The 18th Australian Celtic Festival held in our
‘Celtic capitol’, Glen Innes, on the weekend of April 30 to
May 3 was attended by 12 members of the MacThomas clan. As
happens each year, 2009 was designated the ‘Year of the Welsh’
and their presence, enhanced by their singing, dancing and
other aspects of their distinctive culture were evident. Blue
skies, clear crisp mornings and mild stunningly colourful
autumn days were a bonus for all those visiting the tablelands
this year. Next year we hope that for the ‘Year of the Manx’
the weather will be equally pleasant.
Events began at 10.00 a.m on Thursday 30 April
with a Kilted tour and history of the district. Participants
were occupied throughout Friday with many interesting
performances. The official opening of the Festival took place
at 3.15 pm on Friday May 1. The Haggis Dinner and Ceilidh in
the evening was definitely Scottish. A welsh Concert, the
Cyngerdd, took place in the evening of
Friday.
Sunday dawned sparkling with a warm sun and dry
crisp air. This was the special day for the Clan MacThomas
members: this was the day for the dedication of the stone
handed over at the Cockstane in Glenshee, Scotland last year
by Finegand to Ken our secretary. It sat proudly alongside the
ancestral mementos of many other clans from around the world.
There had been another dedication of Clan Donnachaidh on
Saturday but for the Clan MacThomas members it was as though
this was the only stone dedication.
Above the stone circles themselves there is a
raised mound of earth where a wall containing apertures
similar to those in a crematorium is strategically placed. In
this wall are stones with their explanatory plaques from clans
worldwide. To say this wall is like that in a crematorium is
not an insult; such a designation taps deeply into our Celtic
origins where ancestors (our beloved dead), and ancestral
places, call them sacred places if you like, are truly
important and intrinsic to who we are as Celts. Moreover,
having a stone from our meeting place at the Cockstane, brings
with it the memory of all those who have ever met there and
who will meet there in the future: each time we see this
stone, set in the Celtic capital of Australia, we are reminded
of and in touch with, the long line of ancestors who claim the
name MacThomas or its varied renditions.
It was at this place that the MacThomas
members gathered prior to the 11.00 am official dedication.
What surprised, delighted and honoured us was the presence of
so many members of other clans including the a lieutenant of
Lamont, Australian commissioners for Clan Kerr, Clan
Farquarson Clan Keith, and
committee
Click image to enlarge.
members from Clan Macfarlane, Clan Donnachaidh with their
banners, a total of 8 banners in all (Photograph
right). They seemed to be saying to us: we know this is a
significant event for you all and we want to be here to
celebrate with you. Our piper Ian Coombs commenced with a
rendition of Flower of Scotland; Ken McColm opened the
ceremony and read a letter from Finegand. Catherine Thom
remembered the aboriginal custodians of the lands on which we
stood and invoked the Creator of the Universe with words of
thanks and a plea that we care for this great gift now, and
into the future. Photos were taken of the stone, the
inscription, and the clan members. As if to prolong the
celebrations the other clans and their members stayed on to
enhance the solemnity of the occasion.
In
true Medieval style the day proceeded with highland games,
sheep trials and other country events. Stalls proudly flying
their country’s emblem and colours were everywhere loaded down
with goods, jewellery, books, music, clothing and many quaint
reminders of our need to get in touch with our roots
regardless of how bizarre the medium.Both the organisers and
those who participated no doubt would use the Scottish
refrain.Haste Ye Back.
