October has always been my busiest month, and 2024 was no exception. I was at The National Museum of Rural Life telling stories about soil and spiders during the School’s October Week. Then, there was the Scottish International Storytelling Festival, where I spent a day leading story walks at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh, and three FAB Go Local events: two at The Wild Goose Festival in Dumfries and one at Lanark Library with the talented storyteller Beverley Casebow—see photos below.
From October to December, I was busy with an Author Residency at Wallyford Primary School in East Lothian—I’ll share pictures when we finish in spring 2025. Also, there were three exciting Big Storytelling Ripples, a SISF festival initiative, and lots of fantastic Live Literature, Scottish Book Trust, sessions at The Children’s Wood in Glasgow. Big Ripples at Aidrie Library, Lanark Library and with Lanark Girl Guides at Castlebank Park.
Family Storytelling Workshop at Lanark Library
September 2024 was marvellous. I told stories at Busby Arts Festival, East Kilbride Active Family Fun Day at Calderglen, and Blackwood Rural. I’m sure there are many photos of my storytelling antics this month, but I don’t have any! However, the highlight of my month was presenting at the Folklore Society’s Water in Myth and Legend, 18th Legendary Weekend. See the photos below.
I presented my talk and slides on River Mermaids and Miracles from the River Clyde at the Water in Legend and Tradition, 18th Watery Weekend. The Folklore Society organised this, and you can see me (1st & 3rd photos) in the fantastic venue - St Peter’s by the Waterfront in Ipswich, England. Also, the Greenock Mermaid (2nd photo) on a gable end in Greenock, Scotland - I told her tale. There’s a picture of Jeremy Harte, who organised the event and gave a world-class presentation. And last but not least a photo of Katie Marland, by the lion carved font - Katie is an artist extrodinaire and researcher in myth and legend; her presentation on the Dobhar-Chu was excellent. (It’s a big devil-otter creature)
August 2024 is the Kirkintilloch Canal Festival month - it is always a pleasure storytelling on the canal!
I was privileged to work with Strathclyde University’s Oral History Centre once more on the Re-Discovering Airdrie consultation project; I attended two sessions in Airdrie Library, telling stories and helping people to share their memories about the town. I can honestly say I now have a big soft spot for Airdrie and Ardironians :)
July 2024: East Kilbride Arts Centre has its fabulous Summer Fair - that’s me in the White Horse Yurt with the King & Queen of the Fairies.
I also worked with Homestart families at the David Livingstone Centre in Blantyre and Glasgow.
I was delighted to facilitate story-collecting workshops again for Strathclyde University and NHS Lanarkshire's prestigious project, Recounting the Untold Stories of Breast Cancer. It was inspirational to work with researchers, science innovators, consultants, and brave men and women recovering from breast cancer.
Here’s what I was up to in June 2024
I led a storytelling workshop for families as part of Glasgow’s West End Festival. As you can see, it was intergenerational and FUN! Thank you, Halo Arts, for inviting me.
My Storytelling Tipi was at the Eden Festival. Justin Illusion provided the magical stick workshop to complement the local folktales & Legends from Dumfriesshire.
The highlight of the farming year is the Royal Highland Show. Here I am with other marvellous performers and conservationists. Spot the Woolly Pet, my favourite storytelling puppet.
It was with great honour, I told stories of the Clan Galbraith & Scottish folktales, in May, to the Clan Galbraith, at their Scottish Gathering, 2024, in The Lodge at Loch Lomond.
Clan Galbraith Gathering at The Lodge, Loch Lomond 2024.
It is always a pleasure to tell stories at Birkhill House plc, Earlston, on their open day in May. There are no pictures of me this time, but here are the alpacas getting a refreshing hose down :)
Family Storytelling: The Big Red Hen & Friends at The National Museum of Rural Life, East Kilbride, Scotland. Easter Holidays 2024.
My Family Storytelling Show, as part of the J F Campbell of Islay Exhibition, at The National Library of Scotland, April 2024.
Family Storytelling at The National Library of Scotland, Easter 2024.
The Well At The Worlds End.
The Woolly Pet
Stories from J F Campbell of Islay's Collection at the NLS.
The Blacksmith's Son & the Fairies.
Swiftly over the forest of thorns.
Half-Term at The National Museum of Rural Life, East Kilbride, Scotland. February 12th to 14th, 2024.
Storytelling for families in the museum's theatre. A Scottish folktale, How to Flummox a Fairy, from Funny Folk Tales for Children, by Allison Galbraith (2023, History Press -see Books)
Delighted to announce that we WON the Health & Wellbeing Category at last night's #NatureofScotland Awards in Edinburgh! Whispers from the Woods & Wilds was a great partnership project with Scottish Wildlife Trust, Operation Play Outdoors & Lanarkshire Folk Tales, working with Glasgow's refugee and asylum seeking community and supported by the Community Stories Fund and National Lottery Heritage Fund Scotland.
I enjoyed writing these book reviews for Shepherd.com - Check them out: The best world folktales for reading to everyone age six plus (shepherd.com)
You might also enjoy The best folklore books (picked by 9,000+ authors) (shepherd.com)
I worked with Dr Yvonne McFadden and Dr Arthur Mcivor on The Lost Villages Project in Dalmellington and Auchinleck, East Ayrshire, in May and June 2023. A fantastic look at the coal mining villages, the people (and a horse called Darkie) who lived and worked there. You can learn more about Strathclyde Univerity’s Oral History Centre and The Lost Villages project here: The Lost Villages | An Oral History of Miners' Rows and Deindustrialisation in East Ayrshire, Scotland.
Working with Keep Scotland Beautiful & The Scottish Book Trust in May 2023 for their School’s Live Lesson Week - Scotland’s Nature. Here’s a link to a video of my lesson for Early Years & Primary Schools: Allison tells the story Magpie’s Nest from Dancing With Trees, Eco-tales from the British Isles (2017 History Press) Live Lesson