On Friday 25th January Port Ellen Primary School on Islay had a very special guest for their annual Burns Lunch and Ceilidh. Mr. Mike Russell, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning for Scotland joined pupils, guests and staff for a delicious traditional three course Burns Lunch including of course haggis, neeps and tatties prepared by Mrs. Holyoake and Miss Brown and then the staff served the children and guests.
The haggis was ceremoniously piped in by one of our dads, Mr. Nigel Morris, pipe major of the Islay Pipe Band. Then the P6/7s recited the first verse of “The address to the haggis”. Mr. Russell recited the second verse while cutting the haggis with a sgian dubh.
Everyone enjoyed their lunch and in the afternoon family and friends came to school for our Burns ceilidh. The children were the stars of the show entertaining guests with recitations of Scots poems, dancing, tin whistle, fiddle and accordian playing and we all took to the floor for Gay Gordons, Canadian Barn Dances and Reels.
It was a fabulous day of Scottish celebrations and entertainment. Lots of people left with smiles on their faces…despite the Islay weather.