Mary Queen of Scots Death Warrant at Blairs Museum.

Cardinal O'Brien and First Minister Alex Salmond with Bishop Peter Moran and Provost Of Aberdeenshire at the unvailing of the Death Warrant now on display at Blairs Museum Aberdeen.

On 17th November 2008 First Minister Alex Salmond Presented Blairs Museum in Aberdeen with a copy of Mary Queen of Scots Death Warrant,bringing residents,visitors and historians the chance to view first hand a very important document in the history of Scotland.

£115 million capital investment at Blairs. 

The Muir Group warmly welcomes the recent announcement made by the Scottish Government to agree with the unanimous decision taken earlier this year by Aberdeenshire Council to approve the enabling development to regenerate and renew the historic Blairs College in Kincardineshire.  Unlike other major developments in the North East of Scotland this clearly demonstrates an overwhelming desire and joined up support by the Scottish Government and indeed the local Council to save this beautiful and rapidly deteriorating building and thus once again place it on the map as an historical landmark.

Over the course of the next 12 months the Muir Group looks forward to liaising with Aberdeenshire Council and the local community to submit a detailed planning application. During this timeframe we also envisage selecting a hotel operator to run this world class resort and will begin detailed golf design discussions with Paul Lawrie.
 
Muir Group Chairman, John Muir, welcomed today’s vote, commenting:

“We are very pleased that the Scottish Government have followed the unanimous decision taken by Aberdeenshire Council and decided not to call in the application. This decision now formally opens up the door for a massive £115 million investment in Aberdeenshire, which in time will deliver nearly 1000 jobs for the local area. I am thoroughly excited by the vision that can now be implemented in terms of enabling leisure and business tourism through a world class hotel resort and a signature championship golf course by local golfing hero Paul Lawrie.  We now look forward to working with the council and the local community to discuss in detail how the development will take shape”.    

Cardinal Keith Patrick O’Brien, also expressed delight at the decision, commenting:

 Fr O'Brien chats with some of the Blairs Boys 1980.

“Blairs has always held a very soft spot in my own heart and in the heart of many of the Christian community of Scotland – I myself was Rector between 1980 and 1985.  It is extremely sad to see the magnificent buildings in a state of progressive decay and, consequently, I and my brother Bishops in Scotland are more than delighted at the prospect of restoration.  The decision taken by the Scottish Government not to call in the application is thoroughly welcomed and enables the historic character and ambiance of Blairs College to be maintained through the enabling development and regeneration that will be undertaken by the Muir Group.’’

 Staff of Blairs including Bishop Elect of Argyll and the Isles Mgr Joseph Toal with Fr O'Brien now Cardinal and Fr Peter Moran now Bishop of Aberdeen 1983.

 A warm welcome from the boys at Blairs as Fr O'Brien returns as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh,1985.