the stone throw and the hammer throw, are annual staples of competition at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games.
far as possible. Not only do caber toss participants pick up a 20-foot pole that weighs a daunting 175 pounds, they throw it. Caber toss athletes lift the caber, balance it upright and “turn” it, or flip it to make it fall end over end. In a bygone time when farming was a way of life, sheaf tossing was an everyday chore. A holdover from that time, sheaf tossing is now competition. A pitchfork is used to throw a burlap sack stuffed with straw over a high bar, without touching the bar. As the bar is raised, the athlete who
clears the bar at the highest level wins the competition. Similar to the stone throw, the hammer throw requires the athlete to throw a hammer from a standing position. In spite of the hammer weighing 22 pounds stones have been known to be tossed more than 18 feet. Kilt-clad athletes from lightweight to heavyweight classes will also participate in Scottish Highland wrestling. Light events include the 100-yard dash, long jump, high jump and pole vault. Adults and kids alike can participate in the Kilted Mile run. A game of stamina, the Grandfather Mountain Marathon has gained the reputation as one of America’s toughest runs and for good reason. The final 13 miles are straight uphill. Starting in Boone and stretching 26.2 miles long, the trek winds up Grandfather Mountain, with runners eventually gaining 1,000 feet in elevation. The going is tough, but according to GMHG, the marathon boasts a 96-percent completion rate. “The Bear” is a five-mile footrace that begins in Linville and climbs to the summit of Grandfather. As the race’s reputation has grown, GMHG is expecting boasts record numbers of participants each year of the event. For the serious athlete to the spectator, the games of the Games offer their fair share of challenge and entertainment.
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Chief and Honored Clan of the 2019 Games BY JAMIE SHELL editor@averyjournal.com
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ach year, it is a great feather in one’s tartan to be tabbed as an honored clan for an iteration of the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. Many clans have held the distinction with great pride and excellence, and 2019 is no different, as Clan Kincaid is recognized at this year’s Games with the title of “Honored Clan.”
Clan Kincaid The Chief of Clan Kincaid is Madam Arabella Kincaid of Kincaid. According to her welcome message from the clan’s website, Clan Kincaid enjoys a rich history and is a source of great pride. “Over the past millennia or so the extended Kincaid Clan has produced some fascinating characters; these include the Kincaid instrumental in the recovery of Edinburgh Castle from the English in 1313 A.D., to the celebrated seventeenth century witch-pricker John Kincaid, to the rather more recent Rear Admiral Thomas C. Kincaid of the U.S. Navy who served with such distinction under General MacArthur during the Second World War,” the chief writes. “But the Clan is not just about characters from history — but about today. We live in a fast-moving and ever-changing world where our roots and sense of belonging are constantly challenged and under threat. Within our thriving Clan society we encompass Kincaids young and old, living in Scotland, England, Europe, in North America, Australasia and no doubt elsewhere. We have recently enjoyed a Clan Gathering in Scotland with many Kincaids coming from such places and we can all enjoy the sense of belonging within the wider Clan Kincaid family across the globe. Whatever our differences and distinctions, we are all part of the Clan Kincaid family.”
PHOTO SUBMITTED Clan Chief Madam Arabella Kincaid of Kincaid of the honored clan of the 2019 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, Clan Kincaid.
Clan history Clan Kincaid has an illustrious and rich history, according to Brigadier William Kincaid’s account of the clan’s origins and accounts. Kincaid’s depiction can be found on the Clan Kincaid official website and lists the following and additional details: The Kincaid name is topographical in origin and very old. It was originally Pen Coed which is Brythonic Celtic (i.e. similar to Welsh) and meant head of the woods. Later, when Gaelic overtook that language of the Strathcylde Britons the name became half-translated into Gaelic as Ceann Caith (pronounced KyAN KAY). Much later, of course, this was anglicised into Kincaid. The name Kincaid originated from the lands of that name in Stirlingshire, and it has been conjectured that the Kincaids were descendants of the Earls of Lennox who owned those lands in
the 12th century. The extent of the lands held by the Kincaids expanded and contracted repeatedly over the centuries, but their heart lay between the Campsie Fells and what is now the town of Kirkintilloch. At its centre sat Kincaid House, parts of the present building dating from about 1570, and to its east the house of Auchinreoch, which is said to have been known at one time as the ‘Prince’s House’, as it was occupied in succession by eldest sons of the Lairds of Kincaid, but which later became the property of a cadet of the Kincaids of Warriston. The earliest dependable record is of Robert of Kincade who served on an inquest held at Stirling on Oct. 2, 1425. In 1447, a charter identifies Robert Kyncade de eodem as the son and heir of William Kyncade, and later charters record Robert’s sons Patrick, David and Robert. In addition to the Kincaid lands in
