Monthly Archives: July 2013

Poems, Chiefly!

by bmcuser

Today is the anniversary of the publication of Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect by Robert Burns. At the Burns Monument Centre we’re marking the anniversary with a very special event. On Friday night we have a special guest in the form of Ian Rankin, introduced and in conversation with Zoe Strachan (sold out!). On Saturday we have an intensive creative writing workshop with Rab Wilson (more info below and here).

chiefly-2013-email

We love to explore the many editions, reprints and fascimilies of the Kilmarnock edition, and sometimes we find some nice suprises! Kilmarnock publisher James McKie printed some lovely editions of Burns’ work, including a limited print of 600 copies of Poems in 1867. In the same year, he printed a ‘large-paper reprint and facsimile’ in a very limited print of 50 copies.

McKie's large paper edition title page

The inscription states that this large paper edition was printed for the London publishers Willis and Sotheran. It measures 11″ x 7″. This copy is part of the fantastic McKie Collection held in Kilmarnock’s Dick Institute.

Writing Workshop with Rab Wilson

by bmcuser

Festivals, Fairs, Pageants and Parades

Acclaimed Ayrshire poet Rab Wilson will lead an intensive afternoon creative writing workshop on the theme of Festivals, Fairs, Pageants and Parades.  This workshop is part of our ‘Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect’ event, which was established last year to celebrate the anniversary of the publication of the Kilmarnock Edition.

Saturday 3rd August, 1 – 4 pm (with a short break) at the Burns Monument Centre, Meeting Room.

Muirkirk Furnace Rd3

Image – Parade on Muirkirk’s Furnace Road, early 20th century.

Rab Wilson will use examples of local writing about fairs, festivals, pageants and parades, from the area’s past and present. Writers will be able to develop a piece of writing (poetry, fiction or creative non-fiction), read their work in a friendly environment, and receive constructive feedback from peers and the workshop leader. Writers should bring along a piece of writing to be developed, if possible on the theme of ‘Fairs, festivals, pageants and parades’ but this isn’t a necessity. Writing doesn’t have to be in Scots and Rab will be happy to receive pieces in advance of the workshop.

Tickets are £5 are can be booked by calling .