Mull of Galloway Festival to celebrate the Community buy-out

Vicki Adams at the Mull of Galloway FestivalThe Mull of Galloway Festival took place last weekend as a celebration of the first anniversary of the Community Buy-out at Scotland’s most southerly point and was a huge success. There were record numbers of visitors climbing the lighthouse and visiting the exhibition and everything was free!

The Festival was opened on Friday 8 August at 11am by Maureen Chand, Chairperson of the Mull of Galloway Trust and special guest Vicki Adams.

Crafters from Kirkmaiden Parish and beyond joined the festivities displaying their crafts and local farmer, Murray Irving demonstrated the art of making Corn Dollies to a captivated audience and everyone involved enjoyed having a go at creating their own.

On Friday there were tales from George McDermid, a former lighthouse keeper, Sandy Rankin, Julia MacDonald and Jayne Baldwin presented to a crowded Marquee. There Former Lighthouse keeper enjoying the Mull of Galloway Festivalwere opportunities afterwards to purchase signed books and to chat to the presenters.

In the RSPB visitor centre Jayne Baldwin and Shalla Gray from Curly Tale books entertained the young visitors and told children’s stories from their new book “Big Bills Beltie Bairns”.

Throughout the weekend Gallie Craig coffee house sold refreshments from their “Pop up cafe” at the lighthouse and served a delicious take-away menu from the coffee house.

RSPB hosted treasure trails, a festival mural and lots more fun events for all the family. Guided walks around the reserve gave visitors an insight into the wildlife that makes their home at the most southerly tip of Scotland.

Sponge Bob makes an appearance at the Festival

Entertainment for all the family continued on Saturday with Owl Magic, Talk of the Town events, Tank world and African drumming. Dumfries and Galloway Council Rangers amused the visitors with paper Gannets and Wigtownshire amateur radio club broadcast the festival worldwide both over the air waves and the world wide web!

Copyright Beth Currie Sponge BobThe sun was shining and a team of enthusiastic volunteers helped the whole event run like clockwork. Even Sponge Bob made an appearance on Saturday and amused everyone.

The show did go on!

The good weather did not last and the rain fell and the wind blew as Hurricane Bertha hit on Sunday! The programme of events was quickly rearranged to suit the conditions and the show did go on! The music event to be relocated into the Gallie Craig coffee house where visitors enjoyed the Highland dancers, Life O Reilly and Danielle Glover.

Look out for more events next year at the Mull of Galloway, Scotland’s most southerly point.

Sponge Bob at the Mull of Galloway Festival

Local Crafts at the Mull of Galloway Festival

Corn Dollies at the Mull of Galloway Festival

Highland Dancers at the Mull of Galloway Festival

Owl Magic at the Mull of Galloway Festival

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