John Roy Stuart - Latha Chuilodair - Anniversary of Falkirk Muir

In his story, John Roy remembers the people whom he met on his journey through life and gives his account of what happened at Falkirk Muir on January 17th 1746 and, three months later, on the fateful day of April 16th 1746. He recalls the follies of his youth; his great friendship with Lady Christian Macintosh to whom he dedicated a beautiful lament; his encounters with his friend Lord Lovat; his romantic life; his exile and his return to Scotland in 1745. He describes his confrontation with Colonel Shugborough Whitney at the Battle of Falkirk Muir. The story concludes with an account of the Night March on Nairn three months later, the dispute he had on the morning of April 16th with Lord George Murray, the final denouement on Drumossie Moor later that same day, and his escape to France on board the 'Heureux' with Prince Charles.

Fiercely loyal, courageous and compassionate, at times impetuous and hot-headed, always driven by the dictates of his heart, John Roy was a partisan whose support for his cause and his people never wavered, even in his darkest hours. His last and greatest poem, 'Latha Chuilodiar', opens with the words,

"Great are the depths of my sorrow as I mourn for the wounds of my land."

John Roy's story will be narrated by Michael Nevin, author of 'Reminiscences of a Jacobite, and complemented by vocals and music from the time performed by Màiri Callan, winner of the Gold Medal for Gaelic singing at the Royal National Mod in 2021 and widely recognised as one of the most gifted Gaelic vocalists and harpists of her generation.