Yesterday was Scottish poet and national hero Robert Burns’s 245th birthday.
A considerable portion of Scottish folk song tradition is attributed to his pen, so those of you unfamiliar with his work but interested in things Scottish might enjoy a visit to Burns Country: http://www.robertburns.org
Pat,
My wife and I had our annual Burns Supper at our house on Saturday (1/24). It was our 14th such celebration. We have a fairly loose, unorthodox itinerary with lots of readings (most by Burns, some original), lots of music (supplied by me on guitar/ukelele/whistle, my brother in law on fiddle and vocals, and my friend Anita on Highland Pipes), singing, eating and, of course single-malt drinking.
It started 14 years ago with a small group of friends back in Brooklyn, followed us to New Jersey when we moved, and has now grown to about 30 people, give or take. We now have guests coming from Pennsylvania, Massachussets, and even California, for the event.
My friend Bennett, who originated this, is the MC and my wife Connie, who is a chef, makes the cullen skink (smoked haddock soup), bridies (Scottish meat pies), neeps and tatties (mashed turnips and potatoes) and of course, haggis.
It is a splendid time indeed! Check out our Website (done by Bennett) when you have a second:
http://www.auldlangsyne.org/
This year, our biggest Burns musical hits were the songs “Mary Morison” (ukelele and vocals), “Parcel Of Rogues In A Nation” (guitar/vocals), and a solo guitar arrangement of “Ye Banks and Braes of Bonny Doon” (which I shamelessly stole from Tony McManus!). This year also saw my debut on the Low Whistle… since it came after several wee drams, it was riddled with mistakes, but I did not care! 
Dumb ol’ Burns suppers. Caused half our pipers to have to leave in the middle of our tionól in Salt Lake. Had to go pipe in the haggis or some such nonsense. Sheesh! 
pthouron: Excellent! It sounds like you all had a blast. We take Burns pretty seriously here.
There was a superb Burns supper here last night in Chicago at Martyrs’ Pub, complete with haggis, song, and poetry.
We were honored to have a recitation of “Tam O’Shanter” by Donal Smith, who recited the whole massive poem flawlessly and entirely from memory with spellbinding delivery. Tim O’Sullivan gave us an equally delightful recitation of “To A Mouse”. The toast to the immortal memory of Burns, given by Donal Linsay, included a reading of “A Man’s A Man for A’ That”. And of course at the end of the evening, “Auld Lang Syne”.
As for the music, there were performances by fiddler John Daly, legendary guitarist but humble and all-around nice guy Dennis Cahill, Kieran O’Hare playing a Cape Breton air on the flute, Kat Eggleston (a lovely, lovely singer, who gave us a beautiful rendition of “Rantin’ Rovin’ Robin” to kick things off), and sean nos singer Aine Meenaghan (another lovely, lovely singer). Maureen O’Shea sang “Green Grow the Rashes O”, Highland Piper Ed King delivered the haggis in full regalia, and yours truly gave “MacPherson’s Farewell” a go on solo B uilleann pipes and tossed a couple of reels in for fun. Next year I promise to learn a strathspey or two, they sound great on the UP.
The only drawback was being out too late and having too much to drink, as tends to happen at these things. I’m a little out of sorts today…
Now, is this Robbie Byrnes you’re talking about is he related to Rabbi Byrnes here in Windsor?
I don’na think they’re from the same clan but Rabbi had his birthday yesterday also.
MarkB
Know what you mean… maybe a different brand of Scotch? My favorite this year, out of seven brands, was the Bruichladdich from Islay. A fine dram indeed, and apparently not too hard on the head…
It was that godd@mned Talisker…we ran out of Lagavulin early in the evening, not surprising. 
You guys really know how to party!!! 
I will celebrate tonight by yet another attempt to get our band to adopt Green Grow the Rushies O into our repertoire. After being refused several times, because its too mushy or whatever, another member shows up with a Tannahill weaver song in dialect (Gallant Shearers) and I am sposed to play along.
Found a great site last evening, while trying to figger out another Roy Gullane song. It instantly translates Scots English words .
I drug out of my “sickbed” to play (flourishing tenor drum) with the pipe band at our local Burns supper Friday night.
Suprisingly the food was much better this year(for a change).
Unhappily, since I felt lousy, I left as soon as I’d eaten so did not get to enjoy the whistler/harpist/storyteller who was the after-dinner entertainment.
Our band is kicking around the idea of having our own Burns Supper next year at the winery…
It seems so long ago, but this is what i posted on G/C. 
As I’m sure you all new it was the Bairds birthday yesterday,so we were out on the hill baging a wee beasty for the pot , gathering the neeps,and digging up the tatties,then comes the good bit o poking the wee rascal and giein it a good talking to, then getting a wee few drams down yer neck,an some poem’s n tuneys.Great Burns Night
Not that Burns, the other one.
Mike Burns
The Lagavulin, which used to rank first and way ahead of others on my list, has suddenly shot up by $20 or so in this area. It is now in the $65 neighborhood. Which, as much as I like the stuff, is a little rich for my blood… I have found the Ardbeg and Bruichladdich to be suitable replacements…
Stacey,
The only way I can see to improve on our celebration would be to all fly to Scotland one year and have it there!..
pt