Homecoming website goes live

Date Added - 08/05/09

A website giving information on activities in Moray during the Year of Homecoming 2009 has gone live. 

Moray Connections is a programme of events and exhibitions celebrating the lives of people from Moray. 

And the website – www.morayconnections.com – will act as a gateway for all Homecoming community activities in Moray and provide an opportunity to show off what the area has to offer both locals and visitors. 

A colourful events leaflet is also now available giving details of family history fairs, plays, exhibitions, gatherings and tea festivals at venues across Moray. 

Copies are available from libraries, visitor information centres, heritage centres and accommodation providers throughout the north-east. 

The website uses photographs very effectively to promote Moray’s beautiful scenery and varied historic landscape, juxtaposed with archive pictures. Fisher lassies waiting for the boats to come home and street scenes from last century combine to give a flavour of the rich heritage of Moray past and present. 

More information will be added to the website during the year, including details about how to trace your family history, where to go to see photographs of your ancestors and the stories of people from Moray and Banffshire who went on to gain fame. 

The website will live beyond 2009 to become the main portal for heritage tourism in Moray in the hope that Homecomers will return and bring their family and friends. 

Valerie Wardlaw, visitor development officer for Moray Council’s museums service who is managing the Moray Connections project, said: “The Moray Connections programme has something for everyone – a comic play about Shakespeare’s inspiration for Macbeth, an exhibition about Patrick Sellar, family history fairs, a Homecoming gathering and even a tea festival. 

“We hope the website will inspire local residents and visitors to Moray to get involved in their rich heritage. 

Moray Council’s libraries and museums manager, Alistair Campbell, said: “Moray has a tremendous story to tell of the national and international contributions made by our ancestors – even Patrick Sellar. His role in the Highland Clearances needs to be reflected on and in many ways led to those of Scottish descent influencing the stories of Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. 

“Without Patrick Sellar, would Scotland be celebrating this Year of Homecoming?”