My singing travels have taken us to an idyllic little town called Dairy nestled in the Garnock Valley in Ayrshire.
Whenever I visit places nestled in the hills, I am always reminded of my Sussex Downs childhood.
I had sung there before, but this time I was invited to do two concerts over the weekend of July 10th to 13th at Dalry Folk Festival
Eddy Dunlop has been organising Dalry Folk Club for years, and this was the 4th Festival.
Thanks to his organisation skills and the loyalty of volunteers to keep the festival ticking, we had a most amazing weekend of music, friendship and fun.
Dalry proved to be a visual delight. The evening was warm under a bright blue sky, and just right for a leisurely stroll.
The buildings, much like the ones in Ayr, are beautiful and fascinating. The skyline features and embellishments on the walls make them a joy to look at at linger over.
References to the history and folklore of Ayrshire abound, from the Bard Robert Burns to the history of Masonry.
I was charmed by the herb boxes, with the names of the herbs written on the front of them, and the beautifully planted Rosearden garden, with plaques commemorating local stories.
I learned a new word from my friend Tina – “vennel” – the Scottish word for a narrow, sometimes covered, passageway between two buildings.
Each building’s name conjures up a different century and character, from “The Wee Dalry Dairy” to “King’s Revolution” and “The Auld Hoose”
I imagined the horses, drawing everything from local farmer’s carts to posh travelling coaches, clattering through. My mind conjured up the clothes worn as the times changed, and the singing echoing round the fire in the pub !
We tend to forget that only a century ago, entertainment was mostly home made.
Apart from the amazing concerts, there were singarounds at the Festival, too, and we sang songs that told stories of the ages – even our own ‘age’!!
I would love to return one day, for more singing and exploring.
