Dunfermline 'ideal host' for Homecoming year of celebrations
Published 27 Jan 2012 08:25
6 Comments
MSP Bill Walker has proposed Dunfermline as "an ideal candidate to host major Scottish cultural and historical events" in Scotland's Year of Homecoming 2014.
The year-long event, previously held in 2009, celebrates Scotland's history and capitalises on its diaspora by promoting local areas in order to boost tourism and economies.
Asking Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, whether she considered that Dunfermline had an important role to play, Mr Walker described it as "Scotland's ancient capital, the burial place of King Robert the Bruce, the location of the highly successful annual Bruce festival and the birthplace of Scotland's greatest philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie".
Ms Hyslop said Dunfermline had played a constructive role in previous Year of Homecoming activities and believed there would be "great opportunities to take that forward for 2014."
She added, "I am sure that members across the chamber will want to grab opportunities to promote their areas, to increase tourism and to grow their constituencies' economies as a result of homecoming 2014."
In response to Mr Walker's question about the progress of the 2014 programme, Ms Hyslop said the Scottish Government was working with a range of partners.
She said, "It is envisaged that the programme for 2014 will feature a number of major events, a regional programme across Scotland and a celebration of key anniversaries."
Ms Hyslop added: "It is important that we build on the success of not just 2009, but the themed focus years.
"The year of food and drink helped to maximise the uptake and promotion of Scotland's fantastic resources, and the year of active Scotland helped to promote the Highlands and other areas as destinations of choice for active holidays.
"We are now embracing the year of creative Scotland. That will culminate in another focus on ancestry after the year of natural Scotland next year.
"There are many positive things that we can do and we will ensure that we do them.
"We will work together collectively and build on the success of previous events."
Have your say. Post a comment on this article.
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DunfermlineEast
70 posts
Jan 27, 12:50
Report commentThis makes sense, Pittencrieff Park can host a lot of activities and makes a beautiful backdrop and setting. Dunfermline is 20mins from the international airport, close to Edinburgh and a gateway north, west and east. Dunfermline is also relatively well known in America due to Carnegie links. We all should support the MSP.
Recommend?
Yes 15
No 10
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DBResident
27 posts
Jan 28, 22:34
Report commentDP remind us again how much the last folly cost Edinburgh City Concil, how long it will be before the lawsuits are settled and what benefit accrued to the host city?
I would contend that the people of Fife cannot afford to underwrite the loss this event will inevitably make. We would like potholes fixed, children educated and bins empited once a week first.
Recommend? Yes 11
No 4
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logster
28 posts
Jan 29, 21:28
Report commentThe cost of the Edinburgh Home Coming has been largely covered up,the SNP claimed it was a huge success but in all fairness it was a financial disaster.With the next recession looming down at us it would be wrong to finance another event on the same scale as we had in Edinburgh.
Bill Walker and the SNP would better investing money in jobs and the youth of our country,is he not aware that youth unemployment has doubled this year in Fife alone,but what do the SNP want to do with our 16 and 17 year olds give them the right to vote.
Wake up call here most 16 and 17 year olds could not care about voting,but if given a choice of a job or no job most would opt for a job.
Recommend? Yes 10
No 6
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Chorthie
26 posts
Jan 30, 15:46
Report commentlogster, you are obivously too far away in age from the 16 and 17 year olds. Me in my early 20s i know for a fact more young kids are engadged than you would think. I worked from 17 and yet couldnt vote, i paid tax and lots of it.
Young kids 16-17 can leave school and go into full time work or the forces and therfore should be allowed to vote like the rest of us. What at 18 happens that means you shouldnt vote untill then? If you can pay huge amounts fo tax you should vote on those who decide how to spend it!
Recommend? Yes 4
No 6
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logster
28 posts
Jan 30, 17:18
Report commentWell Chorthie there will always be an element of teenagers who would vote,but after training and teaching that age group for 30 years my views are slightly different to yours.The point being made about this story, is it would be a waste of tax payers money when there are more important things to spend money on.
Recommend? Yes 7
No 7
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nancydrew
5 posts
Feb 14, 21:54
Report comment16 and 17 year olds had the vote in the elections to the Health Board last year but I don't think they participated as much as was thought
Recommend? Yes 1
No 0
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