A Remarkable Day at Ellisland Farm: Reflecting on Our Special Event with Professor Gerard Carruthers

This past Saturday, 10th August, Ellisland Farm & Museum was privileged to host a special event that brought Robert Burns’s rich legacy to life. The event, featuring world-renowned Burns scholar Professor Gerard Carruthers, offered attendees a deep dive into the connections between Burns, Mary Queen of Scots, and the poet’s time at Ellisland.

Professor Carruthers delivered a captivating talk titled “Mary Queen of Scots, Burns, and Ellisland,” where he explored Burns’s role in the Romantic rehabilitation of Mary as a Scottish icon. Attendees were treated to an in-depth analysis of Burns’s creative process, revealing how the poet’s portrayal of Mary Queen of Scots fits within a broader tradition of Marian depictions that continue to shape Scottish cultural identity. Professor Carruthers also compared Burns’s Marian works with other songs from the same period, providing a rich context for understanding the poet’s artistic genius.

The event was further enhanced by a moving performance from local student Tess Harper, who recently won gold at the Dumfries & Galloway Burns School Competition. Tess, currently in S6 at Dumfries Academy, is the school’s Head Girl and has a deep passion for acting and singing. She has been reciting Burns’ poetry for most of her life and has excelled in local recitation competitions, most recently placing in the top three at the 2024 Burns national finals. Tess graced us with a powerful recital of Burns’ “Lament of Mary Queen of Scots on Approach of Springtime,” the same poem that earned her acclaim at the national finals. Her performance was met with enthusiastic applause, leaving a lasting impression on all who attended.

Beyond her achievements in Burns recitation, Tess is an active participant in local theatre. You can see her perform in two forthcoming productions: Labours of Love in September, and in the role of Amy March in Little Women The Musical at the Brigend Theatre in November.

Throughout the afternoon, attendees enjoyed the warm hospitality of Ellisland Farm with tea, coffee, and light refreshments, kindly provided by our dedicated team. The event also served as a successful fundraiser, with all proceeds from refreshments going towards the continued support of our museum’s mission to preserve and celebrate the legacy of Robert Burns.

We are immensely grateful to everyone who attended, making this event a memorable success. Special thanks go to Professor Gerard Carruthers for his insightful and engaging presentation, and to Tess Harper for sharing her remarkable talent with us. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to Historic Environment Scotland, Museum Galleries Scotland, and The People’s Postcode Lottery, whose generous funding made this event possible.

This event was proudly supported by Historic Environment Scotland, Museum Galleries Scotland, and The People’s Postcode Lottery.