Kincardine Games, Ontario, Canada

[Father Bill]

This summer, we're hoping to travel an hour or so to the north of us to Kincardine http://www.kincardine.net/ for the Scottish Festival July 4, 5, and 6. http://kincardinescottishfestival.ca/ It's something we've never been able to attend, and it's supposed to be a big one, so we're really looking forward to it. My Rector's Warden rents a cottage up there, and yes... there's an extra bedroom! In addition to the three day festival, the pipers march every Saturday in July and August.

On other evenings, the folks of the town are reminded of the story of the "Phantom Piper." The legend runs that in October of 1856, Donald Sinclair, originally from Skye, was travelling from the port of Goderich to his new home when a storm came up and the captain of the wee boat couldn't tell where he was. The waves were high and fierce, and Sinclair, a piper, assuming the loss of the lives of his family and himself, went below and retrieved his pipes. Standing on the tossing bow of the wee skiff, he played a lament for their loss.

Meanwhile, on shore, a fellow piper, hearing the pipes realized both what was happening, and that the pipes alone had the sound and timbre that could penetrate the storm. Running back to his cabin, he retrieved his own pipes, and with a powerful elbow, returned a loud lament to his un-met friend. The wind being in his ears, the captain could hear only the powerful bass drone, but recognizing it for what it was, safely steered to the harbour of Kincardine, then known as "Pentagore" as the rest of the pipes became clearer through the wind. Sadly, they could never find the piper whose quick mind and strong lungs had saved their lives.

In gratitude, every evening for the rest of his life, during the navigation season Donald Sinclair went to the point of the harbour and played a lament while the sun set, and even after his death, the people of Pentagore reported that on foggy, stormy nights they could hear the pipes playing at the harbour.

In memory of Sinclair, the many highly-ranked pipers of the region of Kincardine vie for the right to pipe down the sun every evening of July and August, except Saturdays when the pipe band marches. Climbing to the top of the lighthouse weather permitting, or from the shore when the winds are too strong, they play their laments until the sun can be seen no more. Some of the more elderly pipers are stubborn enough that they play from the top of the lighthouse even in the windiest weather, seeing it as nothing less than a duty.

Today the lighthouse http://www.lighthousedigest.com/dige....cfm?value=586 is owned and maintained by the Kincardine Yacht club, and is the subject of much beautiful photography and art. http://fineartamerica.com/featured/h...star-art-.html


I thought the Great Rabble might like to know about the legend and the festival. Hope to see you at the Scottish Festival in Kincardine. I'll be wearing my Sinclair in honour of my own distant ancestors and especially of Donald Sinclair, the late Phantom Piper.


* For those of you not knowledgeable about the region, Lake Huron at 23,010 square miles surface area, is the second largest of the Great Lakes and the third largest fresh water lake on earth. Since the prevailing wind is from the west, the eastern shore where Kincardine is situated is very much a danger to navigation during storms.

[ASinclair]

What a wonderful story and tradition! Thanks, Padre! This sounds like a great event. If it weren't so far away, I'd love to attend. Have a great time, and be sure to take lots of pictures to share with us when you get back.

[Father Bill]

Well... we went! ...and had a great time!

Kincardine's event is a three day blowout complete with 28 bands, heavy games, dance and piping contest, parades, and the Kirkin' o' the Tartan on Sunday morning.

No, I didn't get pictures of everything, but we did have fun!
Sandy, the Rector's Warden from the church had us stay with her for the weekend at the cottage she rents. (Sandy on the left, my beautiful blonde wife on the right) We watched the parade with all 28 bands (no I'm not posting pictures of all of them, just a few for the flavour)


More following . . .

[Father Bill]

More of the same weekend . . .



and proof that I was there with "Mother Bill."

Next set . . .

[Father Bill]

The town of Kincardine has its own band, the Kincardine Scottish Pipes & Drums and through the summer, they parade every Saturday evening. As they pass a given point on the downtown street, the townsfolk fall in behind and march to the end of the street where the band takes a break before marching the other way back with the whole town in tow. I'm told they've been doing this for over a century!



More . . .

[Father Bill]

Once they get back to the park, they give a 20 minute or so concert before dismissing.



The festival area with vendors, dancers, and other competitions is in Victoria Park which makes it shady unlike those games held in the open sun in a field. Very pleasant! If it's within travel range, you don't want to miss this one next year!