Irvine Burns Club's 200th Anniversary

That the Parliament congratulates the Irvine Burns Club on the occasion of its 200th anniversary; notes that the club was founded on 2 June 1826 in the Milne’s Inn in Irvine by a group of 12 local men, including several who were personal friends of Burns; understands that it is one of the oldest continuously active Burns clubs in the world; recognises Irvine’s important place in the life of Scotland’s national bard, who lived and worked in the town between 1781 and 1782, where he developed friendships that encouraged him to pursue his poetry, including his relationship with sea captain Richard Brown, who is credited by Burns as being the person who "encouraged me to endeavour at the character of a Poet"; acknowledges the club’s two centuries of dedication to preserving and promoting the life, works and legacy of Robert Burns, including through its stewardship of the Wellwood Burns Centre and Museum and its significant collection of manuscripts and artefacts, including the 1786 Kilmarnock edition of Poems chiefly in the Scottish dialect and the 1787 Edinburgh edition; commends its ongoing work in supporting education, community engagement and cultural events, inspiring appreciation of Burns among younger generations and visitors; recognises its role in Ayrshire's, national and international Burns networks, including participation in the Robert Burns World Federation, and wishes the Irvine Burns Club every success as it celebrates this remarkable bicentenary and continues its important work for many years to come.