1st Annual Mountain State Scottish and Celtic Gathering
May 29, 2021
West Union, Doddridge County, West Virginia
Getting There and Setting Up
 |
Car Magnet
|
On Friday, the 28th of May, we drove to Doddridge County to put up the tent to be ready for the 1st Annual Mountain State Scottish and Celtic Gathering on Saturday. Anyone seeing us pass would have known who we were: Clan MacAulay of West Virginia. The weather was wet but not unbearably cold. The cold was biding its time until Saturday.
 |
It Rained, How it Rained
|
 |
Getting the Top On the Tent - In the Rain - John, the Committee of One, Paul and Fred, Jr.
|
 |
Top's On, the Rain Ends for a Little While - Paul, John, Fred, Jr.
|
 |
The Sides Go Up - Still Not Raining - John, Paul, Fred, Jr.
|
 |
The Sides Going Up
|
 |
Both Sides Almost in Place. The rain held off.
|
It rained most of the day, on Friday, the day before the Gathering. It rained driving down to Doddridge County. It rained, most of the time, while we were there. It rained all the way back home. The weatherman predicted 40% chance of rain for Saturday.
Early Saturday came with a foggy morning, and it was in the high forties to low fifties - COLD! It was too cold to be sitting outside all day, especially if it rained.
It rained, but not in downpours. It misted and pitter-pattered to the ground, not interfering, too much, with the days scheduled events.
But it stayed cold! Scottish weather everyone was saying and grinning. At the end of May, there some of us were, zipped and buttoned into winter coats (mine with a hood). Some were wrapped in blankets, and some were wishing they had them.
Then, there were the kids, running around in tee shirts and shorts, splashing in the puddles. All day, they played that way. None of the adults responsible for them seemed worried at all. Who could judge? The kids were, seemingly, unaffected by the rain and the cold. They were having a great time!
The men wearing kilts had their long socks to keep their legs warm. A couple of women in Scottish dress pulled the fabric up over their shoulders and heads to stay warm. (Maybe they had thermals underneath.)
None of the clans left to go home. They stayed all day. But only three had ventured out for the event when six were expected. Clan McDowell/McDougal, Clan Ferguson and Clan MacAulay were too tough to stay home.
A talkative, friendly man stopped by about mid-way through the day. He had lived in the area at one time and was there taking care of some family business. He mentioned the West Virginia Tartan, and Fred III motioned to the Tell Me About the West Virginia Tartan binder I had made about the history of the WV Tartan. I remarked that most people do not know that West Virginia has a tartan. "I'm not most people," he said. Sometimes, you have to laugh, and we did.
A family friend had driven through terrible thunder and lightning storms, with pounding rain, all the way from Dallas, Texas. He arrived the evening before the Gathering in the little town where Fred, Jr. had grown up - about two hours from Doddridge County. The next morning he got in his rental and drove to Doddridge County, getting lost on the way, to see the family and enjoy his first Scottish/Celtic festival. A Kennedy, he was surprised to learn there was a Clan Kennedy in Scotland. Lord make me right, for I canna change ma mind amused him, greatly.
The Tent is Ready
 |
| Finishing Touches - Fred III and Anitra |
|
 |
Four Trifolds, Several Maps (Ireland and Scotland) - Paul Designed the Layout of the Tables.
|
 |
Clan MacAulay Trifold - Three Ring Binder Learning, Flip Page Learning
|
 |
Clan MacAulay of Maryland Banner (curling), Small Clan Map, Guest Book, Clan MacAulay Trifolds
|
 |
Clan MacAulay Trifold Learning - Guest Book & Business Cards - Three Ring Binder & Flip Pages
|
 |
| More Clan MacAulay Trifold Learning - Three Ring Learning: Tartans and West Virginia Tartan |
 |
Two Trifolds on Table and Two on the Floor - Three Ring Binders and Flip Pages on Table
|
Anitra's Photos from a Better Phone Camera
 |
Right Side of Tent and Inside - Me a Black Bundle with Hood
|
 |
Outside and Inside of Tent - Scotland Maps on Inside - "There is such a thing as too much," said Fred III.
|
 |
Tent Duty - Fred III, Me a Black Bundle with Hood
|
And Then It was Over
Although it stayed cold and damp all day, it was a wonderful experience. We met interesting people and a few we already knew from Clan Ferguson.
There were representatives from Clan McDowell/McDougal, from Virginia, who stopped by to talk and share some knowledge. In their tent, they had weapons to demonstrate, and the lady was in Scottish dress.
A husband and wife from Clan Bell stopped by with an invitation to join the Scottish Heritage Society of North Central West Virginia. They stayed a while, looking everything over, and we had a nice chat.
https://www.facebook.com/Scottish-Heritage-Society-of-North-Central-West-Virginia-134277366630716/
Scottish Heritage Society of North Central West Virginia
Clan Ferguson - Facebook
Clan Ferguson Society of North America
Clan MacDougall Society of North America - Facebook
Clan MacDougall or Clan MacDowall
Clan Bell North America - Facebook
Clan Bell North America
When the hunger pangs struck, we ate some good Scots/Irish style food: Guinness Stew in an enormous bread bowl, bangers and mash, Colcannon, and Scotch eggs. What! The potatoes were instant! The bangers and mash had no gravy! The sausage was Italian, not haggis! That's what happens to food when it comes to the fair.
When approaching the tents, people act in different ways. Some come right in and start looking around. There is no small talk and not even a nod from them. Others stand on the outside looking in. They have to be invited inside, like entering on their own would be intruding into your home. Once inside, they behave like any other visitor.
Several people took advantage of the maps and books to locate their clan and wanted to talk about what they knew of their heritage. Some were not sure if their ancestors were Irish or Scottish. We were able to sort some of it. We found a Baird whose ancestor was likely a bard (poet). We found the Craigs, who might have been a Sept of the MacDonald Clan. Some came back to say "good-bye" as they were leaving.
"You would win the prize for best clan tent," we were told. WOW! to that. "You have a great tent." Another WOW! We'll do things a little differently, next time, though. Adding more space will be the first thing to do. Eventually, we will add more "Tell Me About" books and flip cards, too. So many projects and so little time!
As Mr. Clan Bell observed, when you are manning a tent, you miss the events taking place "out there". I missed seeing the coos and huge Belgians. I missed the Celtic dancers. I missed the Celtic entertainers. I missed the Highlander Pipe and Drum show. I missed the games. I missed everything, except for what was nearby. But I was there and very happy that I was.
The Large Clan MacAulay of West Virginia Banner
The Clan MacAulay of West Virginia banner will have to have its own support to lift it above the tent entry. It is long and bulky. At 10 feet wide and 2 1/2 feet high, it covers the entry, making bending over necessary to get inside the tent. Thinking caps are on.
WBOY TV Story
Doddridge County holds Inaugural Mountain State Scottish and Celtic Gathering
