Livermore Scottish Games
and
Celtic Celebration
During late 2005 when visiting California, Pete Wishart MP was approached by the Mayor of Livermore with the idea of twinning their local highland games with an old traditional highland games in Scotland. Discussions followed between Birnam Highland Games and those of Livermore. In April 2006 Livermore Area Recreation and Parks District Board of Directors (LARPD )formally agreed unanimously to "twin" with Birnam Games.
They forwarded an invitation for a delegation from Birnam to attend the Livermore Scottish Games in May. As a result Peter Greig and Clark Robinson from Birnam Games Committee flew to California at the end of May to join Chieftain Lawrence Blair-Oliphant from Ardblair, Blairgowrie as their guests.
The threesome attended the opening and closing ceremonies on both days of the games. During this Scott Kamena, chair of the board of directors of LARPD and the organising committee, presented the formal invitation to twin the two games. In reply Peter Greig thanked Scott and his committee for their great hospitality and presented an engraved Quaich and rare bottle of Edradour Malt whisky as a memento of the occasion. He also praised the committee in Livermore on the excellent standard that they had achieved in such a short history of games in Livermore. He also extended an invitation to members of the Committee to travel to Scotland as guests at the Birnam Games in August. They were also presented to the local Senator, the Mayor of Livermore and all of the attending Directors and members of the Caledonian Club of San Francisco.
Both Clark and Peter were very impressed with the Livermore Games. They found there were a lot of similarities but also a lot of differences between the two games. Livermore has a much larger area available to them. This enabled them to have a large Clan area with 15 or so clan tents, a jousting demonstration, a very large tented camp of the guilds and clan re-enactment groups as well as several stage areas with Celtic rock bands and Scottish folk music being played. They were also pleased to see Bellhaven Beer on sale! After a few test pints, they judged that it had travelled well. Hopefully over the next few years, we will both benefit from the ties between us and both communities will become long-lasting friends.
The Livermore area is a very attractive location to visit. It lies due east of San Francisco.(about 45 mins by road) in a green valley surrounded by vineyards and rolling hills. The climate is very temperate and allows good olives, wine and beef to be produced. I think Clark and Peter can vouch as to the quality of wines they tasted when they toured Wente and Concannon wineries! But they say they have another thirty or so to go before they give their definitive verdict! They would both want to reiterate their thanks to their hosts on their trip, especially Maryalice, Todd, Marshall, Kris and their families and friends.
