Kootenai Highland Gathering July 19-20
3rd weekend in July at The River Bend
by Maggie Craig, LibbyMT.com
May 13, 2013
Do you have any Celtic heritage? Scottish, Irish, Welsh? Whether you do or not, you won’t want to miss the first annual Kootenai Highland Gathering, sponsored by the newly-formed Kootenai Highlanders organization. Angie McLaury of McLaury Apiaries, along with some dedicated volunteers, has organized Libby’s first-ever Celtic Highland Games, a tradition that dates back centuries.
Celtic nations include Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Cornwall and the Isle of Man. A wealth of information exists regarding the history of the Celts, and the McLaury family has extensively investigated their heritage. This led to the participation by the McLaury boys, Dan, Jon and Drew, in their first highland games last year in Boise and Hamilton.
Traditionally, gatherings and games were held as a means of allowing clans to come together to celebrate their kinship, and to practice the art of warfare. As with any social gathering, there would also be food, music, trading, and competitions. Today, highland games are held throughout the world as a way of celebrating Celtic culture and heritage, and certain traditions have come to be expected at the games, such as bagpipes, kilts, and heavy games like the caber toss and stone throw.
While these highland games will celebrate Celtic heritage, it’s also an opportunity to bring a fun-filled, family-friendly event to Libby. The hope for organizers is that the event will become an attraction that will grow every year, and show the positive face of Libby and this beautiful area to the outside world.
The event will be held at the Riverbend on July 19-20 and is sanctioned by the Scottish American Athletic Association (SAAA), which will provide members to set up, run and judge the games.
Games include:
• Caber Toss
• Braemer Stone
• Weight over Bar
• Light Weight for Distance
• Heavy Weight for Distance
• Open Stone
• Sheaf Toss
• Light Scottish Hammer
• Heavy Scottish Hammer
• Weight Throw
Competition is open to men, women and children, and other special activities are planned for kids.
In addition to the games, there will be pipers, dancers, music, vendors, and of course, food. Saturday’s admission is $8/general, $5/seniors and military personnel, and kids 10 and under are free. For entry forms or more information, call Angie McLaury at (406)293-3022. In the meantime, mark your calendars for a unique, fun event July 19-20 at Libby’s first annual Kootenai Highland Gathering.
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