Highland Games 2022

The Grandfather Mountain

Highland Games 66th Annual

A Special Publication of

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Page 2 • Mountain Times Publications GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN

HIGHLAND GAMES

Wednesday, July 6, 2022

A welcome letter from GMHG President Steve Quillin

H

eartiest welcome to the 66th anniversary Grandfather Mountain Highland Games.

Finally, after missing 2020 and holding a very successful, if slightly restricted, 65th Games in 2021, 2022 marks a return to our normal festival with a full slate of events and activities.

I wish to offer my deepest and most heartfelt thanks to the Grandfather Steve Quillin, GMHG Inc. Mountain Highland Games President officials, staff, volunteers, and Board of Trustees who return our Games to the have worked very hard to pre-Covid standard we

have all come to enjoy, and to do so in a safe and responsible manner.

We must recognize that Covid is still present in our society and not everyone will be totally comfortable.

Please respect the wishes of your fellow attendees, vendors and clan conveners with respect to masking, social distancing, personal contact and the like. We can be safe, and it starts by being courteous. We often think of our crowd as a “Mountain Family.” Let’s behave as if we are one big family.

Many thanks to our

Chieftain of the Games, Richard Baird, who is here from his home in Aberdeenshire with quite a collection of his family.

Richard is Commander of Clan Baird and he plans an important ceremony at the Worship Platform on Sunday. Believe me, you want to see it! The Bairds are also closely related to the Keiths, so please make a point to visit the clan tents for both families. Please also take time to visit the tent of the St. Andrew’s Society of North Carolina. They are celebrating the 50th anniversary of

their founding this year at Grandfather Mountain.

A 20-year lease was signed in December of 2021 between the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation (GMSF) and the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. This agreement is very exciting because a 20year extension is hugely important to GMHG. We deeply appreciate the help and continuing support from the GMSF. Please, any of you who can, arrange a visit to the Grandfather Mountain facilities.

They are world class, and

are a tremendous benefit to old and young alike.

Most of all, I want to thank all the Patrons, Tent Conveners, campers, Corporate Sponsors and those buying tickets to ensure the Games could go forward this year. Once again, I am so happy to say, “See you on the Mountain.”

Please find a moment to say hello. I wish you the best Grandfather Mountain Highland Games experience ever!

Yours aye, Steve Quillin President, GMHG Inc.

Games at a Glance & By the Numbers Number of Scottish Clans and Societies: Approximately 100 Number of clan tents: 115 Honored Clan: Clan Baird Distinguished Clan: Clan Keith Distinguished Society: St. Andrew’s Society of North Carolina Featured Society: Losantiville Highlanders Chieftain of the 2022 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games: Richard Baird of Clan Baird Approximated Attendees: 44,000 Registrants for The Bear: 800+ Corporate Sponsors: • Meadowbrook RV Resort.

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HIGHLAND GAMES

Mountain Times Publications • Page 3

Page 4 • Mountain Times Publications GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN

HIGHLAND GAMES

Wednesday, July 6, 2022

Delicious delights await at this year’s Games

BY MCNEIL JOHNSTON MCNEIL.JOHNSTON@AVERYJOURNAL.COM

A

PHOTO COURTESY GMHG

Everything from pipes and harp concerts to the proper wearing of a kilt to lectures on the Viking colonization to Scotland can be seen and heard during a weekend under the tent of the Scottish Cultural Village at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games.

Scottish Cultural Village returns, provides well-rounded experience

BY LILY KINCAID LILY.KINCAID@AVERYJOURNAL.COM

I

f you attended the Highland Games last year, you might have noticed that a few things were missing due to the pandemic, one of which was the Scottish Cultural Village. This year, however, the Cultural Village is coming back for its sixth year.

The Scottish Cultural Village has unique presentations from experts of Scottish culture every 30 minutes. Each day, Blue Ridge Pipes and Drums will perform alongside Scottish folk singer Ed Miller in the Cultural Village.

This year’s programs have a space inside for stamps when patrons attend presentations at the village, and after five stamps, you receive a free Scottish Cultural Village stadium cup.

The Scottish Cultural Village has some recurring presentations that you can catch any day, which are “The Real MacRaes” about Alexander MacRae and his family, and “Wanna be a Scot? 101,” a brief introduction to Scottish culture.

There are also presentations on Clan Tartans, the battlefield of Culloden and John F. Kennedy’s funeral, from the firsthand perspective of a member of the Air Force Pipe Band.

PHOTO BY ROB MOORE

Blacksmithing is one of the cultural trades demonstrated within the Scottish Cultural Village at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games.

ll food trucks and vendors lined up for the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games make for a promising spread of festival cuisine, inspired by the Highlands and favorites of the U.S. alike.

