flax flower design
by Paul Lucky

Irvine Burns Club (est. 1826), Ayrshire, KA12 8AS

Browse these pages and visit the Museum (admission free).
We're also on where we put our news items.
Celebrating 50 years of Wellwood - join us at 2012 events (listed below)
Events programme and other downloads available at below.

Irvine Burns Statue

Order publications from the On-line Support Desk
(which gives more details on each of these)

* Masterclass DVD set on Scots music, poetry, songs and language
* Club lapel pin and tie
* "Honorary Members, vol. 1" and/or vol.2
* The 50/50 Prize Draws
* Booklet on the bronze sculpture of Burns and Wallace
* Life Membership of Irvine Burns Club

Email: info @ irvineburnsclub. org (omit the anti-spam spaces)
Address: 'Wellwood', 28 Eglinton Street, Irvine, KA12 8AS
No. 173 in the Federation of Burns Clubs

The pictures above: The Robert Burns statue in Irvine, the annual wreath-laying in January, and the Club's premises at 'Wellwood' - a spacious and imposing 1903 building of Ballochmyle red sandstone.
(main photos: I J Dickson; group photo:'Irvine Herald')

"The A-list Burns Club" ('Scottish Daily Mail' - November 24th, 2009)

In 1781 Robert Burns worked in Irvine. In Irvine Captain Richard Brown encouraged Burns to publish his verse. The published poet was born!
In 1826, two friends of Robert Burns, with ten others, founded Irvine Burns Club, which, in 1962, opened the Irvine Burns & Burgh Museum, at 'Wellwood', in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland - open four times weekly from April to September, and weekly on Saturdays during the winter.

* Downloads available *

Celebrating our Museum's 50th anniversary year - public events during 2012

Programme for Schools (each Jan./Feb.) - what we offer in the morning visit

January 2012 newsletter

For Honorary Members booklet downloads, go to our Support Page

[also, stored here for reference: The 2012 Annual Celebration ticket order form]

* Events in 2012 include *

Celebrating 50 Years of Wellwood - “Wellwood Welcomes” – 2012

A series of evenings with knowledgeable speakers and, we hope, interesting discussions.

Please give this programme your support.

Open to members, friends, and the public. Advance booking not required.

A further two “Welcome” evenings will be announced for Sept./Oct..

Readers' Days . . for people with a passion for books - April 28th & October 27th
9.30-3.30 – tickets £8.50 (incl. lunch)
Organised by North Ayrshire Information and Cultural Services in association with Irvine Burns Club, the Readers’ Days bring to Irvine some of Scotland’s best authors – for you to meet and talk with, about what they write and what they read. A panel discussion opens each day’s programme, after which each author leads a group discussion on a book (not one of their own) selected by them. After lunch, each author’s own work is the focus, followed by a question and answer session. Copies of books selected for discussion will be provided well before the event.

Wed., Feb. 22nd at 7.30 pm
“Our Honorary Members – current research”
Past President Ian Dickson reports on several years of investigation – who were nominated, why they were nominated, trends and omissions, and the problems of identification and transcription of holograph letters. Advance booking not required.

Wed., Apr. 25th at 7.30 pm
“The Fenwick Weavers – a milestone for Scotland’s workers”
Jim O’Neill, a Past President of Irvine Rugby Club and with interests in local government, is a Director of the Fenwick Weavers, managing their heritage project. The Weavers, in the same half-century as Robert Burns and David Dale, were the start of the global co-operative movement. Advance booking not required.

Sat., Apr. 28th, 9.30-3.30
Readers' Day
This Readers’ Day features authors Shirley Mackay (“Hue and Cry” and other crime novels set in 16th c. St Andrews), Sue Peebles (“The Death of Lomond Friel”, a Saltire First Novel Award winner), Robin Pilcher (“An Ocean Apart”, sold to eleven countries and, like another two of his novels, adapted for television) and Caro Ramsay (“Dark Water” and other dark crime thrillers set in Glasgow). The event is hosted by author Keith Charters (“Lee and the consul mutants” and other Lee adventures).
BOOKING from any North Ayrshire library or by phone at 01294 554699

Wed., May 23rd at 7.30 pm
“Cultural Tourism – a new phenomenon”
Dr Audrey Sutton, Head of Service, Education and Skills, North Ayrshire Council, explores the growing interest in visits to places of literary connections, and will in particular consider the authors with links in our own local authority area. Advance booking not required.

Wed., June 20th at 7.30 pm
“Eglinton Woods – locus of the Poet’s Genius”
Roger Griffith, a countryside ranger at Eglinton Park, and Irvine Burns Club 2012/13 Vice-President, will report on his extensive research into the episode in the life of Robert Burns which prompted the Bard to seriously consider publication of his work. Advance booking not required.

Sat., Oct. 27th, 9.30-3.30
Readers' Day
The authors for this Readers’ Day will include Maggie Craig, James Robertson and Sara Sheridan.
BOOKING from any North Ayrshire library or by phone at 01294 554699