Ayrshire

Ayrshire (Siorrachd Inbhir Àir in Scottish Gaelic) is a traditional county in south-west Scotland, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr and Kilmarnock. The town of Troon (pop. 20,000) on the coast hosts the British Open Golf Championship every seven years, including the most recent one in 2004. Approximately 200,000 visitors come to Troon during this period.

Some notable people born in Ayrshire

• Sir Thomas Brisbane (1773-1860), Scottish soldier and colonial administrator after whom the city of Brisbane, is named.
• William Murdoch (1754 - 1839), Inventor of gas lighting and Engineer.
• Robert Burns (1759-1796), poet, in Alloway;
• John Dunlop, (1840-1921), Scottish inventor of the pneumatic tire, in Dreghorn.
• Andrew Fisher, (1862-1928), prime minister of Australia;
• Sir Alexander Fleming (1881-1955), inventor/discoverer of penicillin, in Darvel;
• John Galt, (1779-1839), author;
• John McAdam, (1756-1836), engineer, responsible for a system of road design;
• Bill Shankly, (1913-1981), successful football manager
• William Wallace (c1270-1305), one of Scotland's greatest national heroes, in Ellerslie (now Elderslie).
• Robert the Bruce, possibly at Turnberry Castle.

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