Tuesday 1 November 2011

Public Meetings

The European Ethnological Research Centre (EERC) has now embarked upon a major new project to study the changing everyday life of the people of Dumfries and Galloway, over the centuries. This ambitious study, believed to be the first of its kind in the UK, will result in substantial publications in a variety of formats. It seeks to bring together research carried out by Dumfries and Galloway  inhabitants, academics and others sharing interests in such topics as the family, occupations, farming, land management, industry, population movement, communications, local administration, sports, place-names, religion, emigration and immigration, language, literature, folklore, art, music and song, and intellectual life. In short, whatever affected the lives of the folk as described, wherever possible, in their own voice.

The results of this research will be published in a variety of outputs, such as additions to our Flashbacks series and multi-authored books.  We also intend, in due course, to hold public events, such as concerts and exhibitions, in which the results of research will be disseminated.  

As the Study progresses we intend to publish a dedicated website to provide news about progress and to post the results of research from across Dumfries & Galloway.  In the meantime news and developments will be posted here so please keep an eye on these pages.

The Study is designed to be participative, with the people of Dumfries and Galloway being involved as opportunities arise.  With this in mind, public meetings were held on Saturday 15 October 2011 in Langholm and on Saturday 22 October in New Galloway.  At these meetings the aims of the Study were outlined and views taken as to what themes should be included in the Study.  Feed back was very positive and it is clear that there is a range of people who wish to be involved in helping meet the aims of the Study.  The EERC is currently reflecting on this feedback and will soon be contacting those who expressed an interest.

If you would like to be involved in the Project in any way please let us know.  We are keen to involve as many people as possible so please feel free to let your friends, family and neighbours know about the Project.

Please contact us at:

telephone:       0131 650 4160 or 0131 650 3626

email:              mark.mulhern@ed.ac.uk or kenneth.veitch@ed.ac.uk

post:                European Ethnological Research Centre
                        Celtic & Scottish Studies
                        University of Edinburgh
                        27 George Square
                        Edinburgh
                        EH8 9LD

website:          http://www.celtscot.ed.ac.uk/EERC_home.htm