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Robert Burns goes global

Robert Burns poems? We've got an app for that.

The complete works of Scotland's Bard have been made available free on the iPhone for the first time.

The new iPhone app allows anyone around the world to read and download all their favourite Burns poems.

The app includes a way of searching for any of the best-loved poems, some facts about the poet's life and even a guide on how to host a Burns supper.

This app uses the very latest technology to bring the 18th century poet firmly into the 21st century, just in time for Burns Night on Tuesday.

Traditionally people celebrate The Bard by eating haggis, a dish that Burns called the "Great chieftain o' the pudding-race" on Burns Night, January 25.

The new app lets people know hat to eat with haggis, what to drink, what music to listen to, which poems poems to recite and even what to wear for a real Burns Supper.

There is also a useful explanation of some of the terms he used so you can interpret some of the unfamiliar words and phrases such as: "Gang aft agley", or  "O wad some Power the giftie gie us!"

The poems of Robert Burns have influenced politicians, philosophers and writers down the years. He was unusual for his time as he wrote about the unfairness of slavery and has been admired by many 20th century American writers. On Tuesday night there will be Burns Suppers will be held everywhere from Japan to Nigeria.

The launch of the app may help people celebrate, and comes ahead of the official opening of the new Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Alloway this week.

The new museum near Ayr has a range of interactive and fun activities that help bring the poet and his works to life.

It promises to be yet another big draw for Burns fans from across the globe, but if they can't visit in person, at least now they can enjoy the best of the poetry with the help of their iPhones.

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Robert Burns goes global

In what was probably one of the most unusual Burns Suppers of the year, one group of climbers trekked to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa this week to eat haggis.

A team of 20 people, including comedian Fred MacAuley, have been raising money for charity - by eating haggis and playing the bagpipes at the top of the 19,000 ft peak of Kilimanjaro.

The Scottish group held their Burns Supper on Friday evening, the night before the final ascent, at the Barafu Camp, 15,500ft up the slopes of Africa's highest peak.

They followed the full Burns Supper tradition by eating a haggis created specially to be enjoyed at such high altitudes. And one walker completed the walk in a kilt and transported his bagpipes up the mountain to pipe in the haggis. The party introduced the tradition of a Burns Supper to some new fans among their African hosts.

The comedian and BBC Radio Scotland presenter, Fred MacAulay, acted as master of ceremonies, performing the Address to a Haggis before everyone tucked in.

Haggis is always eaten at a Burns Supper. It consists of lamb minced with onion, oatmeal and it served with mashed turnips and potatoes - or "neeps and tatties".

The award-winning chef from Gleneagles Hotel Andrew Fairlie cooked the haggis and the whole group sat down to enjoy the traditional Scottish meal and celebrate the works of Robert Burns.

MacAulay said of his adventure: "The climb was an incredible experience, from the moment we landed to the moment we reached the peak.

"While we were able to have burns supper at over 15,000ft on one the world's highest mountain, many other parts of the trip were also unforgettable.

"The whole team and I were proud to take a proud Scottish tradition to Kilimanjaro and introduce Haggis to some new people."

The challenge was held before Burns official birthday night on Tuesday because most of the group work in hotels and restaurants and had to return to work in their own businesses on what is one of the busiest nights of the year.

So far the group and all the sponsors have raised £90,000 and they hope to push that up to hope to push it up to  £150,000. The money will be used to award scholarships to help new talents in Scottish restaurants and hotels.

Despite the impressive height for this haggis supper, it has not topped the record for the highest ever Burns Night celebration that was set by Chris Dunlop in 2006. The Glasgow climber enjoyed the traditional meal on top of Mount Aconcagua in Argentina at 23,000ft.

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