A free festival to celebrate local Jacobite hero and Gaelic poet, John Roy Stuart, was held in the summer of 2007 as part of Highland Council’s Year of Culture.

A big thank-you to all those who participated over the weekend! The photogallery shows a selection from the day’s events.

The John Roy Stuart Festival (Fèis Iain Ruaidh) was held at the Hayfield, Glenmore, near Aviemore, on 18th & 19th August, 2007.

John Roy Stuart was a great swordsman, poet, piper and charismatic leader in the 1745 Rising. He was involved in all the Rising battles and, after Culloden, he hid for months in Glenmore, having many close encounters with the Redcoats, before escaping to France.

The festival included displays by the re-enactment group ‘Glenbucket’s Highland Regiment. An 18th century ‘village’ was re-created, with local craftworkers demonstrating their skills. Storytelling and music from the children of Fèis Spè added to the event.

The evening saw a cèilidh in a marquee at the Hayfield. Gaelic singer, Ishbel MacAskill, storyteller, Essie Stewart were amongst those taking part.

On Sunday 19th there was a walk to the summit of Cairngorm to unfurl the modern replica of the ‘Green Banner of Kincardine’. According to legend, this was done by John Roy’s standard bearer on the anniversary of the Raising of the Standard at Glenfinnan.

This event was supported by Highland 2007, Cairngorms LEADER+ Programme from European Structural Funds and V.A.B.S / HIE Inverness & East Highland Enterprise with support in kind from Forestry Commission Scotland, Highland Council and Rothiemurchus and Glenmore Community Association.