Bitterroot Scottish Irish Festival 2012

[Blupiper]

Spent this last Saturday (August 25th) in Hamilton, Montana at the 3rd annual Bitterroot Scottish Irish Festival. This is a new Games that has shown really huge growth since it started in 2010. It was held on the grounds of the Daly Mansion in Hamilton. Marcus Daly was one of the Montana Copper Kings and his home is now a museum and historical site in the state. It's an impressive structure (for a former single family home):

The grounds are like an arboretum, with huge specimens of trees to provide shade and cover. We didn't need it in the morning, as a cold snap had the temperature at the start of the piping competition at 36 degrees F (2 degrees C!). By days's end it was 90 (32 C). I was glad I brought my jacket.

Of course, there were dancers, both Highland:

and Irish:

The dancers were in a tent structure, which made for poor pictures. Lots of pipebands (reminds me of the tune W' A Hundred Pipers):

The heavy athletes were there, measuring their stone puts:

and tossing the sheaves (this try was over 30 feet). You want to tell him stripes and tartan don't go together?

These two Irish wolfhounds were very friendly. The large lad accepted scratches behind the ears, but as a leaner, you had to be ready to brace against his 160 pounds. His shoulders were as high as my waist:

We had a good day. This group is a bunch of friends who piped, drummed and danced. Among our group was 3 firsts, three seconds, and four thirds. The woman at the left won the quaich for Outstanding Piper of the Day second year running. The Drum Major is of the winning pipe band, the Edmonton Transit Pipe Band. The yound lad won two seconds in Highland Dance and his Mom is the piper on the left. Of course, the reward that really mattered:

See you in the beer garden!
On the way out, I got a shot of the Bitterroot Mountains. The American West is having quite a forest fire season and the Bitterroots were wreathed in smoke:

This was a fun Games--definitely going back next year.

JMB

[Blupiper]

Sorry, forgot to include the group shot:

This was definitely a Scottish Games. Even the weeds in the parking lot were in the theme:


JMB

[Blupiper]

[Duke of Delrio]

It has been years since I have been in the Bitterroot Valley. Thanks so much for posting pictures of what looks like a very fine time in one of my favorite places.

[mookien]

Thanks so much for the splendid pictures and commentary. I was going to pick a favorite, but I liked them all. They made me wish I could have been there. Maybe, some day. It's only 800 miles as the flow cries.

[MacGumerait]

Blupiper , those are great pics. What a perfect spot for a Scottish Irish Festival , hope it keeps growing ! It's surely a winner , the dogs liked it and nature complied with purple and yellow weeds !

Best , Mike

[kiltbook]

Thanks for the lovely photos.