By Austin Cromie
Mention Christmas, New Year Festivities and a verse of poetry and one name springs to mind– ‘Auld Lang Syne’ and Robert Burns. In the year 2000, people across Scotland were asked to choose the ‘Scot of the Millennium’. The poet Robert Burns was voted the clear winner. He was chosen above all the great Kings and Queens, philosophers, explorers, artists, scientists and bridge builders that Scotland produced over the last thousand years.

Burns’s work is translated into hundreds of languages and enjoyed by countless people across the world. His artistic legacy is certainly extraordinary, with more than 600 poems and songs written and gathered over a short lifetime of 37 years. His song ‘Auld Lang Syne’ is sung by more people than any other (with the possible exception of ‘Happy Birthday’).

And for auld lang syne, my jo,
For auld lang syne,
We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet
For auld lang syne.

He was the first son of William and Agnes Burns who were tenant farmers. Though poor the family was rich in affection. His formative years were happy and schooldays were typical of the time, a local scholar teaching the local children. His mother and her cousin Betty Davidson would delight young Robbie by singing traditional Scots songs and would hold him spellbound with tales of ghosts and witches.

At 25 years of age Robert Burns came to fame with the publication of ‘To A Mouse’ in 1785, then followed ‘A Red, Red Rose’ a poetic gem showing his genius for creating folk material.

Eight years later he wrote ‘Scots Wha Hae’, the poet’s imagined rallying cry of Bruce to his men at Bannockburn. It was never published in his lifetime but is now a national song of Scotland.

In 1795 Burns’s health began to decline with bouts of rheumatic fever and he died on January 21st, 1796. Thousands attended his funeral. On the fifth anniversary of his death, the first ever Burns supper was held by a small group of friends in the cottage in Alloway where he had been born. The ‘Burns Supper’ continues as a regular event on 25th January each year, his anniversary.

There is, of course, an Irish Connection. His sister Agnes Galt lived with her husband William in Knockbridge, outside Dundalk for 18 years. Burns was a regular visitor in summer time. The family headstone can be seen at St. Nicholas-Church of Ireland, Dundalk.

Robert Burns’s name is synonymous with the Sweet Afton cigarettes pack produced by P.J. Carroll’s of Dundalk which features the familiar verse:

Flow gently sweet Afton
Among thy green Braes
Flow Gently I’ll sing thee
A song in thy praise.

The other connection is with the well-known department store Todd Burns of Mary Street Dublin– now Pennys. Mr. Gilbert Burns– the Director was Robert’s uncle.