LIVERMORE SCOTTISH GAMES SLATED FOR MAY 19 & 20, 2007 Livermore, CA----The Fourth Annual Livermore Scottish Games and Celtic Celebration kicks up on the weekend of May 19 and 20 at Robertson Park in Livermore. Hosted by the Livermore Area Recreation and Park District (LARPD) and the Tri-Valley Scotian League, the event promises pageantry and excitement that includes jousting, heavy athletic games such as the caber toss and hammer throw, Scottish dance and bagpipe bands, sheepdog demonstrations, and plenty of fish n’chips and ale for all. The Games take place from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. both days at the park, located at 3200 Robertson Park Road in Livermore. The fee to park is $5 and tickets are $15 for adults per day, $10 for seniors and children 6-12, and free for children 5 and under. Tickets purchased by May 7 will be reduced $2 per ticket. Tickets may be purchased at the gate on t he days of event, or in advance at the Robert Livermore Community Center, located at 4444 East Avenue in Livermore .For more information, please visit www.livermoregames.com, or call (925) 373-5748. The modern revival of the ancient tradition of Highland societies hosting Games began in 1822. The significance of Queen Victoria’s attendance at the Games in the 1840s, along with her consort, Prince Albert, led some to call it “the Highlandification” of Scotland. This year, the Livermore Games will “twin” with the traditional Birnam Highland Games in Birnam, Scotland. The Birnam Games have been held annually since 1864 amidst the stunning Perthshire in an isle event that features the Scottish 800 meter footrace championship, the Mad Kiltie Dash, and the World Haggis Eating Championship. The featured musical group of the Fourth Annual Livermore Scottish Games is Box O’ Bananas, an authentic Scottish Celidh (pronounced Kay-lee) band, with a twist of rock. Traditional Scottish Celidh music is cheerful and lively to keep up with the pace of fast and furious jigs and reels. This highly talented, up-tempo band performs a broad range of musical styles including Scottish, Irish, folk rock, and even Cajun vibes. Visitors will also enjoy living history enactments by the Highland Warriors, jousting by the Knights of Avalon, and Thistle House, known for its portrayal of people from the Isle of Mann during the reign of William the Conqueror. A children’s glen features activities that include carnival games such as the Clachneart stone toss and wooden spoon golf ball race, Scottish coin rubbing, and the opportunity to design their own family crest in the arts and crafts area. Heavy games and athletics including stones, hammers, caber toss and shinty also make for great spectator sport at the Games. Shinty is an ancient Scottish team sport that served as J.K. Rowling’s inspiration for the game of Quidditch in Harry Potter. “Some of my friends refer to Shinty as combat golf,” jokes Michael Bentley, one of the founders of the Northern California Camanachd Club, “and it’s also been described as field hockey without all those bothersome rules!” Clan Ramsay is the featured clan of the 2007 Livermore Scottish Games and Celtic Celebration. The Ramsays are one of the great ancient Scottish families, along with those of Bruce, Hamilton, Lindsay, Maxwell, Seton, Keith and Steward, who settled in Scotland during the reign of David I in the 12th century. The Ramsays not only contributed to the glory and history of Scotland, but many members of the family immigrated to North America, where they and their heirs have played prominent roles in establishing the United States and Canada. A special guest to the 2007 Livermore Scottish Games is Elizabeth Ramsay Howe, Vice President of the Clan Ramsay Association of North America.