Winter 2021

 We have had a pretty good summer! It was great to get out and about, although our usual regular big shows did not return.

We worked in a new site at Crosmichael. This was an opportunity to interpret the Viking era hoard discovered just accross the river from where we were camping. We also were able to get two of our boats out onto the water - and sail. Both the Catkin curragh we built and the Cluaran yole rowed around the loch. We built a jetty and told stories to the crown from it.

We managed to visit two of our regular Edinburgh schools (George Watson Junior and Cargilfield) although with a reduced crew as the regulations and changes in peoples lives have made everything just that little bit more tricky.

In the Autimn we were funded by Galloway Glens to visit more primary schools. With new recruit Hrefna, we have brought history to life for hundreds of primary school pupills. We have turned their lunch halls into maps of the world, watched their villages develop from settlements into Jarls offs as they play story games.

Tales from the Longhouse are back! We started in November and have guests booked until March. We have also been booked for the "Big Burns Supper. This is an international event held in Dumfries. We are hoping to have an "In person" Tales from the Longhouse session - but lets see what omicron turns out like. At least the Floating Monastery exists both online and in the physical world! we are well placed to navigate whatever comes.

Summer begins for 2021

As Lockdown eases we adapt again. Some people are still restricted from travelling. We all need to continue to be cautious,  as the plague needs people to travel. However, some events that were postponed last year are preparing to happen. This has meant a lot of things have come at a rush. Our equipment has been repurposed, networks scattered and some people are still isolating. It is good to be taking part in events though...     

Setting sail in 2021

August Update

We have a new project "Tales from the Longhouse" Cluaran Interpreters Cathbad and Olaf will be hosting monthly storytelling sessions online. Each month they will have a guest. This will mean three stories and the chance to imagine yourself into the longhouses which have been closed this season.

We moved online for a successful Galloway Glens storytelling event. Olaf and Cathabad told tales from Galloway introducing the myths and legends shared throughout the Irish sea region a thousand years ago.

Since then we have been contacted by several other groups to arrange online sessions. This has allowed us to make knowledge, skills and props available to help interpret history whilst acting to help keep people safe and reduce the spread of Covid-19

This Summer has seen the cancellation of all our planned events. some of our bookings have been moved to 2021 so we have not disappeared. Many of the people who work with Cluaran depend on school visiting for a significant amount of their income. This has obviously stopped for a season as well. Historical interpreters usually have what is known as "portfolio careers" so they have been adapting to provide their skills and services Online and in other ways.
The downside of a flexible work balance is that creative practitioners often fall through the gaps in government support. One of the aims of Cluaran is to provide some stability for individuals like this - we will continue to do so!

An example of this has been made possible with the support of Galloway Glens. We have taken an aspect of our planned village Online! Here is a slide show we will use to welcome people to a storytelling session.

We were booked for a series of events, starting with some Iron age interpretation of the only two anchors from that time found in the British isles. Drostan and Severus negotiated a deal in Dumfries Museum in May. Under the flag of Cluaran, Simon Lidwell of Wordsmithcrafts and Sam MacNeill provided replicas for the exhibition, a schools worksheet, and four days of craft workshops and drama for Primary schools in both Dumfries and Annan Museums.

Cluaran also provided costumed interpretation for the Sleeping Giants "Hidden Histories" project. Working along the river Nith we arranged to provide clothing advice for costumed interpreters, Monks for Dundrennan abbey, Vikings ready to bury a hoard of Treasure, and Blacksmithing (including school level experimental archaeology) workshops.

We also navigated our way into the Viking era in Dunstaffnage and Dumbarton. Here in a repeat booking we provided the clinker built boat as a stage for local fishing and international adventure stories. 10 minute craft workshops where the public could make and take home small net bags, twisted copper armbands and hammered replicas from the Galloway hoard.

Later in the summer we returned to remember the treaty of Perth as Gallowglass warriors.

We rounded the summer off with activities in the West of Galloway taking part in the Stranraer "Skiffie World" International event. We told stories of stones and bones with the Whithorn trust. We demonstrated blunt and edged force trauma on a variety of objects to hep interpret finds from the "Cold Case Whithorn" project.

We also helped launch the Rhins coastal path. Two Vikings, or more accurately, a Viking and a monk were sent into the Rhins to investigate the Kilmory stone with it's cross and tongs. We also gave primary school pupils a chance to try some hands on blacksmithing. With plasticine rather than hot metal - but real hammers!