Ayrshire Homecoming goes global

Oct 10 2008 by Stuart Wilson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

THE world is being asked to descend on Ayrshire for next year’s Homecoming celebrations.

Towns that share names of our communities are being invited to show up for the biggest party in years.

MSP Adam Ingram has called on citizens from around the globe to get involved – because their towns share a name link to Ayrshire.

Australia and Canada both have an Ayr, while there’s a Cumnock in North Carolina and an Ochiltree County in Texas.

And Mr Ingram wants their residents to jet over here and celebrate the 250th birthday of Robert Burns.

The SNP man said: “Anyone, anywhere, who has been thinking of visiting Scotland, should be inspired by Homecoming 2009 as a great time to make a journey.

“It will be a year-long celebration of everything that is best about Scotland, and is open to anyone with a love for our country to take part.

“Writing to the mayors of towns which share names with Ayrshire communities seemed like a fun but proactive way of raising awareness of the year, and will hopefully encourage some extra tourism to the area.

“I would encourage anyone in the local area to contact me if they know of any other city, town or village around the world which has an Ayrshire town or village counterpart.”

World-famous women’s golfer Karrie Webb comes from Ayr in Queensland, Australia which has a population of under 9000.

A Scotland-wide programme of events to mark the year is planned, with more events being added all the time.

Heritage sites and local authorities across Scotland are being encouraged to make the most of the opportunity to promote themselves as tourist destinations.