Burns’ Festival At Ayr

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27427, 13 August 1954, Page 6

Burns’ Festival At Ayr

(From the London Correspondent of “The Press") ~ LONDON, July 21. Scottish societies and Burns’ Societies throughout the world arc* enthusiastic about the International Bums’ Festival which is to be held in Ayr next January.. There have been 39 inquiries from New Zealand societies and letters have poured in to the organisers’ office from America, Canada, and even Russia asking for details. One travel agent in Washington was arranging to fly 70 Burns’ lovers to Scotland for the festival. The Burns’ festival will commence on January 17 next, with a civic reception in Ayr. After a service in the Auld Kirk of Ayr and a wreath laying ceremony at the poet’s statue, the visitors will see Burns’ cottage, the Tam O’Shanter Inn and the Alloway Kirk. They will also tour Failford, Mauchline and Tarbolton and visit Dumphries and Edinburgh.

The 1955 festival will be the first Buras’ festival held in Scotland since 1884. In 1959, the bicentenary of the poet’s birth, the Burns’ Federation are planning a special celebration festival. The organisers have already started an appeal for £20,000 to 'build 20 houses for elderly people at Mosgiel, where Burns farmed.