The cult of the wicker man burned clearly again, while fans, artists and cast reunited in Newton Stewart for a weekend steeped in Folkhorror and fiery celebration, writes Barry McCann
In 2023, the 50one Birthday of the Wicker Man was celebrated by a meeting of enthusiasts and many involved in the film, organized by Ian Thomas, Julie Yson and Jon Wood, and centered at Newton Stewart in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, where the cast and crew were during that Chilly at the end of 1972.
The meeting climbed with a recreation of the costumed procession of the film in Burrowhead and the burning of a thatched man on the site of the original. It is sufficient to say that everyone enjoyed it.
So 2025 saw a second weekend meeting, again located in Newton Stewart and organized by Fergal O’Riordan, Julie Yson, Jennifer Dolan, who played Young Myrtle in the film and James Renwick who runs the Burrowhead camping where the fiery Climax was lens.
Fergal himself has been filming the documentary that returns to Summerisle, which was unveiled as one of the highlights of the weekend.
On Friday evening, a perfect warm-up with the Zang-one-Wicker man in the Newton Stewart Cinema, the streets of the small town suddenly colored by the most lively costumes when they arrived in the location for a good old singing song. Fortunately there was a license bar for Zo’n thirsty work.
The next morning it was to the Anwoth Old Church in Gatehouse of Fleet, location of the Graveyard Summerisle with his deserted Kirk and the school building was opposite. Now an Airbnb, the interior looks so small compared to the film, although the stairs are still there. The cemetery has not changed either and we were treated to a tour by the group, usually Ghostly, who buoys us with their “Tombs and Tales of Old Anwoth”.
That evening it was back to the cinema for the premiere of Return to Summerisle, Fergal’s Very personal chronical of travel to meet and talk to those involved or associated with the film.
These included actress and singer Lesley Mackie (who provided vocals on the soundtrack and appeared as beetle torturing schoolgirl, Daisy), musician Gary Carpenter, singer, Scottish dialect poet Amy Rafferty who appeared in the graveyard scene as the baby, Gail Ashurst, editor of The Wicker Man Fanzine Naada, and the Two Sons of Director Robin Hardy, Justin and Dominic, WHO have made their own documentary, children of the wicker man.
Lesley, Gary, Amy and Gail were even present at the screening, and the impressive film by Fergal received a standing ovation of all present. Hopefully it will soon be available for a wider audience.
The evening was nicely completed with a party and entertainment in the Vault Arts Center across the street. Amy treated us to her beautiful lyrical dialect poetry, followed by songs with musicians Allan Forbes and Dochlan Macmillan, the trio that is known as the Recovery Club.
>Lesley also came on stage with Gary and Matt Deighton as a Magnet, the band they formed to perform for the film and now reformed for a new album with dark folk songs that they are currently crowd financing to be recorded. You can only hope they make that album and get it out, because Lesley’S other worldly voice has not lost anything of his enchanting power.
The evening was completed by two panels, the first organized by Julie Yson with Fergal and his two nieces that formed the crew of his film, Saoirse who operated the camera and Naoise that was on sound. Jon Wood then took over for the second panel with Gary, Lesley and Jennifer.
The next day it was up to Burrowhead and the Campsite Club House, where I gave a lecture about the ritual of David Pinner, the novel that initially inspired the wicker man, followed by a brilliant performance of traditional Scottish sword dances by Issie Lamberton and Shannon Windsor of the Aileen Roberts.
The best dressed competition then followed to select who would lead the procession. Tasted as Lord Summerisle, Mario Sarno van Stoke was the natural winner and handed the honor, with the colorfully costumed procession with Johnny Gauldaul on bagpipes and very own punch -cut capers, to reach the top where the original Wicker Man burned 52 years ago.
This time a thatched woman was built in place and spectacularly was on fire while the crowd Sumer sang icumen, while a group of witches of fairies in boots gave their blessing with a rendition of we all come from the goddess.
While the Flames eventually died, it was back to the bar for a performance of Folk Trio. The Bookshop Band, whose newest album Emerge, Return was produced by and has no less than Pete Townsend.
Again, the event was greatly enjoyed by everyone present and the atmosphere of the atmosphere unique. This was not only a fanvination, but a meeting of artists, musicians, writers and people in Esoteric art. Friendships were renewed and, I suspect, made lifelong friendships.
There is already a return celebration for the 60 of the filmone Birthday in 2033, but there are eight years away in between meetings? After all, you don’t keep the wicker man waiting.
Tell us your memories of the thatched man in the commentary section below!
