Carol Stirling

I live in Dunoon and, for as long as I can remember, wondered who was this Highland Mary on Castle Hill.  

My Granny told me it was Robbie Burns’ girlfriend. I never asked any more. The next encounter I had was at school, being forced to recite Robbie Burns’ poetry. I had to do it in the school assembly hall on Burns’ Day and had to memorize it from beginning to end. I was traumatized and can still recite it today.

Scots, wha hae wi' Wallace bled,

Scots, wham Bruce has aften led,

Welcome to your gory bed,

Or to victorie.

Now's the day, and now's the hour;

See the front of battle lour;

See approach proud Edward's power -

Chains and slaverie!

Wha will be a traitor's knave?

Wha can fill a coward's grave?

Wha's sae base as be a slave?

Let him turn and flee!

Wha for Scotland's King and Law,

Freedom's sword will strongly draw,

Free-man stand, or free-man fa'?

Let him follow me!

By oppression's woes and pains!

By your sons in servile chains!

We will drain our dearest veins,

But they shall be free!

Lay the proud usurpers low!

Tyrants fall in every foe!

Liberty's in every blow!

Let us do, or die!

That’s the only thing I knew about Robbie Burns until recently.

 I took my own children up to the top of Castle Hill and they asked me “ whose is the statue?” I started talking to the children as if I was a talking history book.

I told them that Mary was a close friend of Robbie Burns, the poet, and that they would be doing some of his poetry at school, as Burns Night is 25th of January. I went on to tell them that Highland Mary was born on Auchamore Farm in Dunoon.

She comes to Dunoon in spirit as her family had lived here and were not happy with Robbie Burns, disapproving of him. I felt her presence beside me, telling me how she hurt her family and all about her love for Robbie. She also told me she had a child who had died and this had brought great shame to the family. Her family kept this a secret. She wanted to go off to Jamaica with Robbie but took ill. She could not live without her Robbie and nor could she live with the pain of hurting her family who disapproved of Robbie. She tells me now that Robbie was just a charmer and not much of a knight in shining armour. All the lassies loved him as he knew just what to say. Poor Jean Armour also loved her charmer, bringing up his bairns (children) from every lass he charmed.

So, for me, on Burns’ Night, I now know why they toast the lassies or, I should say, “TOAST TAE THE LASSIES”. I will raise my glass for Highland Mary, otherwise known as Mary Campbell.

That was my encounter with Mary, herself, standing on the hill on a cold winter’s day.