Feast upon many kinds of fare from around the world, from Greek Gyros at The Gyro Brothers food truck, Pies and Sausages from Cameron’s British Foods, local Avery County flavor from the Carolina BBQ truck or the Crossnore Volunteer Fire Department or, of course, a haggis or shepherd’s pie from the Scottish Cottage food truck for extreme Celtic flare for the adventurous.

Don Cameron of Cameron’s British Foods mentioned that his family owned business has been coming to the GMHG for around 40 years.

“We really love it up there,” Cameron said. “I live in Florida, and the Games are up in the mountains, so we get to see something other than palm trees. We’ve made quite a few connections and friends up there... and repeat customers that come to buy our fare! It’s just an enjoyable experience up there.”

On the menu for Cameron’s British Foods include traditional Celtic fish and chips, but the biggest sellers include Scottish meat pies,

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Cameron’s British Foods is a longtime presence for Scottish fare at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

The Scottish Cottage, operated by Mark Ferguson for more than a decade, is a fixture at the Highland Games, serving up smoked BBQ butts, haggis and more in the traditional method of using overseas dried peat to provide authentic Scottish flavor.

House of Douglas Celtic Bakery is an annual fixture on the mountain during the Highland Games, complete with myriad options from fresh breads to cakes and scones to satisfy a sweet tooth.

sausage rolls and haggis.

“There are some real, true, die-hard haggis people up there. I’ve had customers come looking for haggis first thing in the morning for breakfast.” Cameron joyfully added.

Another popular seller for the vendor is the Scotch eggs, which are Cameron’s own favorite. From Paisley, Scotland, Cameron’s father has passed these recipes down for three generations since his arrival in America in 1952, so the vendor is

incredibly authentic.

For those with a sweet tooth, House of Douglas Bakery will offer baked goods inspired by the Scots.

Those interested in more traditional fair treats should find Mr. Coffee Concierge, Jack’s Treat Truck Ice Cream, and Mookie’s Marvelous Kettle Korn.

Cameron expressed that there is novelty in the culture-rich foods at the Games, and he hopes people will check them out... between visits to the clan tents, of course!

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Wednesday, July 6, 2022 GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN

HIGHLAND GAMES

Mountain Times Publications • Page 5

GMHG parking options and shuttle services

BY LILY KINCAID

Newland Elementary.

The parking lot locations are as follows: • Caldwell Community ColINVILLE — Traffic and parking during the weeklege in Boone • 350 NC Hwy. 105 in Linville end of the Grandfather • 401 Avery Co. High School Mountain Highland Games can Rd. in Newland (Avery Lot) be stressful, especially since • 3000 Millers Gap Highway parking on the mountain is in Newland (Millers Gap Lot) limited. But the Games’ shut• 750 Linville St. in Newland tle service makes things much (Newland Elementary, handisimpler.

All of the shuttles will run cap-accessible shuttle) from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., but the On Thursday, parking is by shuttles will not be running from hang tag only and there will be all the parking lots each day. no public parking on the mounRound trip shuttle tickets are tain. There will be a shuttle $10 per adult and $5 per child. going to the Games starting at Children under 5 can ride the 4 p.m. from Avery County High shuttle for free. All handicap-ac- School.

There will be no general parkcessible shuttles will leave from LILY.KINCAID@AVERYJOURNAL.COM

L

ing at MacRae Meadows during the day on Friday, and patrons will have to park in the available space in Boone, Linville and Avery and use the shuttle to get to the event. However, there will be general parking on the mountain Friday night.

On Saturday, there will be no general parking during the day.

Parking and shuttle services will be available in Avery, Boone, Millers Gap and Linville. General parking will be available on the mountain on a first-come, first-served basis Saturday night.

There is no public parking on the mountain on Sunday. Shuttles and parking will be available in Avery and Linville.

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Dating all the way back to the first GMHG in 1956, parking has always been at a premium in the close quarters of MacRae Meadows.

Page 6 • Mountain Times Publications GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN

HIGHLAND GAMES

Wednesday, July 6, 2022

What’s New at the Games?

BY MCNEIL JOHNSTON MCNEIL.JOHNSTON@AVERYJOURNAL.COM

FILE PHOTO

Tens of thousands of ticket-holding patrons attend the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games each second weekend in July.

Grandfather Mountain Highland Games one hot ticket

BY LILY KINCAID LILY.KINCAID@AVERYJOURNAL.COM LINVILLE — With a high demand for tickets to the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, the festival this year decided to suspend advanced ticket sales early to ensure enough time to mail out all the tickets.

While this means that patrons can no longer buy tickets to this year’s Games by mail, online or phone, don’t worry — tickets can be purchased at the office from June 28 to July 5, or at MacRae Meadows beginning July 7. The GMHG office is located at 4210 Mitchell Avenue, Suite 2 in Linville, across from the post office.

