Kootenai Highlanders Gathering 2013
July 23, 2013
The first annual Kootenai Highlanders Gathering celebrating
Celtic culture was held over the weekend at the River Bend.
Organized by Angie McLaury of McLaury Apiaries and assisted
by volunteers, the event featured traditional Celtic
highland games, performed in temperatures reaching into the
90s, as well as pipers, drummers, clans in traditional
dress, music, food, and vendors.
Researching their heritage led to the participation by the
McLaury boys, Dan, Jon and Drew, in their first highland
games last year in Boise and Hamilton. From that experience,
the family pondered the idea of bringing the games and
associated festivities to Libby, and the Highlanders
Gathering was born.
The event was sanctioned by the Scottish American Athletic
Association (SAAA), which provided members to set up, run
and judge the games, which included the 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, and weight throw. Kids had
their own special activities as well.
Mark your calendars for next year's Highlanders Gathering, a
unique, fun event celebrating Celtic heritage.
Photos by Maggie Craig, LibbyMT.com
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