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23 August 2008
Dear Friends,
GIFTS –
PUBLICITY
Thank Yous
Rosemary and I think we have
completed sending out thank yous to the legion of individuals who helped us
make the Gathering possible and a success. I fulfilled my promise of a
prize for the sport winners (I had mentioned ribbons but they thought they
were really getting prizes). I purchased the latest book by Lorn Macintyre
but was unable to ascertain who the winners were in time to give them the
gift. The books were misplaced and are still in Scotland. Instead, I have
given the Triathlon winners two T-shirts and one each for the winners of the
Golf and Dart Tournaments. Those who placed 1st, 2nd,
or 3rd received an award certificate.
Our many volunteer
entertainers received a MacIntyre T-shirt.
Publicity
The Gathering was certainly a
hit as far as the Oban Times was concerned. We were the headline feature
three weeks running.
On 17th July the
headline with a color photo was “MACINTYRES HEAD FOR HOME”. On Page 3 there
was an enlarged photo titled, “Clan MacIntyre gathers in homelands”.
On 24th July,
there was a large photo of the Taynuilt Highland Games Parade with large
caption, “Games are focal point for clan gathering”. On Page 8 the full
page headline was “Clan brings extra shine to games” and “Taynuilt event
attracts MacIntyres for all corners of the world.” The top photo showed our
parade around the field which appears to be endless. In all, there were
four accompanying articles including a complimentary editorial and very
complimentary comments in their regular column From the Tower by McCaig
a.k.s Coll MacDougall, who also interviewed me on his popular Sunday morning
radio program (13th July).
I thought that this was
excellent coverage and would be the end of it, but yesterday I received
three copies of the 31st July, Oban Times with the headlines, “CLAN GATHERS
FROM AROUND THE WORLD” and a color photo taken by William Mateer of our
entire group at Glen Noe. The greatly enlarged cairn was in the forefront.
The entire Page 11 was devoted to our Gathering with a large type headline,
“Clan members unite in Glen Noe” and a subheading, “More than 300 MacIntyres
arrive from all corners of the globe for their first world gathering”.
There was an enlarged photo of the one on the front page with the caption:
“Around 220 MacIntyres gather at their ancestral lands in Glen Noe.” There
was also a photo taken at the banquet. There was a quip “ As folk waited for
lifts [at the end of the banquet when it was raining], a taxi driver drew up
and utter the immortal words: ‘A taxi for MacIntyre?’” [and everyone stepped
forward.
The page was completed by a
story and photo of the playlet that was part of the Taynuilt Guided Tour and
a story about the Taynuilt Ceilidh in which a number of our entertainers
performed.
For those who couldn’t make
it this time and for those who want to return, there have been statements
made (not by me mind you) that there will be another gathering five years
from now. I will gladly give them my notes on what went right and what
could be improved. Rosemary, who took over the management of the Banquet
when she saw I was drowning, still talks about how she would have improved
what I thought was a perfect evening and I still think about what I should
have done but didn’t. But all said and done, it was a memorable adventure
that no one who was there will ever forget. As the days, months and years
go by the glitches will fade away into the distant past and the fond
memories will come to the fore with nostalgic reverence:
“Remember when the boat
landed and I put my foot on Glen Noe soil . . . . . .?”
“It seems like yesterday when
we . . . .“
Sincerely, Martin
MacIntyre, Gathering Convenor
P.S. Send those photos to:
alastairi@electricscotland.com and
w.mateer@btopenworld.com
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