Music, songs and stories at Burns Independence Supper in Thurso
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A BURNS evening with a difference is being held in Thurso at the weekend.
The event – billed as a Burns Independence Supper – has been organised by Yes Caithness, a grassroots organisation which promotes the idea of an independent Scotland.
Taking place in the Pentland Hotel on Saturday, it will look at the politics of Burns and encourage people to take an interest in the independence debate. There will also be music, songs and stories.
Local writer George Gunn will be presenting the event and reading some of his poems as well as speaking about Burns.
"I will be looking at Burns the republican and democrat and Burns the rebel rather than the image of him we see on shortbread tins," Mr Gunn said. "I want to examine the real politics of the man.
"I want to celebrate the fact that he was a political and radical poet and a republican who lived in a dangerous time when there was no democracy in Scotland. You could get14 years' hard labour for advocating the rights of ordinary people."
During the course of the evening there will be a variety of entertainment performed by Nancy Nicolson, Susan Dearness, Leo Shelley, Addie Harper and Richard Smith as well as David Rosie and Danny O' Hagan and Friends.
"There will be food, music, poetry and drink but it will not be a traditional Burns supper," Mr Gunn said.
Ian Sinclair, who helped organise the event, said Yes Caithness is part of a wider Scottish movement.
"We want to raise the profile of an independent Scotland and encourage people to take more interest in the issue but we also want to have a bit of fun through social evenings," said Mr Sinclair, a well-known local musician.
Yes Caithness has already held local ceilidhs and functions. Tickets for Saturday's event, which gets under way at 7.30pm, cost £20 and are available by phoning 07572526307 or emailing: i.sinclair68@btinternet.com
