By June Sullivan
Having been born in Nova Scotia - which in Gaelic means "New Scotland"- I know my highland "fling" from my caber "toss." However, even the uninitiated should plan to drink in a "wee dram" of Scotland's culture during the annual Long Island Scottish Games, Saturday, August 26 at Old Westbury Gardens.
Clan MacDuff, an amalgamation of several New York Scottish clans, are co-sponsors with Old Westbury Gardens of this unusual event. And while granted, when we think of Long Island, our first thoughts may not turn to Scotland, the Island is surprisingly rich in Scottish influence.
According to Andrew McDicken, past chief and publicity director of Clan MacDuff, Scots came to Long Island mainly after 1745 when the "Highlanders" were thrown out of Scotland after the defeat of "Bonnie Prince Charlie."
"[The emigrants] headed to Nova Scotia and Carolina," explains Mr. McDicken. "Shortly after that, at the end of the 18th century, they came here and bought land on Long Island."
Mr. McDicken explains that many of these Scots were gardeners for the Gold Coast estates. In fact, the Phipps family estate at Old Westbury Gardens, was built by Carnegie's accountant. It is said that Mrs. Phipps, a surviving family member, has vivid childhood memories of Carnegie visiting their home.
"Morgan, the financier, was also Scottish," boasts Mr. McDicken. "Many Scottish immigrants were engineers who went to New York City to build ships. And many, who were gardeners, were attracted to the opportunities to work at and manage the estates on the North Shore. Many still do that today."
The first Games were held on the Island on the old agricultural grounds in Mineola. During that time there were 20 Scottish Clans from the Metropolitan area who joined together to form the United Scottish Clans Association.
"Through the passage of time and attrition," says Mr. McDicken, "by the late 1950s, the five Long Island Clans alone presented the Games.
"Scottish Highland Games are believed to have been run by ancient Kings or Chieftains to select the best men for their servants and to serve in the armies," says Mr. McDicken. "The Games were specifically designed to test a man's strength, stamina and agility in an amusing way so that the community could enjoy the competition."
While ancient games included chariot races, archery, mock battles and hand-to-hand combat, Mr. McDicken says that "unless you regard 'It's five P.M. already, lets get to the car before the crowd' as a similar fearsome event, these ancient competitions won't be included.
The Scottish Games' heavy events at Old Westbury Gardens will include, however, such competitions as "Caber Toss," "Hammer Throwing," "Tossing the Stone," "Tug of War" - all of which were left to the young men, explains the former McDuff Clan chief. "Incidentally, those events included dancing. The harp playing, singing and story telling were left to the older people."
Mr. McDicken paints a thrilling picture as he describes the Grand Opening of the Games which will begin at 1 P.M. when visitors will be treated to 60 pipers and "massed bands" proving "quite a sight and quite a noise."
Plans are also afoot to entertain children, say organizers. Events include Marionette shows and traditional children's races such as "the egg and spoon race"and "the old fashioned 'sack race.'"
"We'll also have hawks," says Mr. McDicken. "A falconer is coming with 15 birds that will be flying and swooping down as they do their tricks. We're also having Scottish fish and chips, Scottish pies, and other foods and Scottish and Gaelic products in 23 different tents.