Stirlingshire, the Kincaids in the mid-15th century owned lands in Edinburgh, Falkirk and Linlithgow, where, in 1461, John Kincaid was sheriff deputy and keeper of the Royal Palace. There are many records of disputes with neighbouring land-owners in these towns and also in Kincaid where disputes with the Lennoxes and Stirlings were bloody and frequent, on at least one occasion spreading as far as the streets of Glasgow. The first recorded Kincaid arms, those of George Kincaid, acting for the Abbot of Holyrood, date from 1506 and show the arms as they exist today: “A fesse ermine between two stars in chief and a castle triple towered in base.” These arms are the same as those on a seal of Edward Kincaid, Sheriff-Deputy of Edinburgh, in 1521.The first arms to be recorded in Lyon Register were those of the great
Edinburgh surgeon, Thomas while many of those in EdinKincaid, who changed his burgh and Falkirk began to crest from the traditional pursue many varied careers. hand holding a broadsword In 1776, Alexander to one more suitable for a Kincaid, the King’s Printer, surgeon — a hand holding a was elected Lord Provost of scalpel. Edinburgh, a popular choice Thomas’s son, Thomas, celebrated with a bonfire also trained as a surgeon and fireworks, followed by a and studied extensively but riot. His funeral in 1777 was never practised. Instead, he one of great pomp, accomis known for his diary of a panied by earls, dukes and young man’s life in Edinthe Macer of the Lyon Court. burgh in 1687 and 1688. John of Huck is on record He lists the many books he as living in the Falkirk area read, his efforts to design a in the 17th century, and ‘tree-leg’ (an artificial limb), his probable descendants his successes and failures included several notable at archery contests and his individuals. Thomas Kintheories on “The Only Way caid, shipmaster, moved to of Playing at Golve.” Greenock and founded the By the end of the 17th marine engineering firm of century, lawlessness and ter- Kincaid, which in 1964 had ritorial disputes had largely become the largest marine given way to order and more engineering concern in the creative pursuits — at least country; it was nationalised in the central belt between in 1972, as part of British Edinburgh and Glasgow. Shipbuilders. The Kincaids of Kincaid Another probable descenwere becoming more interSEE HONORED ON PAGE 10 ested in efficient farming,
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GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN HIGHLAND GAMES
10 - Mountain Times Publications
Wednesday, July 3, 2019
céad míle fáilte!
The pipes are calling for 64th annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games
BY JAMIE SHELL editor@averyjournal.com
F
PHOTO BY ROB MOORE Banner Elk’s Judd Gowin marches at the field during the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in Linville. Clans gather annually to reunite, reacquaint and reminisce of the Scottish homeland during the extended weekend on MacRae Meadows.
or the past 64 years, Grandfather Mountain Highland Games has served as the grandest of tartan reunions and one of the largest single gatherings of Scottish clans in America. This year, the tradition is perhaps more steeped than ever. Each second weekend in July (this year from Thursday to Sunday, July 11 to 14), GMHG inundates and educates festivalgoers from far and wide in traditional Scottish culture, from pipes and drums to haggis and shepherd’s pie. The four-day festival that is the Games has been a destination for competition, entertainment, reunion and celebration of Scottish heritage by thousands who return each year to “Ameri-
ca’s Braemar.” This year’s GMHG is no different. Whether it’s the opportunity to try Scottish staple food haggis, or competing in events such as the tossing of the sheaf or The Bear, enjoying the dulcet tones of Celtic music from bands from around the world in one of the two groves at MacRae Meadows, observing Scottish traditions and customs or simply stopping by a clan tent to learn one’s family history or pick up a souvenir for a family member or loved one, Grandfather Mountain Highland Games leaves an indelible impression as a unique and fun-filled weekend. GMHG is a captivating event where thousands of visitors enjoy a wide range of activities. The musical competitions — fiddles, pipes, drums, harps and more — are a buffet for the ears, while the Games features dancing events that will have the most novice of
dancers tapping their feet to the rhythm. Each year, the athletic competitions at GMHG rival any Scottish games in the world. The foot races such as The Bear, in addition to traditional competitions such as caber throwing, hammer, sheaf and weight tossing, not to mention the popular tug of war, attracts fans and clans of all sizes who cheer the competitors to victory and honor the spirit of friendly competition. For many attending the Games, the weekend serves as a family reunion of sorts. The largest single gathering of Scottish clans anywhere in the world, more than 100 in all gather on MacRae Meadows annually for GMHG, as those visiting the Games comprise a population on between 30,000 and 40,000 people. Tickets for GMHG are available upon arrival at the Games, or visitors may purchase them at the GMHG office in downtown Linville.