Tickets can be purchased in the office with cash, check, credit card or money order, while ticket sales at MacRae Meadows on the day of the event are cash and credit card only. If you purchased your tickets before advance sales ended, patrons should have received tickets in the mail a few weeks before the Games, so be sure to bring them with you.

General ticket prices this year are as follows: • 4-Day Advanced: $75 for adults, $20 for children • Thursday: $15 for adults, $5 for children • Friday all day: $25 for adults, $5 for children • Friday evening only: $15 for adults, $5 for children • Saturday all day: $35 for adults, $5 for children • Saturday evening only: $15 for adults, $5 for children • Sunday: $20 for adults, $5 for children • Sunday family passes (up to two adults and two children): $75 Shuttle bus passes have to be purchased per ticket holder for all daily and 4-day packages, either upon arrival or ahead of time, for $10. Children five and younger get in free.

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his year’s Grandfather Mountain Highland Games will prove to be one for the books, as the Games will return back to normal for the first time since 2019.

Missing pieces from the last two years will be filled, such as the reappearance of the Scottish Cultural Village. The village, after its two-year leave, will fill MacRae Meadows with even more culture, thanks to the artisans, Gaelic experts and Scottish historians that will fill it.

A new piece of the Highland Games features the Highland Echoes Dance Company, who will perform at the Appalachian Theater in Boone on the same weekend as the Games.

“This July, in the moun-

PHOTO COURTESY OF HIGHLAND ECHOES MUSIC & DANCE COMPANY

A Highland Echoes dancer portrays beautiful skill required by Scottish dance.

tains of North Carolina, audiences will have the opportunity to witness a music and dance spectacle like none other when the international Highland Echoes Music & Dance Company performs its full-length stage show ‘Highland Echoes’ at the Appalachian Theater of the High Country in Boone. Presented by

Highland Echoes, a 501©3 charity based out of North Carolina, The Highland Echoes show features 26 of the world’s best Highland Dancers and Celtic musicians,” shares Executive Director and Producer Jennifer Licko. “Dance director Sandra Gribbin and I are incredibly proud to have realized the vision of showcasing highland

dance and music in a contemporary fashion rooted in traditional techniques and history. The goal is to reach today’s audience by connecting them to their story rooted in North America’s rich Scottish heritage.”

Learn more about the Highland Echoes performance at Highlandechoes. com.

Fun for all ages at the Children’s Tent

BY MCNEIL JOHNSTON MCNEIL.JOHNSTON@AVERYJOURNAL.COM

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ocated just behind the Gaelic Tent, the Children’s Tent will provide entertainment for young and old alike! Kids will be encouraged to participate in many complementary events, like face painting, scavenger hunts, live readings, and getting creative with arts and crafts. Kids at the Games will also be invited to enter the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games Drawing Contest if they stop

Children at the Games show off their face paint.

by the tent for their chance to enter and take part.

As a Highland Games favorite, a Passport Booklet

FILE PHOTO

will also be available at the Children’s Tent for all ages to pick up and tote along to each of the clan tents. Clans

may stamp these passports with their individual special marks and help to craft a perfect souvenir.

Special events will also take place at the Children’s Tent throughout the weekend, including musical demonstrations and singa-longs by Scottish Entertainment, magic tricks from Michael McLendon, and several visits from the musicians and bands who will perform at the games.

The Children’s Tent will be open Friday through Sunday 9 a.m. to noon, and from 1 to 4 p.m.

Wednesday, July 6, 2022 GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN

HIGHLAND GAMES

Mountain Times Publications • Page 7

Games for all times!

Grandfather Mountain Highland Games reacquaints present with past

BY JAMIE SHELL

by thousands who return each year to “America’s Braemar.”

EDITOR@AVERYJOURNAL.COM This year’s GMHG is no differGRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN ent. Whether it’s the opportunity — For the past six-and-a-half to try Scottish staple food haggis, decades, Grandfather Mountain or competing in events such as Highland Games has served as a the tossing of the sheaf or The grand tartan reunion. This year, Bear, enjoying the dulcet tones the tradition is perhaps more of Celtic music from bands from steeped than ever. around the world in one of the Each second weekend in July two groves at MacRae Meadows, (this year from Thursday to observing Scottish traditions and Sunday, July 7 to 10), GMHG in- customs or simply stopping by undates and educates festivalgo- a clan tent to learn one’s family ers in traditional Scottish culture, history or pick up a souvenir for a family member or loved one, from pipes and drums to haggis and shepherd’s pie. The four-day Grandfather Mountain Highfestival that is the Games has land Games leaves an indelible been a destination for competiimpression as a unique and funtion, entertainment, reunion and filled weekend.

