A spirited crowd, a swirl of tartan, and the unmistakable sound of pipes echoing across the valley—this year’s Australian Celtic Festival has been hailed as one of the most memorable yet, with the 2026 “Year of Scotland” celebration striking all the right notes. Held at the iconic Australian Standing Stones, the festival once again transformed Glen Innes into a lively hub of Celtic culture, drawing visitors from near and far to share in the music, history and a good dose of highland cheer. Behind the scenes—and often right at the front—were the many people and groups who brought the event…
There are many ways to test a community’s mettle—drought, council meetings, the price of diesel—but on the opening day of the Festival, Glen Innes faced its sternest trial yet: the Australian Celtic Festival Porridge Making Competition. Seven groups entered the arena, though one withdrew at the eleventh hour—reportedly after “careful consideration” of the local field, which is widely understood to mean they saw who else had brought oats and made a tactical retreat. That left six determined teams, split into two heats, each armed with their own ingredients, family pride, and what can only be described as an alarming number…
This week, Glen Innes opens its arms first and foremost to the Clans. From near and far, you have travelled to stand proudly beneath your banners — to share history, kinship, music, language and story. Your presence gives this gathering its soul. Groups including Clan Buchanan, Clan Macaulay, Clan MacEwen, Clan Grant, Clan MacNicol, Clan Gregor, Clan Sinclair, Clan MacLennan, the Sutherland Society, Clan Lamont and Clan Fraser of Lovat, alongside organisations such as the Gaelic Bothy, Qld Manx Society, SAHC, ASSMB and CCA, bring depth and authenticity that cannot be manufactured — only lived and shared. We thank you…
The 2026 Australian Celtic Festival is set to return to the Australian Standing Stones in Glen Innes from 30 April to 3 May, promising one of the country’s most unique and immersive cultural celebrations. Glen Innes Severn Council has announced that applications are now open for traders, performers, and clans or societies wishing to take part in next year’s event, which will honour the rich traditions of Scotland. Each year, the festival attracts thousands of visitors to the Glen Innes Highlands for a vibrant program of music, dance, traditional and contemporary Celtic arts, and immersive historical experiences. The 2026 edition…
At its Ordinary Meeting held on 24 July 2025, Glen Innes Severn Council considered a range of matters spanning health infrastructure, financial reporting, planning proposals, renewable energy policy, and the future direction of the Australian Celtic Festival. Green Light for New CT Scanner Facility Council approved a development application for the establishment of a new CT scanning facility at 148 Church Street, Glen Innes. The application (DA 68/24-25) also included associated building alterations, signage, and external works. No objections were received during the public exhibition period, and the proposal was recommended for approval by Council’s consulting town planner. The applicant,…
Glen Innes Severn Council’s Draft Operational Plan for 2024–25 outlines a range of proposed increases to fees and charges across core services—including waste, water, sewer, development, and community events. These proposed changes come in addition to a potential Special Rate Variation (SRV), which—if approved—would further raise general rates for property owners across the region. While the SRV is still under consultation, the Council has already detailed increases to specific service charges and user fees as part of its strategy to address financial shortfalls and move toward long-term sustainability. As residents consider the full picture, the combined impact of higher rates,…
The featured nations at this year’s Australian Celtic Festival are Brittany, Cornwall and Wales. These three nations share a bond of language. Breton, Cornish and Welsh are closely related, known collectively as the Brittonic languages. This sets them apart from Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man, where the languages are classified as Goidelic, or Gaelic, languages. Wales, Cornwall and Brittany have more in common than their ancestral languages, however. Before the rise of the Roman Empire, most of Europe was occupied by Celtic peoples. When the Roman Empire collapsed at the beginning of the 5th century, the Celtic regions…
Six years ago Kristina Sanne, Director and Lead Teacher at Jacaranda Highland Dancers in Grafton, was approached by a few persuasive Glen Innes families keen to have highland dancing classes made available in Glen Innes for their children. Despite some initial misgivings about the logistics of expanding her dance studio, and the commute up the Gwydir, Kristina said yes. She now teaches at the Masonic Lodge Hall on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings, once a fortnight. The studio continues to grow and currently there are 20 children and 2 adult students from a wide range of backgrounds, not just for…
