Douglas MacQueen's blog

The Scottish National Party (SNP) and Scottish Greens have published details of their new power sharing agreement. The co-operation arrangement states that the two political parties will work together to provide "effective and responsible leadership for Scotland for this session of the Scottish Parliament, in the interests of Scotland, of the people who live in Scotland, and of future generations".

Walter Scott (15 August 1771 – 21 September 1832), was a Scottish historical novelist, poet, playwright. Many historians consider him to be the inventor of historical fiction. His works include the novels Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, Waverley, Old Mortality, The Heart of Mid-Lothian and The Bride of Lammermoor. Born in Edinburgh (Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Èideann). He was one of nine children, six of which did not survive. A childhood bout of polio in 1773 that left him lame, the results of which are said to have has a significant impact on his on his life and writing.

In the days that lead-up to the UEFA European Football Championship final between Italy and England there was no doubting who many in Scotland favoured. As witnessed by the mocked-up image of Italy manager Roberto Mancini as Scottish hero William Wallace as depicted in the film Braveheart (1995) and printed on the eve of the final in the Scottish newspaper The National. The image was also quite a hit with the Italian media.

The Chronicle of Fortingall is a Highland Perthshire manuscript written in Latin, Scots and Gaelic. It was compiled between 1554 and 1579 and includes poetry, short texts, and records of contemporary events. The contents include lists of Scottish kings and notes on their reigns, a Gaelic poem in a writing system based on Middle Scots, a chronicle recording the deaths of prominent men and women within the Highlands from 1390 to 1579 and a list of battles from Bannockburn (1314) to Flodden (1513). The Chronicle has now been secured for the Scottish nation.

This week marks the anniversary of the death of King Robert I of Scotland (11 July 1274 – 7 June 1329) popularly known as Robert the Bruce. He became King of Scotland in 1306. Revered as a national hero he reigned as King of Scots until his death in 1329. Robert led Scotland during the First War of Scottish Independence against England and fought successfully to regain Scotland's place as an independent country.

Nicola Sturgeon First Minister of Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: prìomh mhinistear na h-Alba) and Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) has today (18th May 2021) once again been elected as Scotland's First Minister. The Scottish Parliament (Scottish Gaelic: Pàrlamaid na h-Alba;) had the option for voting for three candidates and the votes were Nicola Sturgeon 64, Douglas Ross 31, Willie Rennie 4, Abstentions 28. Voting went along expected  party lines. 

Nicola Sturgeon has described the Scottish National Party's (SNP) fourth consecutive victory in the Scottish Parliament election as  "historic and extraordinary". She pointed out that her party had won the most constituency seats and secured the highest share of the constituency vote in the history of devolution. In Scotland the SNP won 64 seats, the Conservatives 31, Labour 22, the Scottish Greens eight and Liberal Democrats four. Along with the pro-independence Greens  the results of the election is clear.

Inverness Castle (Scottish Gaelic: Caisteal Inbhir Nis) stands on a cliff overlooking the River Ness in Inverness, Scotland. Although there has been a castle on the site from as far back as the 11th Century, the present sandstone structure was built by different architects in the nineteenth-century. Parts have served as a prison, and it was also used as a Sheriff Court until last year. A Sheriff Court is the principal local civil and criminal court in Scotland.

Research published in the Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society, has reported on the discovery of traces of the stone age inhabitants of the Cairngorms. A team consisting of students from the universities of Aberdeen and Dublin has uncovered evidence confirming people were living in the Cairngorms from as early as 7500 BC.

Wales have deservedly won the 2021 Six Nations Championship rugby union competition this year. Helped on the way by Scotland's dramatic last minute win over France by 23-27 points in Paris. At the end of the game Scotland were presented with the Auld Alliance Trophy. This is a trophy in rugby union awarded to the winner of the annual Six Nations Championship match between France and Scotland.