# Event Details - **Event Name**: 100 years on: Is ‘A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle’ still relevant today? - **Event Start and End Date**: Sun, 13 Sep, 2026 at 05:30 pm – Sun, 13 Sep, 2026 at 07:00 pm (+01:00) - **Event Description**: An evening exploring one of Scotland’s most celebrated poemsAbout this EventHugh MacDiarmid was a controversial poet and political figure throughout his lifetime, and nearly 50 years after his death, his words still have the capacity to enthral, shock and astonish.Now a century after the publication of MacDiarmid’s book-length poem, A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle, this Curious talk revisits what is often regarded as MacDiarmid’s Scots masterpiece.Hear from renowned poets as they unpack the poem’s reputation today. What do artists, academics and the public think about it now? And does his work still hold relevance in today’s world?This illustrated talk will place the poem in its cultural, political and biographical context. We’ll also hear readings of select passages, accompanied by short readings from Ayont the Thistle, a new book with more than 70 essays and poems responding to MacDiarmid’s poem.Can't attend in-person? Watch online!This is a hybrid event. This event page is for the in-person tickets only. If you would like to attend online, please book your tickets through theImportant points to noteThis event is suitable for age 16+Event format: This event is a talk and will involve some speakers sharing talking followed by a Q&A. There may be some interactive parts of the event but you can just sit back and enjoy listening.Content Warning: This work was written in 1926 so may include some specific or outdated perspectives and language that don't align with modern times or views.Filming: Livestreaming and photography may take place at this event. Please let a member of the RSE Public Engagement team know if you do not want to be photographed. Recorded events will be made available on the RSE YouTube channel. https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events9/banners/f12bb9f0-a4fa-11f1-8345-8160f1306c66-rimg-w1200-h203-dcf8f8f8-gmir.jpg https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events9/banners/f174d0e0-a4fa-11f1-8345-8160f1306c66-rimg-w1200-h600-dcf8f8f8-gmir.jpg SPEAKERJames RobertsonPoet and novelistJames Robertson is a poet, translator, and writer of fiction. His novels include Joseph Knight, The Testament of Gideon Mack, And the Land Lay Still and News of the Dead. From 1993 to 1995 he was writer-in-residence at Brownsbank Cottage, near Biggar, the final home of Hugh MacDiarmid. In 2002 he co-founded Itchy Coo, an imprint for books in Scots for young readers, and remains a contributing editor. He is currently writing a short history of Scotland for Yale University Press. https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events8/banners/f1aafc10-a4fa-11f1-8345-8160f1306c66-rimg-w1200-h600-dcf8f8f8-gmir.jpg SPEAKERProfessor Alan RiachProfessor of Scottish Literature, University of GlasgowAlan Riach is a poet and Professor of Scottish Literature at Glasgow University. Born in Airdrie, he studied at the Universities of Cambridge and Glasgow, then worked at the University of Waikato, New Zealand, 1986-2000, and returned to Scotland in 2001. His books of poetry include The Winter Book, Homecoming, Wild Blue: Selected Poems and The MacDiarmid Memorandum. Works of criticism include Representing Scotland, Hugh MacDiarmid’s Epic Poetry and, co-authored with Alexander Moffat, Arts of Resistance: Poets, Portraits and Landscapes of Modern Scotland. His 734-page Scottish Literature: An Introduction (2022) was described in The Times as ‘magisterial’. https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events1/banners/f1f65cf0-a4fa-11f1-8345-8160f1306c66-rimg-w1200-h600-dcf8f8f8-gmir.jpg SPEAKERJim MackintoshPoetJim Mackintosh’s seven collections include Flipstones and We are Migrant. His multimedia collaborations include Beyond the Swelkie with Duncan Chisholm & Hamish Napier and The Banes o the Turas with Ali Hutton. His residences include St Johnstone FC, The Hampden Collection, Cateran EcoMuseum, Bioregioning Tayside, and Makar of Federation of Writers Scotland. Jim was shortlisted for the Scots Book of the Year in 2023 and named Scots Writer of the Year in 2024. https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events8/banners/f2367330-a4fa-11f1-8345-8160f1306c66-rimg-w1200-h600-dcf8f8f8-gmir.jpg RESPONDENTProfessor Kirstie Blair FRSEDeputy Principal Academic and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, University of StirlingProfessor Kirstie Blair is Deputy Principal Academic and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Stirling. Following three years as Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, she has previously worked at the universities of Strathclyde and Glasgow. She specialises in the long nineteenth century, and especially in working-class writing, poetry, periodical culture, literature and religion. Her latest book, Working Verse in Victorian Scotland: Poetry, Press, Community, won the Saltire Society Book of the Year and Research Book of the Year awards in 2019. Her ongoing research relates to industrial heritage, working-class writing in Scotland and the North, and newspaper and periodical studies. https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events4/banners/f2699120-a4fa-11f1-8345-8160f1306c66-rimg-w1200-h600-dcf8f8f8-gmir.jpg CHAIRDr Sally Magnusson FRSEBroadcaster and author, BBC ScotlandSally Magnusson is a journalist, novelist and broadcaster. After starting her career on The Scotsman and the Sunday Standard newspapers, she presented a host of TV and radio programmes, including Sixty Minutes, BBC Breakfast, Songs of Praise, Daily Politics and most