GMHG is a thrilling event celebration of Scottish heritage

where thousands of visitors enjoy a wide range of activities. The musical competitions — fiddles, pipes, drums, harps and more — are a buffet for the ears, while the Games features dancing events that will have the most novice of dancers tapping their feet to the rhythm. Each year, the athletic competitions at GMHG rival any Scottish games in the world. The foot races such as The Bear, in addition to traditional competitions such as caber throwing, hammer, sheaf and weight tossing, not to mention the popular tug of war, attracts fans and clans of all sizes who cheer the competitors to victory and honor the spirit of friendly competition.

For many attending the Games,

the weekend serves as a family reunion of sorts. The largest single gathering of Scottish clans anywhere in the world, more than 100 in all gather on MacRae Meadows annually for GMHG, as those visiting the Games comprise a population of between 30,000 and 40,000 people.

Tickets for GMHG are available upon arrival at the Games, or visitors may purchase them in the weeks and months prior to the event at the GMHG office in downtown Linville.

Parking is available at MacRae Meadows for patrons and sponsors only are allowed special parking privileges on the mountain for Friday through Sunday, July 8 to 10. Games officials urge

patrons to take advantage of the bus shuttle system, where attendees for a small fee can park in areas including Newland, Linville or the Boone area and get chauffeured to the Games entrance on an individual trip or weekend ticket pass to ride for the entire weekend for a one-time fee.

From the torchlight ceremony on Thursday night to the closing ceremony on Sunday afternoon, GMHG is chock full of events to entertain the entire family.

Grandfather Mountain Highland Games is located off Highway 221, two miles north of Linville and one mile south of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

For more information on GMHG, click to www.gmhg.org.

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Page 8 • Mountain Times Publications GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN

HIGHLAND GAMES

Wednesday, July 6, 2022

Grandfather Mountain Highland Games President Stephen Quillin tells the history and importance of the event

BY JILLYAN MOBLEY

the world,” and that this year about 115 societies will JILLYAN.MOBLEY@MOUNbe on the field. He said that TAINTIMES.COM these games, though not the largest or oldest, are some of LINVILLE – The North the most traditional.

Carolina History Museum “The events that we have hosted an online inforare very narrowly focused mation session entitled on Highland Games that you “History and Highballs” with Grandfather Mountain would have seen in Scotland 75, 100, 150 years ago in the Highland Games President Stephen Quillin on April 14. traditional Highland athletic Up until the 19th century, events,” said Quillin. “We North Carolina was the most can’t have a monstrous field of athletes, but we can have prominent area of settlereally high quality athletics.” ment for Highland Scots.

Quillin said that dancers Many Scottish immigrants settled in the North Carolina come from across the world to compete in the Highland colony, cultivating cultural traditions that remain today. dance competition and pipAccording to historian ing is done by soloists due to William Powell, today’s the lack of space for bands.

Highland Games and cultur- The Scottish Cultural Village typically holds around 200 al events “are the offshoot people and presents a series of ancient Celtic tests of strength and fitness, as well of informational sessions.

Camping is considered a as competitive activities that later took place at cattle unique aspect of the games fairs, or ‘trysts,’ in Scotland.” at Grandfather Mountain.

“Those campers enjoy the Games include tossing large games and they also enjoy objects, dancing, bagpipe the camaraderie that they’re playing and other events. able to have within the The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games began campground,” said Quillin.

“The campgrounds have in 1956 and were organized these little village areas that

by Agnes Morton and they’ve created... These are Donald F. MacDonald. The families of choice, perhaps games are played in a natunot families of blood, but rally occurring field on the families of choice and they side of Grandfather Mounrefer to each other as their tain, MacRae Meadow, at ‘mountain family.’” about 4,400 feet elevation.

The Parade of Tartans Quillin said that the occurs on Sunday and a repGrandfather Mountain Highland Games is the resentative from each clan “largest gathering of Scottish and family society marches. clans and family societies Calling of Clans is a Thurson the planet, anywhere in day night torch lighting cer-

emony where each family is recognized. The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games then runs from Friday through Sunday. Concerts occur on Friday and Saturday nights, with one being Celtic Rock and the other being traditional music with various jam sessions.

Scholarships are awarded by organizers of the non-profit every year to graduating students at Avery County High School that wish to continue their education. All of the scholarships are for four-year financial support for higher education.

“We try to put as much goodwill into Avery County as possible and we try to put our money where our goodwill is,” said Quillin.

“The North Carolina Department of Tourism says our economic footprint each year is somewhere between three and four million dollars now... A big part of the revenue goes to Avery County and our support of the school system.”

The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games also supports Scottish arts by offering financial assistance and awarding scholarships to Scottish dance schools, bagpiping and drumming classes and other educational efforts.

