Clann Alba Forums: Clann Alba

I have just read with great sadness that our local SNP Councillor John Law has died.

http://news.bbc.co.u...ral/8515258.stm

I knew John since 2002 and always had a great respect for him. I haven't spoke to him in a while since I stood back from attending Community Council meetings but know that he will be a great loss not only to his family and the SNP but to local politics. He was a committed Nationalist and I am sure will be sadly missed.

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A new Scottish online paper has been launched. The Caledonian Mercury. I have yet to have a good look through but here is the link.

http://caledonianmercury.com/

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Has anyone done research into the movement of Border Reiver families to the Ulster Plantations?

Most books mention that this occurred when James united the two kingdoms to break the power of the Border families but I have been unable to gather any specifics, names, dates etc.

My father's side emigrated to NZ from County Antrim in 1856. They were protestant and had a Border Reiver name so I would like to be able to trace back if at all possible.

Brian

For those that were unaware. David R Ross the Author has died at the age of 51. David was the gentleman who was involved in the Walk for Wallace. My sympathy goes out to his family and friends.

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It has been a long time since I have posted, but I thought this subject might prove of amusement to the good folks here

Though Halloween isn't much of a big thing across the pond here in the states we enjoy this celebration quite a lot. My wife and I love Halloween and enjoy throwing parties and dressing up. I do not consider the kilt a costume but I find it a challenging proposal to intregrate a kilt into a costume while still being respectful to the kilt.

This year my lovely wife and I were Lady Macbeth and Macbeth from Shakespeare's "The Scottish Play". Now of course the real Macbeth lived far before the kilt developed but I tried my best to come up with a good Shakespearean era take on the character.

Here are a few pictures of us in full costume















By the by, my lovely wife wasn't shooting for any time of historical authenticity, she wanted her Lady Macbeth to be cool, sexy, and dangerous looking. I think she hit the mark splendidly!

More to come

Are the SNP are now jigging to a Unionist fiddle? There has been no support for an Independence referendum from the other parties in the Scottish Parliament. The SNP will lose a vote to put the question of Scottish Independence to the people of Scotland. To counter this the SNP have decided to revise the favoured question on the referendum Paper and are looking to add a further question regarding more powers to the Scottish Parliament. This may entice other parties to support the Scottish Referendum Bill.

There is now a wee bit of a difficulty with this. In the Queens speech she is to outline a promise by the Labour Government that Scotland will be given more powers as suggested by the Calman Commission. This negates a third question on the referendum paper with regards to more powers, does it not?

Interesting times indeed.

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The Glasgow East By Election takes place tomorrow the 12th November. This by election takes place after the resignation of Micheal Martin the Speaker of the House of Commons.

There are a number of candidates but the four main candidates are from the Scottish National Party, The Scottish Labour Party, The Scottish Liberal Democrats and the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. The Scottish Labour Party have a majority of 10134 votes.

Do I think that the Scottish National Party will win this by election, not a chance. Even after 50 years of Labour Domination in this area the area itself is still impoverished, you have to ask yourself the question, "if the labour party can't get it right for 50 years what chance do they have of getting it right over the next 5?" Very little I would suggest. You have to remember that there is a saying for the electorate in this part of Glasgow "Put a red rosette on a monkey" and they would still vote for it, sad, but true.

I don't think it will make a massive difference to the Scottish National Party as they don't expect to win but it may just take the wind out of their sails a little and give a wee bit of hope to the Scottish Labour Party.

I would suggest a majority of 7000 for the Labour party with a slight rise to the SNP regards their percentage of the vote.

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BBC NEWS | UK | Scotland | Alex Salmond webchat

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We've got what it takes | SNP - Scottish National Party

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Sept. 1 to Sept 14, 2009

Scotland September 2009 pictures by HollydaleK - Photobucket