Ayrshire Icons

[Seare]

Why does Ayrshire only seem to celebrate Robert Burns, never Bruce, (Tar)McAdam, Shankley, Keir Hardie, Foster, etc, etc?

(William Wallace = Comenagh, Kings Kyle)

[suzystardust]

Well probably because Ayrshire is the birthplace of Robert Burns and the man based one of his most famous poems there. Tam O Shanter. The Tam o Shanter public house in Ayr used to be the old museum, but they now have the Robert Burns National Park which incorporates the birthplace of Robert, plus the Brig which was the base for the Tam's horse Meg to gallop over and the witches pulling it's tail off because they can't cross water. I visited there recently when it was the anniversary of Robert Burns birthday. It is a quaint place, and was really fascinating to go onto the Brig itself. Forget about getting a decent pint in the place though or even a whisky. I went looking for a pub for a dram to toast the bard and there not only wasnt one but the local hotel was closed. On the most special day of the year as well!. ended up going back into Ayr where there was a re enactment going on just outside the Tam O shanter pub. I peeked my head inside the pub ( couldn't go in with kids) and I have to say it looks full of character, with lots of caligraphy enscribed over the walls and a reasonable menu also (if anyone is thinking of visiting).

We don't need to celebrate Bruce or Wallace here. These hero's of Scotland are celebrated elsewhere, with the Wallace monument at Stirling and The Bruce monument at Bannockburn. Scotland is steeped in history spreading from the lowlands to the Highlands. We arent greedy with it and try and grab it all in one section. We celebrate The Bard because he was prominant here.