The Cochrane Pipe Band is set to recognize iconic Scottish Poet Robbie Burns on Jan. 27 with its 19th annual Burn’s Dinner at the Cochrane Ranchehouse.
“The Pipe Band has been in Cochrane for 19 years, so this is our 19th annual Robbie Burns dinner. It’s a cultural thing for the Scottish people to celebrate (Robbie) Burns because he was a famous Scottish poet,” Pipe Band manager Susan Flowers said.
“It’s fun to celebrate and listen to Scottish music. Our band works really hard learning new tunes and to put on a show … and they have toasts scheduled throughout the evening to the lads and lassies, which is followed by something called immortal memories where people have the chance to talk about Robbie Burns and some of his life happenings. It’s a really important night for the Scottish people.”
A traditional roast beef dinner with haggis will also be served.
Flowers said the Pipe Band uses the celebration as a fundraiser to help offset costs.
“The money that we raise goes to the Pipe Band as some of our outfit, kilts and jackets are very expensive. Plus we’re getting new members all the time so we have to buy new equipment and drums,” Flowers said.
“We have a silent auction too, which is where we raise most of the money. It’s a fun night and a chance to showcase how hard the band works on the pipes and drums.”
“It’s just a fun time to dress up and celebrate … also a good way to get the blues out of January.”
The evening is also very close to being sold out, with just over a week left to go before the dinner takes place.
“I think we have 10 tickets remaining. We just wanted to get it out there in case anyone missed out due to the fact that we really didn’t advertise, just did word of mouth.”
Those interested can book their tickets now to avoid missing out by calling Chris at 403-617-2748. Single tickets are $60 or tables of eight can be bought for a price of $480.
The first Robbie Burns Night was held on July 21, 1801 when Burns’s friends gathered on the fifth anniversary of his death.
Merchants who were born in Ayrshire, some of whom had known the famous poet, founded the first still existing Burns Club in Greenock in 1801. They held the first Burns supper on what they originally thought was his birthday on Jan. 29 in 1802, but the following year, they discovered the Ayr parish records noted his date of birth was actually Jan. 25, 1759. Since then, suppers and celebrations have been held on or around Jan. 25.
