Parliament Cairn - Calton Hill
On Calton Hill in Edinburgh is a cairn with a beacon on top with plaques giving details and the significance of the various stones used in its construction. The cairn was built to commemorate the vigil for a Scottish Parliament held at the foot of Calton Hill, and celebrating the “yes, yes” vote in favour of a Parliament on September 11th 1997. After the vote in favour of a Scottish Parliament in a referendum, the Scottish National Party members who had spent 1980 days from 10th April 1992 in a “vigil for a Scottish Parliament” at the foot of the hill wanted a permanent reminder of the event. Although roughly built, a cairn is a potent symbol and this one celebrates events of national and social importance. Attached are various plaques, with a quote from a poem by Hugh McDiarmid, and small plaques recognizing our connections with people, places and events, emphasising Scottish identity and wider struggles for democratic representation....