Quillin said that for himself and many others, the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games has become a family tradition.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Stephen Quillin is the 11th president of the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games.

“People who were at Grandfather Mountain as children are still at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games as adults, as grandparents and as great-grandparents,” said

Quillin. “But more importantly, perhaps their children and their children’s children will come to the games and it’s a very important part of their life, their family, their history

and the story that their family will have to tell those who come after.”

For more information on the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, visit www.gmhg.org.

Wednesday, July 6, 2022 GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN

HIGHLAND GAMES

Mountain Times Publications • Page 9

Clan Baird celebrates 50th anniversary, recognized as 2022 GMHG Honored Clan

BY LILY KINCAID

LILY.KINCAID@AVERYJOURNAL.COM

C

lan Baird, the honored clan of 2022, can be traced all the way back to 1240 CE in Lanarkshire, Scotland. They eventually split into several groups, two of which being the Ordinhivas Bairds and the Posso Bairds.

Walter Baird of Ordinhivas was the first Baird to have the written title of “Chief.” He died without a male heir in the mid 1500s and his daughter, Lillias Baird, married Gilbert Baird, who was soon after called “Chief.” This continued for several generations until William Baird lost

PHOTO COURTESY OF DEBRA BAIRD

The Clan Baird Society Worldwide was founded in 1972 at Grandfather Mountain.

everything after the Battle of Culloden. His children, as well as many other Bairds, either left on their own accord or were forced to leave the area in the late 1700s due to their involvement in the Rising of 1745 and the “cleansing of the Highlands.”

PHOTO COURTESY DEBRA BAIRD

Commander Richard Baird and his wife, Polly, at Glen Desseray in Scotland.

Today, only around 5,000 Baird families, a quarter of them total, live in Scotland.

Most of them live in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Fifty years ago, they launched the Baird Family Society at Grandfather Mountain in an attempt to bring the clan back together.

Clan Baird didn’t have a specified leader until 2019, when Richard Baird of Rickarton, Ury and Lochwood was named their Commander. Since then, their membership has doubled.

Their current headquarters is at Rickarton Estate in Stonehaven, Scotland.

Debra Baird, Clan Baird Society Worldwide conve-

nor and third vice president of the Clan Baird Society USA said that Richard has all the attributes and characteristics that you think of when you think of a good Clan Chief. She said she’s excited to see Richard formally installed as their commander and hereditary president and his son as the heir.

Today, the Clan Baird Society Worldwide works to further bring the clan back together and protect and preserve Scottish heritage, art and culture. They aim to support each other any way they can and encourage individuals within the Baird lineage to become members of their society and learn about their heritage.

Highland Games honors academic excellence with scholarship program

BY LILY KINCAID LILY.KINCAID@AVERYJOURNAL. COM Each year, the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games gives up to $100,000 in scholarships to Avery County High School graduates, said GMHG President Steve Quillin.

The total amount they give each year depends on the number of applicants. The scholarships are renewable, meaning that as long as the student is in good standing, they can receive another scholarship every year until they graduate college.

The scholarships don’t have

to be used for university, Quillin said. Recipients can use them for community college or any form of ongoing education past high school. While the Games favors students who are involved in the Highland Games, the scholarships are open to all students, as long as they graduated from Avery County High School.

The 2022 recipients of the GMHG Scholarship are as follows: • Levi Benjamin Andrews • Carly Michele Benfield • Dakota Everett Hoilman • Joseph Jordan • Ethan Jay Shell • Sierra Brooke Smith

PHOTO BY JAMIE SHELL

Avery High School seniors Levi Andrews (left) and Ethan Shell (right) sign letters of intent to wrestle for Appalachian State next season. Both senior students are recipients of 2022 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games Scholarships.

Page 10 • Mountain Times Publications CHRISTMAS

IN JULY

Wednesday, July 6, 2022

2022 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games Map

Wednesday, July 6, 2022 GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN

HIGHLAND GAMES

Mountain Times Publications • Page 11

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Page 12 • Mountain Times Publications GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN

HIGHLAND GAMES

Wednesday, July 6, 2022

GMHG co-founder Donald MacDonald leaves behind a legacy STAFF REPORT EDITOR@AVERYJOURNAL.COM

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hroughout the history of Avery County, there has been a handful of influential individuals who have left behind legacies that will benefit generations to come.

Among these people include the likes of Rev. Edgar Tufts, Hugh Morton and Agnes MacRae Morton. The community lost another one of these rare spirits on Feb. 18, 2021, as Donald Frank MacDonald passed away at the age of 94.

MacDonald’s passion for Scottish culture and abundance of energy helped create the lasting tradition that is the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games.

