Irvine Royal Academy

Burns Club

Irvine Royal Academy Burns Club, founded in August 1988, is the oldest young people's Burns Club in the world. It is open to all students in Irvine Royals Academy who are in

terested in studying and/or performing the works of Burns and other Scottish writers.

Most of our members are interested in performing the poems and songs of Robert Burns. The practise in school on a weekly basis and work on improving their performances at home. They are in great demand and have already been invited to take part in functions two years ahead. They entertain groups throughout the country, having performed in places as far north as Cowdenbeath and as far south as Coventry.

They also take part in competitions at local, area and national level. The club has the proud record of never having entered a competition without winning at least one award and it is not unknown for members to return from competitions having won at least half the total number of awards being competed for. Our current awards are listed below.

Irvine Burns Club Prize for Verse Speaking.
Irvine Lasses; Trophy
The Fullarton Trophy
The Eglinton Silver Tassie
The David Sillar Cup
The James Cannell Medal
The Ayrshire Metal Product Medal
The Coventry & District Caledonian Society Shield
The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Shield
The Glencairn Prize

The club members have won prizes in following competitions:

Ayrshire Association of Burns Clubs Schools Competition
North Ayrshire Council: Burns Verse-Speaking
The Robert Burns World Federation Ltd National Secondary
Schools Competitions

The youngest member of the Burns Club accompanied by the eldest surviving former soldier in the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) about to lay a wreath at the Remembrance Service at Glasgow Central Station, 11th November 2000.

The club is run by Mr Fowler of the English Department and enjoys the support of all the Burns Clubs in the town. Members regularly have their work on Burns published by the Robert Burns World Federation Ltd, and have appeared on BBC Radio Scotland, West Sound, Scottish Television and Channel 4.