That the Parliament congratulates The Stove Network, and its project partners in Dumfries, on holding a successful 2024 Nithraid Festival, which took place on 24 August; understands that the festival, which is now in its 11th year, is designed to explore the area's long relationship with the river and its importance to the people and communities that it connects, past, present and future; notes that the Nith is a tidal river that runs through the historic market town of Dumfries, connecting the town to the sea, and that in the 18th century, the Nith saw the neighbouring villages of Glencaple and Kingholm Quay become Scotland’s busiest and largest trading ports; understands that the festival mascot, the Salty Coo, symbolises the historic journey made by herds of cattle, led by their farmers, across the river at low tide from Maxwelltown on the west bank to the cattle market on the Whitesands on the east side of the river; welcomes that the festival featured short animated movies with environmental messaging, guided walks around the town from the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere, a range of interactive activities curated by the environmental charity, EcoArt, including a performance by the sound artist, Helmut Lemke, and a colourful and dynamic performance to accompany the Salty Coo procession by Oceanallover, thanks everyone who attended Nithraid 2024, and wishes the festival well for the years to come.
Supported by:
Karen Adam, Clare Adamson, Jeremy Balfour, Colin Beattie, Miles Briggs, Stephanie Callaghan, Annabelle Ewing, Christine Grahame, Dr. Sandesh Gulhane, Bill Kidd, Fulton MacGregor, Ben Macpherson, Ruth Maguire, Stuart McMillan, Mark Ruskell, Alexander Stewart, Kevin Stewart, Paul Sweeney, David Torrance, Annie Wells, Tess White, Martin Whitfield