MacDonald’s story, as told by current GMHG President Stephen Quillin, began in Clio, S.C. MacDonald served in the Navy and went on to study journalism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

After completing his education at UNC, where he crossed paths with Andy Griffith and other influential North Carolinians, he began his career working for the Charlotte News.

In 1954, MacDonald’s interest in his Scottish ancestry led him to attend the Braemar Gathering in Scotland, which Queen Elizabeth II attends every year and was coronated around this time period. MacDonald not only took advantage of the games to see the Queen in person, but more importantly, he brought back a program from the games that he used as the basis for writing several articles in the Charlotte News about Scotland.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Donald Frank MacDonald, co-founder of the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, passed away in February 2021 at the age of 94.

Agnes MacRae Morton, who lived in Linville at the time, thoroughly enjoyed MacDon-

ald’s articles in the Charlotte News and reached out to him to begin planning a similar Scot-

tish event at MacRae Meadows, which she owned, in 1955. MacDonald hit the ground running fundraising, and even brought the Black Watch Regimental Pipe Band, of the third infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, to perform at the Charlotte Coliseum. MacDonald would don his kilt outside of the Charlotte News and sell tickets to the event which brought in enough money for the duo to hold what would become the first Grandfather Mountain Highland Games on Aug. 19, 1956.

MacDonald’s vast knowledge of Scottish history was apparent during the first GMHG, as the date of Aug. 19 also coincided with the historical date of Scotland’s 1745 uprising, also known as the Jacobite Uprising. It was on this date that Bonnie Prince Charlie, who considered his father to be the rightful king of Great Britain, raised his standard in rebellion to the crown and King George II, which led to a march on Edinburgh and the Jacobites’ final defeat at the Battle of Culloden.

Leading up to the first GMHG, Morton and MacDonald held a media campaign through interviews in newspapers throughout the state, leading the first GMHG to be an instant success.

“They began the task of planning for the Games back in 1955, and they used all of their connections to be interviewed in state newspapers in Wilmington, Raleigh, Charlotte, all over the place. By the time the Games rolled around in 1956, they drew a crowd beyond their wildest dreams. They had 1,000 people.

As Donald used to say, ’Boy, we struck a nerve.’ They really tapped into all the Scottishness that was in North Carolina at the time,” Quillin said.

MacDonald served as the first president of the GMHG. He held the post from 1956 to 1961 before getting married in 1961. In fact, MacDonald and his wife’s wedding took place at the Presbyterian church in Linville and was covered by Life Magazine, as it was held in Gaelic fashion complete with a pipe band and kilts worn by the couple and those in attendance.

Life sent photographers and reporters to interview those in attendance. However, the article never ran in the scheduled edition, since the Nixon and Kennedy debates took precedent in the news cycle. After they wed, MacDonald and his wife moved to Scotland where he lived until 2015 before returning to the United States for health reasons.

“He never lost touch with the Games,” Quillin said. “He wasn’t able to attend every year throughout the years, but beginning again in 1990 or so he attended religiously until his health prevented him from attending every year.”

Quillin noted that MacDonald’s passion for Scottish culture “gave legs” to a lot of interest present throughout the state. During MacDonald’s life, he would not only found the GMHG but also the Robert Burns Society in Charlotte and the Clan Donald Society. This love and vast knowledge of SEE MACDONALD ON PAGE 13A

Wednesday, July 6, 2022 GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN

MACDONALD

rights around Grandfather Mountain in 1889 from Walter Waightstill Lenoir, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12A who was the grandson of Revolutionary War officer General William Lenoir.

Agnes was older than MacDonald, and history was present at the GMHG as well. played a critical role in providing MacAs Quillin points out, there are many Rae Meadows as the site for the Games Scottish games held throughout the to be held. Agnes was also responsible country, and the GMHG is by no means for the construction of the Invershiel the largest, but it does feature a unique stone church at the corner of Highway focus on the gathering of Scottish family 105 and Tynecastle. societies, of which the festival hosts the Quillin also held a dear friendship with most of in the world every year during MacDonald and recollected his personalthe second weekend in July. ity, as well as memories together as Mac“That was very much keeping with the Donald traveled back and forth between vision that Donald and Agnes had right Scotland and the United States. from the get-go,” Quillin said.

“Donald was a large man, six-footAlso significant for MacDonald three or six-foot-four. He was very grethroughout his life has been the friendgarious, knowledgeable, friendly, outgoships he formed, especially with Agnes ing, very charismatic. That, and the fact MacRae Morton, as it pertains to the that he could run those articles in the GMHG. Agnes was the mother of Hugh newspaper, he was kind of a pied piper of Morton, who was the developer of sorts. He really drew people to the things Grandfather Mountain. On his mother’s he was promoting,” Quillin said. “I knew side, Hugh’s great-grandfather Donald him extremely well. I considered him a MacRae first bought the development good friend, as did my wife. We stayed

with him in his home, and he stayed with us in our home in the mountains and our home in Durham. Losing Donald will take a big (chunk) out of our lives for sure. He was really a special man to us.”

