Kate Kennedy Procession

"Cath cinneachaid" is an old Gaelic term for the return of Spring, and in Pagan times this festival of Spring would be celebrated with rites that would provoke disapproval from the Christian church.  No, I don't know the details; I'm not THAT old.  What I do know is that the Church suppressed the celebrations of cath cinneachaid.

That is, until James Kennedy, who was Bishop of St Andrews from 1440 to 1465 arrived and installed his niece, Katherine Kennedy, as his chatelaine at St Andrews Castle.  The Bishop was deeply involved with the university.  He built St Salvator's Chapel in 1460, and one of the bells in the chapel is named Katherine after this girl who, it is said, was tall, fair, and beautiful.

The students of the university adored the bishop's niece, and the cath cinneachaid procession is said to have been revived in her honour and re-named the Kate Kennedy procession.

Students Have been the same throughout the ages, and, over time, the Kate Kennedy parade degenerated from a pageant to a parody where members of staff of the university were publicly parodied.   

The procession was banned by the university in 1881, but resurrected in 1926.

There have been times when its continuance has been in jeopardy, most recently because the Kate Kennedy Club which organises the procession is an all-male club and membership (which is limited to 60 students) is by invitation only.  The procession, however, is popular with the townsfolk and visitors.  It raises money for charity and historical figures in the town and the university are represented.

    This picture shows the Lady Katherine and her uncle passing the cathedral.  If the Lady Kate looks a little masculine, it is because she is traditionally represented by a male "bejant" or first-year student.

You may recognise this figure.  John Cleese is a former Rector of the university.  Other firures represented are as varied as Bobby Jones and Mary, Queen of Scots and, of course, St Andrew himself.

The Kate Kennedy Parade traditionally takes place on the Saturday nearest to April 17th each year.