Inveraray Highland Games, Inveraray Castle, Scotland
Tuesday, July 18, 2017, we awoke in Oban, dawned our best Highland attire and headed for Inveraray. We gathered in Church Square at the head of Inveraray's main street. Excited crowds were gathering for the arrival of His Grace, the Duke of Argyll, Chief of Clan Campbell, his family, and the Inveraray & District Pipe Band (2017 World Champion). Our host, His Grace, provided us with shortbread and wee drams of Clan Campbell Scotch Whiskey. We all had the honor of meeting the His Grace and his children. What a moment that was...unforgettable! We then fell in behind the pipe band, the Duke, and his three children, Lord Archie, Lord Rory, and Lady Charlotte. We paraded through town to the park on the grounds of Inveraray Castle.
When we arrived at the park, we were special guest of His Grace, the Duke of Argyll, and were hosted in the Sponsors' Tent. There we met Her Grace, the Duchess of Argyll! The Inveraray Highland Games included several piping and highland dancing competitions, track and filed, heavy events, wrestling, cycling, and the World Champion Caber Championship. There were great food tents (I had a delicious venison burger), and vendors' tents with beautiful highland crafts. I joined the Friends of the Argyll Papers (which benefits the preservation of the Argyll Archives) at their tent.
My Campbell Cousin, Marie, her husband, Don, and I took a second tour of Inveraray Castle. The guides gave us private access to the main rooms as we soaked in the gorgeous ambiance, and incredible history of our Clan Campbell castle! This day will always be remembered as a day of family, honor, and celebration for me! Thank you, Your Graces, Duke and Duchess of Argyll for one of the most amazing days of my life!