Douglas MacQueen's blog

The Firth of Tay (Scottish Gaelic: Linne Tatha) is a firth in the east of Scotland into which the River Tay (Tatha) empties. The River Tay is the longest river in Scotland and originates in western Scotland at the mountain of Ben Lui (Beinn Laoigh).  Then flows easterly, eventually reaching the city of Perth (Peairt) where it becomes tidal, and travels on to its mouth at the Firth of Tay, south of Dundee (Dùn Dè). 

The Scottish National Party (SNP) is holding a national “Day of Action” on Scottish independence tomorrow. The party’s depute leader Keith Brown said MPs, MSPs and activists would be given a target of speaking to 50,000 people across the country on Saturday 29 September. This comes ahead of the SNP conference in Glasgow next month and as preparations for a second referendum on Scottish independence continue. The latest Social Attitudes Survey shows that the number of people who view independence as a positive for Scotland’s economy now exceeds those who believe otherwise.

V&A Dundee opened its doors for the first time to the public on Saturday 15 September 2018. Scotland’s first design museum, V&A Dundee looks at the international importance of design and also presents Scotland’s design achievements. The museum's Scottish Design Galleries are a central feature, with hundreds of exhibits of Scottish design. Within these galleries is the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Oak Room, restored, conserved and reconstructed through a partnership between V&A Dundee, Glasgow Museums and Dundee City Council.

A new graphic novel, featuring further exploits of Scotland’s first comic book superhero "Saltire" will be launched at the Glasgow Comic Con this weekend 22-23 September. Saltire is the creation of Glasgow born John Ferguson and published by Diamondsteel Comics.  On their website, creator John Ferguson describes the Scottish superhero: “Saltire is an immortal being created thousands of years ago to protect Scotland and its people.

St Columba’s Ui Church (Eaglais na h-Aoidhe) is a 14th Century ruin located on a sandy isthmus near Stornoway (Steòrnabhagh) on the Isle of Lewis (Leòdhas) in the Scottish Outer Hebrides (Na h-Eileanan Siar). An isthmus is a narrow strip of land that connects two larger landmasses and separates two bodies of water. The church stands within a cemetery and is just above the high water mark. It is a burial place for the Macleod chiefs and the Mackenzies who later controlled the island.

This Sunday sees the Edinburgh Riding of the Marches. Over 20,000 spectators from Scotland and around the world are expected to view the event. The annual tradition dates back to 1579 and commemorates Randolph Murray’s return with the ancient Blue Blanket and the tragic news of the defeat of the Scottish Army at the Battle of Flodden on 9 September 1513.

The future of the Old West Kirk  in Greenock (Scottish Gaelic: Grianaig) has been uncertain for some time. It is a building of historical importance. It was built by Johanne Schaw for the people of the town after the granting of a Royal Charter by King James VI of Scotland and was opened for worship in October 1591.  As such it was the the first church built in Scotland after the Reformation in the 16th century. As the population grew and new churches were built, the Old West Kirk was closed in 1841 and the congregation moved to a new West Kirk.

The future of the Old West Kirk  in Greenock (Scottish Gaelic: Grianaig) has been uncertain for some time. It is a building and of historical importance. It was built by Johanne Schaw for the people of the town after the granting of a Royal Charter by King James VI of Scotland. and was opened for worship in October 1591.  As such it was the the first church built in Scotland after the Reformation in the 16th century. As the population grew and new churches were built, the Old West Kirk was closed in 1841 growing and the congregation moved to a new West Kirk.

Lockerbie (Scottish Gaelic: Locarbaidh) is a town in southwestern Scotland. The town has been in existence since the time of Viking influence in the period around 900AD. This part of southwest Scotland, including the ancient Gaelic Kingdom of Galloway, had increasingly fallen under Norse-Gael control during the 9th to 13th centuries. Sadly, the town came to international attention on 21 December 1988 after Pan Am Flight 103 crashed there following the awful terrorist bomb attack aboard the flight.

Brick to the Past, is a team specialising in historically-themed Lego models, Using about 35,000 pieces they have built a model of Dùn Deardail Celtic Iron Age hillfort in Scotland. It was commissioned by the Fort William-based Nevis Landscape Partnership. It was built by Dan Harris of Brick the Pastand over a period of nearly seven months. Once built it had to be disassembled into smaller sections, in order that could be then re-assembled Glen Nevis Visitor Centre.over the course of four hours.