Furthermore, Quillin shared the story of MacDonald’s Christmas tradition, one which provided quite a spirited celebration of the holiday.

“He was nearly unaffected by age until he was about 90. He was a vigorous man both physically and mentally,” Quillin said. “His Christmas tree each year was decorated with mini-bottles, so that was his tree decoration. He would leave that tree up and leave those bottles on it, and then when he got ready to take the tree down, he would invite all of his neighbors over and they’d take down the tree, and taking down the tree meant you had to drink the bottle that you took off the tree.”

While MacDonald was certainly known for his lively celebrations among friends, he was also accomplished within his chosen profession, both in the US and

Mountain Times Publications • Page 13

abroad. MacDonald was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest civilian honor one can earn in North Carolina. During his time in Scotland, MacDonald worked for the Scottish newspaper The Scotsman, for which he wrote several dozen authoritative articles on the history of the Scottish clans, and he taught journalism at Napier University in Edinburgh. He also wrote a book about the GMHG called “America’s Braemar.”

Among all of his accomplishments, Quillin says that MacDonald’s achievement co-founding the GMHG was the one of which he was most proud, and it is through MacDonald’s effort that people from across the state, nation and world are able to experience the joy the Games brings for generations to come.

“The Games are important to Avery County, and Donald was certainly important to Avery County,” Quillin said. “He had a lot of interests and he was a really great guy. A great guy.”

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Page 14 • Mountain Times Publications GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN

HIGHLAND GAMES

Wednesday, July 6, 2022

Games of the Highland Games tests athletic prowess in varied disciplines

BY JAMIE SHELL EDITOR@AVERYJOURNAL.COM GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN — Thousands of spectators converge on MacRae Meadows every year for the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, returning for the first time in full regalia from July 7 to 10 following two years of muted, adjusted and abbreviated celebration due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

People come to celebrate Celtic culture, for the music, the gathering of the clans, but ultimately many are drawn to the games themselves.

Scottish highland games throughout history were a time to gather and compete to determine who was fastest and strongest. Today, both male and female champions can still claim those titles and revel in victory.

The caber toss and hammer throw are iconic to the Games. Appropriate to the Scots, these sports demand more than the average measure of strength, stamina and sheer determination.

As highland games where world records have been set, the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games attract professional athletes and amateurs alike who are up to the challenge.

Male and female athletes can participate in heavy events, or events more associated with the Games, and light events, such as foot races.

PHOTO BY JAMES SCHAFFER

Heavy athletic events, such as the stone throw and the hammer throw, are annual staples of competition at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games.

Heavy events include the Clachneart, or stone throw.

The athlete must throw a 16-pound stone without using overhand, underhand or two-handed techniques.

In order to throw the stone a greater distance, athletes will spin to gain centrifugal force before flinging the stone as far as possible.

Not only do caber toss participants pick up a 20-foot pole that weighs a daunting 175 pounds, they throw it. Caber toss athletes lift the caber, balance it upright and “turn” it, or flip it to make it fall end over end.

In a bygone time when farming was a way of life, sheaf tossing was an everyday chore. A holdover from that time, sheaf tossing is now competition. A pitchfork is used to throw a burlap sack stuffed with straw over a high bar, without

touching the bar. As the bar is raised, the athlete who clears the bar at the highest level wins the competition.

Similar to the stone throw, the hammer throw requires the athlete to throw a hammer from a standing position. In spite of the hammer weighing 22 pounds, stones have been known to be tossed more than 18 feet.

Light events include the 100-yard dash, long jump, high jump and pole vault.

Adults and kids alike can participate in the Kilted Mile run.

A game of stamina, the Grandfather Mountain Marathon has gained the reputation as one of America’s toughest runs and for good reason. The final 13 miles are straight uphill. Starting in Boone and stretching 26.2 miles

FILE PHOTO

Braidy Miller of Lebanon, Tenn., tosses the sheaf — a 20-pound burlap sack of hay — during the annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. The sheaf toss is one of many sporting events that take place during the four-day athletic spectacular.

PHOTO BY ROB MOORE

Josh Izewski of Blowing Rock (pictured) and Amanda Sorrow of Banner Elk finished first in the 2021 running of The Bear at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games.

long, the trek winds up Grandfather Mountain, with runners eventually gaining 1,000 feet in elevation. The going is tough, but according to GMHG, the marathon

boasts a 96-percent completion rate.