recently Reporting Scotland, which she anchored until 2025. She has written a variety of non-fiction books including Where Memories Go, a Sunday Times best-selling account of her mother’s dementia, which has been credited with improving understanding of this widespread brain disease, and four novels, The Sealwoman’s Gift, The Ninth Child, Music in the Dark and The Shapeshifter’s Daughter. In 2013 she founded the music and dementia charity Playlist for Life, which advocates personally meaningful music as a means of bringing joy and connection to people with dementia. She has an MA in English Language and Literature from the University of Edinburgh, and honorary degrees from the universities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stirling, Glasgow Caledonian, as well as the Open University. She received an MBE in 2023 for services to people with dementia and their carers. https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events6/banners/f275c620-a4fa-11f1-8345-8160f1306c66-rimg-w1200-h203-dc582878-gmir.jpg About the Curious festivalThe RSE’s free Curious festival of knowledge is back, from Saturday 5 − Sunday 13 September 2026!Curious is Scotland’s annual festival of knowledge. Across its seven-year history, Curious has welcomed over 10,000 attendees into its yearly programme of talks, workshops, discussions and exhibitions – all covering different topics and subject areas. There’s no need for you to have any prior specialist knowledge before coming along, just bring your curious self! With plenty of events both in person and online, you can take part from anywhere.You can check out the full programme of events here. https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events5/banners/f27fd840-a4fa-11f1-8345-8160f1306c66-rimg-w1200-h203-dcf8f8f8-gmir.jpg AccessibilityWe aim to make events as accessible as possible. If you have any accessibility requirements or have any questions related to how we can support this event, please contact curious@theRSE.org.uk. Accessibility information for the RSE building can be found on our website.Step-free access: Ramped access for visitors is available via 26 George Street through Lakeland. Upon arrival, please call 0131 240 5000 and a member of staff will meet you and guide you to the event. Please note that the entrance ramp has a steep gradient (1:12).Wheelchair spaces: If you would like to book a space as a wheelchair user, please select the ticket type 'wheelchair space ticket' during the booking process. If this is sold out, please contact the Curious team on curious@therse.org.uk.Privacy PolicyPlease note that any personal data that is submitted to the RSE will be stored and processed in accordance with the RSE’s Privacy Policy. We will only use mobile numbers provided to contact you in the event of a cancellation.NewsletterIf you would like to receive information from the RSE on upcoming events and activities, you can subscribe to our newsletter here.Please visit the RSE FAQs page for further details about venue and events. - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/edinburgh/100-years-on-is-‘a-drunk-man-looks-at-the-thistle-still-relevant-today/100001993765899476 - **Event Categories**: art, literary-art, festivals, workshops, exhibitions, nonprofit, charities - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 - **Event Highlights**: - Age Limit: 16+ - door_time: 2026-09-13T16:00:00Z - Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes - Location: The Royal Society Of Edinburgh - Languages: English ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 0, max: 0, currency: GBP ## Event venue details - **city**: Edinburgh - **state**: SC - **country**: United Kingdom - **location**: The Royal Society Of Edinburgh - **lat**: 55.95348130000001 - **long**: -3.1965827999999874 - **full address**: The Royal Society Of Edinburgh, 22-26 George Street, Edinburgh, United Kingdom ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: 100 years on: Is ‘A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle’ still relevant today? - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events4/banners/799b11badc4458a3596ca43ed475b7e7353a5a2d24184a11744aed57f6893f84-rimg-w1200-h600-dc4e2d7d-gmir.jpg?v=1784577640 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is 100 years on: Is A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle still relevant today? being held? - **A:** 100 years on: Is A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle still relevant today? takes place on Sun, 13 Sep, 2026 at 05:30 pm to Sun, 13 Sep, 2026 at 07:00 pm at The Royal Society Of Edinburgh, 22-26 George Street, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. - **Q**: Is there an age restriction for 100 years on: Is A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle still relevant today?? - **A:** 100 years on: Is A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle still relevant today? is strictly for guests aged 16 and above. Valid government-issued photo ID is required for entry. Guests under 16 will not be admitted. The event will be presented in English. - **Q**: Who is organizing 100 years on: Is A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle still relevant today?? - **A:** 100 years on: Is A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle still relevant today? is organized by The Royal Society of Edinburgh. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** 100 years on: Is A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle still relevant today? is ideal for art lovers, collectors, creatives, and anyone inspired by visual arts, installations, and exhibitions. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Edinburgh, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. 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