Clan Sinclair at the NH Highland Games & Festival
A wonderful opportunity for us all to get together
By Rory Hallowell, New Hampshire Commissioner, Clan Sinclair
This year’s NH Highland Games & Festival in Lincoln, New Hampshire, was nothing short of spectacular. Whether you came for the competitions or to experience the culture, the Highland Games offered something for everyone, from athletic events to seminars and cows. With a gorgeous view of the White Mountain National Forest, my brother, mother, and I hosted our Sinclair tent for three days, enjoying the music, competitions, food and various seminars that bring Scots and tourists together year after year.
While many Sinclairs attended, from Rhode Island, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Edinburgh, we proudly stood among dozens of clans that filled the festival grounds with color, history, and haggis. The Clan tents buzzed with stories of Scottish pride, from tartans on the moon to legendary voyages far and wide. The tent grounds were filled with plaid-clad visitors and excited children—everyone wanted a sticker.
Our tent, though quiet at times, was more often filled with conversation and new friends. The marathon of pipe music never ceased, and the White Mountain Sun provided much-needed warmth. As the cabers, rocks, and banners flew high, and the Highland dancers paraded the fairgrounds, the Scottish spirit seemed alive and well in New England.
This year’s seminars were particularly relevant to Clan Sinclair, with Christina Sinclair providing a captivating account of Edinburgh’s ancient stones, cobbled streets and spectacular arts. Likewise, author David Brody provided a riveting tale of Prince Henry Sinclair, along with evidence of his pre-Columbian voyage to the New World. Of all the fun moments from the weekend, few were more thrilling than our realization that our Tartan had been the first to grace our rocky New England shores! My experience at the games left no doubt—it won’t be the last. Alba gu bràth!
For now, the Holy Grail was passed off to the Sinclairs and Scots at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games held in October in North Carolina.
