Douglas MacQueen's blog

Little is known of the mysterious King Galdus. However, in legend he is described as a Scottish Chief who fought the Romans. His fame was such that ancient monuments, built long before his time, became associated with him. However, there is not likely to be any connection between this historical figure and these prehistoric remains.  One of the sites is that of the two Neolithic tombs of Cairnholy, in Dumfries and Galloway in South-west Scotland.

South Uist (Scottish Gaelic: Uibhist a Deas) is an island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. There are a number of sites of archaeological interest on the island, including chambered tombs, Beaker sites, a Bronze Age hoard, roundhouses, brochs, cairns, ogham inscriptions and  Viking settlements. South Uist is also the only location in Scotland where prehistoric mummies have been found. They were found under the prehistoric village at Cladh Hallan (Scottish Gaelic: Cladh Hàlainn).

Perth  (Scottish Gaelic: Peairt) is hosting this year's annual International Celtic Congress 2017 from July 17th to 22nd. The International Celtic Congress (Breton: Ar C'hendalc'h Keltiek, Cornish: An Guntelles Keltek, Manx: Yn Cohaglym Celtiagh, Scottish Gaelic: A' Chòmhdhail Cheilteach, Irish: An Chomhdháil Cheilteach, Welsh: Y Gyngres Geltaidd) is a cultural organisation that seeks to promote the culture, ideals, and languages of the Celtic peoples.

Robert the Bruce, King Robert I of Scotland, was born on July 11, 1274 at Turnberry Castle into the Scottish nobility. He claimed the Scottish throne in 1306 as the fourth great-grandson of David I of Scotland.  As king he lived to see Scotland as an Independent Nation and reigned as the King of Scots until his death in 1329. Along with William Wallace, Robert the Bruce became a symbol of Scottish resistance to English domination.

The Picts were a Celtic society of farmers and hunters and their beautiful artwork and carving can be found throughout the north and east of Scotland. As with the other Celtic peoples living along the Atlantic western coast of Europe, the evidence points to the Picts being direct descendants of the ancient people of pre-history from the Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age who have always lived there. The Picts, however, have remained something of a mystery.

The Paddle Steamer Waverley is close to Glaswegian hearts. Built on the Clyde she first entered service in June 1947 and is now the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world. Waverley is named after Scottish historical novelist, playwright and poet Sir Walter Scott’s first novel. She is powered by a triple-expansion marine steam engine. PS Waverley sailed from Craigendoran on the Firth of Clyde to Arrochar on Loch Long until 1973 when she was sadly withdrawn from service being seen at the time as too costly to operate by the then owners and was in need of significant repairs.

Edinburgh International Film Festival 2017 opened today (21st June) in Scotland's capital and the film God's Own Country features at the opening night gala. The festival ends on 2nd July. Established in 1947, it is the world's oldest continually running film festival and shows a range of feature-length films, documentaries, short films, animations and music videos. Information about this years event are on the festival website.

Catalonia (Catalan: Catalunya ) is located on the northeastern extremity of the Iberian Peninsula and is designated as a nationality by its Statute of Autonomy. It has its own language, laws and customs. Carles Puigdemont is the current President of the Generalitat of Catalonia and is elected by the Parliament of Catalonia. Last Friday, he announced that an independence referendum is to be held on 1 October, in defiance of the Madrid government. The question to be voted on will be: "Do you want Catalonia to be an independent state in the form of a republic?"

The 1851 oil-on-canvas painting of a red deer stag The Monarch of the Glen by Edwin Landseer has been described as encapsulating the majesty of Scotland’s highlands and wildlife. The painting is Landseer's best known work and depicts a ‘royal’ or twelve point stag, which is a reference to the number of points on its antlers.  The setting is said to have been in Glen Affric (Scottish Gaelic: Gleann Afraig), which is amongst the most beautiful in Scotland and located within the Highlands National Nature Reserve.

Saint Columba (Irish: Colm Cille) was born on the 7 December 521 near Lough Gartan, which was part of Tyrconnell and now in modern County Donegal, in Ireland. Columba's father was Fedlimid and his mother Eithne of the Cenel Conaill. He was the great-great-grandson of Niall Noígíallach, Irish high king who reigned in the late 4th and early 5 centuries, and ancestor of the Uí Néill family who were dominant in Ireland from the 6th to the 10th century.