Community's tributes to festival chief Simon

Knockengorroch founder died peacefully at his home

- SHARON LIPTROTT

Happier times Simon Holmes and his wife Liz, organisers of the Knockengorroch World Ceilidh in 2014

The founder of one of Scotland’s longest running greenfield festivals, Galloway's Knockengorroch, has died.

A funeral service for Simon Holmes ~ who “passed in peace and withhis family around him’” - will be held on Friday at noon in Carsphairn Parish Church.

His death wasannounced on Tuesday onthe Knockengorroch Facebook page with a message saying they are “broken hearted” and “We hope to be able to continue Simon's legacy, not least by dedicating Knockengorroch Festival 2026 (May 21 to 24) tohim andhisvision. How this will lookis germinating.

“Please get in touch if you have memories or footage you'd like to share, orwould like to speak about or perform for Simon at Knockengorroch 2026.”

Knockengorroch residents, Simon and his wife, Liz, are well-known for putting on traditional, electronic and world music acts every year at the former sheep farm above Carsphairn in Galloway.

Their children, Katriona, known as “Katch” and Robertalso run the popular festival.