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Ligonier Highland Games return to Idlewild Park | TribLIVE.com
Westmoreland

Ligonier Highland Games return to Idlewild Park

Shane Dunlap

The Ligonier Highland Games returned to Westmoreland County this weekend for the 61st time to celebrate Scottish pride and heritage — down to kilts, bagpipes and haggis.

This is the second year the popular event is being held over two days at Idlewild Park and SoakZone in Ligonier Township.

The Ligonier Highland Games is an all-volunteer organization and the main fundraiser for the Clan Donald Educational and Charitable Trust, which each year grants a $5,000 scholarship for graduate study at a Scottish university.

More than 30 Scottish clans are in attendance, and activities include bagpipe band competitions as well as contests for dancing, fiddling, even Scottish dog breeds.

Live music, Celtic performers and food are featured along with storytelling, games and other events — including a ladies’ haggis hurling competition.

Popular athletic games include the caber toss, sheaf toss and hammer throw.

A Catholic Mass, sanctioned by the Greensburg Diocese, will be celebrated at noon Sunday.

Shane Dunlap is a TribLive photographer covering Westmoreland and Allegheny counties. He grew up in the Ohio Valley near Pittsburgh and has worked for newspapers as far away as Fayetteville, N.C., where he covered the U.S. Army at Fort Liberty. He can be reached at sdunlap@triblive.com.

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photos: Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Members of the North Coast Pipe Band from Kent, Ohio warm-up before performing in the band competitions Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019 at Idlewild Park for the 61st Ligonier Highland Games.
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photos: Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Will McGough, 13, of Irwin, hangs up strands of the flag of Scotland at the tent run by his grandparents, Suzanne and Chris MacPherson of Clan MacPherson, while they were setting up early on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019 at Idlewild Park for the 61st Ligonier Highland Games.
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photos: Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Pipe and drum bands make their way to the main field Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019 at Idlewild Park for the 61st Ligonier Highland Games.
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photos: Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Heavy athletics competitor Nik Aston of Finleyville watches the weight bounce off the ground after throwing in the 28-pound weight for distance throw on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019 at Idlewild Park for the 61st annual Ligonier Highland Games.
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photos: Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Pipers prepare themselves for the solo competitions throughout the park on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019 at Idlewild Park for the 61st Ligonier Highland Games.
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photos: Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Athletes compete in the 28-pound weight distance throw on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019 at Idlewild Park for the 61st Ligonier Highland Games.
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photos: Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Crowds braved a rain shower in the morning on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019 at Idlewild Park for the 61st Ligonier Highland Games.
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photos: Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Judges listen to pipe and drum competitions Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019 at Idlewild Park for the 61st annual Ligonier Highland Games.
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photos: Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
LEFT: Heavy athletics competitor Nik Aston of Finleyville watches the 28-pound weight bounce in a distance competition. BELOW: Competitors participate in Scottish Highlands Dancing in front of judges and a crowd. BOTTOM RIGHT: Members of the North Coast Pipe Band from Kent, Ohio, warm up before performing in the band competitions.
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photos: Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Cyril Scott Pipe Band members John Harriman (left) and Ryan Praskovich, from Columbus, Ohio, go over the tuning of a bagpipe while preparing for the solo pipe competitions.
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photos: Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Pipers preparing for solo competitions warm-up on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019 at Idlewild Park for the 61st Ligonier Highland Games.
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