Parking is available at MacRae Meadows for pass-displaying patrons and sponsors only on the mountain during the weekend (a change from previous festivals). Games officials urge patrons to take advantage of the bus shuttle system, where attendees for a small fee can park in areas including Newland, Linville or the Boone area and be chauffeured to the Games entrance on an individual trip or weekend ticket pass to ride for the entire weekend for a one-time fee. From the torchlight ceremony on Thursday night to the closing ceremony on Sunday afternoon, GMHG is chock full of events to entertain the entire family. Grandfather Mountain Highland Games is located off Highway 221, two miles north of Linville and one mile south of the Blue Ridge Parkway. For more information on GMHG, click to www. gmhg.org.
HONORED
Kincaids, is the celebrated illustrator of children’s books. The 17th century saw the beginning of an emigration of Kincaids, first of all to England, then to Ireland where they settled mainly in the north around Tyrone, Londonderry, Donegal and Down. Not long after many left for new lives in North America, Holland, Australia, Argentina, South Africa and New Zealand. Charles Augustus Kincaid was a Judge of the High Court of India and a prolific author, Samuel Marcus Kinkead a First World War fighter ace, General William Kincaid a Governor General in India, Thomas Harold ‘Doc’ Kinkade a key player in the famous transoceanic flights of the 1920s, Bradley Kincaid a prominent American folksinger, and Thomas Kinkade, “Painter of Light,” who is the most recognized Kinkade today.
But the most famous of them was Admiral Thomas Kincaid who commanded the US 7th Fleet in the Second World War. Described as cool, softly spoken and bushy eyebrowed, he was noted for being unruffled and precise, even under extreme pressure. Having earlier played a key part in the Battle of the Midway, he took charge of the plans for the invasion of the Philippines and had responsibility for the whole force until it was ashore. He was the recipient of two Distinguished Service Medals. In many walks of life, Kincaids came to prominence: as railway engineers and managers in Burma, India and Egypt; as judges, State Governors and Members of Congress in the United States; as inventors, business men and professors; as soldiers, sailors and airmen; as farmers and in many other trades and professions.
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dant was Sir John Kincaid, who fought throughout the Peninsular War, led the storming party at the capture of Ciudad Rodrigo and was adjutant of his battalion at Waterloo on which he commented later that, “I had never heard of a battle in which everybody was killed; but this seemed likely to be an exception, as all were going by turns.” After retirement from the Army, he became Superintendent at Bridewell prison, then Senior Exon at the Tower of London and finally Inspector of Prisons and Factories for Scotland. Later, other Falkirk Kincaids saw military service in India, West Africa, the Crimean War, the Boer War and the First World War. Today, Eric Kincaid, a descendant of the Falkirk
Wednesday, July 3, 2019
GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN HIGHLAND GAMES
Mountain Times Publications -
11
Grandfather Mountain Highland Games Gives Back with Scholarships for Local Students BY CARL BLANKENSHIP carl.blankenship@averyjournal.com
T
he Games are quite the affair, bringing tens of thousands of people to MacRae Meadows to partake in the festivities. All the planning and execution of the Games takes volunteers and employees. Some of those people are local students, who have the opportunity to receive scholarships for their efforts to go toward continuing education after high school. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships have been awarded to hundreds of local students since the Games’ inaugural year in 1956. Students who can apply for scholarships include those who volunteer and work at the Games, children of employees and volunteers, and children of parents who volunteer at the Games via civic groups. Students planning to
attend a major college or university receive a $1,000 scholarship, which is renewable for four years for a value of $4,000, students attending community colleges are eligible for $500 scholarships, also renewable for four years, for a value of $2,000. The Games awards between $18,000 and $24,000 each year. This year’s recipients of GMHG Scholarships include Betsy Olivia Terrell, Emily Clawson, Bridgette R. Smith, Elisabeth Kitchin, Camryn Greene, Madison LaRae Calloway, Daniel L. Reed, Lucas S. Powell, Aubrey Noel Greene, Alyssa B. Pearson, Sophia Madeline Everett, Matthew C. Johnson, Madison T. Daniels, Savannah N. Church, Hannah E. Daniels, James G. Buchanan, Madison Alexandra Clark, Caitlyn Cheri Frye, Austin Ryan Moore, William Lane Richardson, Jaelyn Denise Johnson and Joshua David Cook. “So often, students return
to the area to help with the Games and contribute to
making them successful,” GMHG General Manager
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dents return after college and continue to work on the mountain and help invest their time to making the Games the success it is today.”
FOR ALL YOUR CAMPING NEEDS
YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A MEMBER!
Come visit us at the Williams YMCA. Bring your kids to the Aqua cs Center where they can play in our WaterZone while you lap swim. Come to one of our many group fitness classes – everything from Yoga to Zumba. If being part of a group is not your thing, you can visit our Wellness Center and enjoy state of the art fitness equipment.
Tommy Taylor said. “We’ve always viewed the scholarships as a way we can make a tremendous investment in their future. More often than not, those same stu-
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12 - Mountain Times Publications
GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN HIGHLAND GAMES
Wednesday, July 3, 2019
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