Listen
Homecoming 2009 in Stornoway
03/08/2009
The winner of a Homecoming art competition, which invited 16 Stornoway primary schools to design advertising boards welcoming visitors to the Western Isles, was announced today.
Balallan School on the Isle of Lewis won the competition run by Stornoway Amenity Trust.
First Minister Alex Salmond presented pupils from Balallan with the prize of xxxx at a Homecoming reception in Stornoway, which recognises the work of local individuals, organisations and companies who have contributed to the Homecoming celebrations.
Homecoming 2009 was inspired by the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland's national bard, Robert Burns, but celebrates the full range of Scottish culture as well as our country's greatest contributions to the world in science and innovation.
The national Homecoming programme features more than 400 events the length and breath of Scotland. In addition, the year long celebration aims to boost visitor numbers to Scotland and draw at least 100,000 visitors to Scotland generating at least £44 million in tourism revenue.
The FM said:
"Homecoming 2009 is delivering a substantial economic boost to Scottish tourism and I am delighted it has captured the imagination of Stornoway school children who have designed large promotional boards to welcome warmly visitors to their island.
"The competition attracted wonderful entries from all 16 primary schools. Congratulations go to Balallan School on their imaginative and colourful winning board, which encapsulates the spirit of Scotland's Homecoming celebrations.
"Thousands of Homecomers have already taken part in Homecoming events across Scotland since the programme was launched at the start of the year.
"Last weekend one of the signature events of the Homecoming calendar, The Gathering, was a run away success which united more than 47,000 people in Edinburgh's Holyrood Park for the largest Clan Gathering in the world. However, of equal importance are the huge number of community events taking place across the country which are demonstrating the popular enthusiasm for the Homecoming concept.
"We are now at the mid-point in our year of Homecoming, but there is still so much more to look forward to before this unique celebration of Scottish culture, history and heritage, including immediately coming the Tattoo Hebrides which takes place on the Lews Castle Green in Stornoway on 7 and 8 August."