“The Bear” is a popular event that serves as sort of an unofficial kickoff to the Games weekend. A fivemile footrace that begins in Linville and climbs to the summit of Grandfather, the race is known for its grueling elevation change that tests the will of even the heartiest of athletes. As the race’s reputation has grown, GMHG continues to boast record numbers of

participants each year of the event, even with the event’s registration period generally closing several months prior to the actual race.

For the spectator, the games of the Games offer their fair share of challenge and entertainment. For the serious athlete, however, the Games are an opportunity to test one’s mettle and take home several pieces of winning medals and awards.

To the victors go the spoils.

Wednesday, July 6, 2022 GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN

HIGHLAND GAMES

Mountain Times Publications • Page 15

Music at the Games

BY MCNEIL JOHNSTON

Texas prides themselves on respecting Celtic tradiMCNEIL.JOHNSTON@AVERYJOURNAL.COM tion and redefining rock, promising an unforgettable experience for those who he mountain air have, or have not heard will soon be filled with Celtic-inspired a bagpipe used in a rock song! Their Southern rock tunes from all over the sound is very rare, and very world, as musicians from Texas, Tennessee, Scotland high quality, with their pipand elsewhere take the fes- er being a recent grade two world champion. tival stages at the GrandThe Steel City Rovers will father Mountain Highland Games. Traditional strings, also perform on the festival stage, coming all the way drums, percussion and from Ontario, Canada. This pipes will serve as the group performs a self-tisoundtrack for each day of the festival, along with tled genre “celtibilly,” with Gaelic song.

Celtic and North American Highland Games Music bluegrass and folk influDirector EJ Jones has ences. booked many local and reSteel City Rovers pergional musicians that have form with historically acstudied traditional music, curate string instruments, and have the same goal in and revitalize tunes from mind of keeping tradicenturies ago.

“The Steel City Rovers tion alive, and amplifying artists who respect Scottish are a very good example of a Canadian rock band, and Celtic cultures. which we haven’t had at “Scottish culture is a really important thing in our Grandfather in eight years! part of the world, trying to There’s a lot of participabook acts that are going to tion in Canada for tradiplay songs and tunes that tional music. They teach will encourage people to it in school, and there’s a participate and learn (is my lot of public support, so goal as Music Director),” there’s been a parade of said Jones. “Everybody is Canadian bands coming relevant and everybody is to the States because they important in music as part have such good traditional of Scottish culture. Everymusicians there,” shared Jones. body has a role to play.”

A solo artist that Jones is Jiggernaut and Steel particularly excited about, City Rovers are two highly however, is Will MacMoranticipated international performers, with each ran, a lecturer at East Tenband possessing their own nessee State University and individual twist on tradiworld class musician who has traveled the world with tional Gaelic music, and an international following. The Chieftains and other big players. In MacMorJiggernaut, a Celtic Rock band from the heart of ran’s act, he’ll be perform-

T

ing many original pieces, as well as his interpretation of traditional Appalachian tunes on the bagpipes.

“Will is an expert musician, on guitar and pipes and in music production,” Jones explained. “Will knows so much about Scottish and Irish music. He’ll be our biggest (traditional) act, and he’ll be bringing in some of the best players in the country to support him.”

Each day, bands and solo artists will take the festival stages to provide entertainment to attendees amongst the vendors and athletic events throughout the day.

The night, however, will bring a heightened musical

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experience to those who attend the Friday Night Celtic Rock Concert or the Saturday Night Celtic Jam concert.

Many musicians will also get the chance to show their ambition alongside those in the field events with the many musical competitions lined up for the Games. Competitive musical events include Gaelic Mod (or Gaelic Singing), Piping and Drumming, Fiddle, and Celtic Harp, with each category of music providing a workshop or interactive experience at a tent offering festival attendees a chance to learn new instruments and lyrics.

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“I think a lot of people would enjoy (watching) the competitive piping on Saturday and Sunday! We’ll have real competitions happening on the stage, but there’s an announcer system for the judge that will tell the audience what is going on during the competition, and we’ve scheduled these events in hopes that the audience will really enjoy the performances,” Jones shared.

The piping competitions will be held on the Alex Beaton stage, named after the first performer that the Highland Games held. Beaton recently passed away, and the Games will hold a tribute to him at the Thurs-

day night torch lighting, and another on Friday on the Alex Beaton Stage. “(Beaton) actively supported other people who were performing traditional music, including the people coming up after him in a way he didn’t have to,” Jones said.

Musical performances at the Highland Games will prove a great sense of culture still exists among participants. Attendees can attend a multitude of musical events throughout the Games, and are sure to feel a great connection to the Highlands through the beautiful sounds of pipes, voice and strings that will honor Scottish tradition.

Liivvee Liv

Page 16 • Mountain Times Publications GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN

HIGHLAND GAMES

Wednesday, July 6, 2022

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