Olive and Mabel help unveil Twa Dugs sculpture who inspired poet Robert Burns

A doggie duo sculpture has joined other creations along Alloway’s popular Poet’s Path, honouring our national Bard.

Life-size bronze sculptures of dogs Luath and Caesar from Burns’ The Twa Dogs poem now lie on the stretch which connects Burns Cottage with the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum.

Luath and Caesar sit alongside scenes from Tam o’ Shanter by Timorous Beasties, Kenny Hunter’s not-so ‘wee mouse’ made from cast iron and Jake Harvey’s larger-than-life granite haggis.

Canine celebrities Olive and Mabel joined their owner Andrew Cotter at the Poet’s Path last week to welcome the pawsome sculpture.

Olive and Mabel’s sporting contests, with commentary by Troon-born broadcaster Andrew, went viral during lockdown last year.

As well as racking up nearly 90 million views on social media, they recently appeared on the Bafta TV Awards and are even the subject of a book.

Andrew Cotter, Stacie Taylor, Olive & Mabel with the bronze Twa Dugs creation on the Poet's Path (Submitted/Ayrshire Post)

The Twa Dogs sculpture was created by artist Sally Matthews and commissioned by the Trustees of The National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA to honour their former chair, Helen E.R. Sayles.

Kirstin Bridier, from The National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA, said: “The sculpture was commissioned to thank Helen E.R. Sayles for her six years as chair.

“Helen hails from Ayrshire and has supported many projects at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, so we thought the property was a perfect place to commemorate her tremendous leadership of the American foundation.”

Ali MacLeod, head of fundraising at the National Trust for Scotland, said: “Helen is a wonderful friend and supporter of both the NTS Foundation USA and our charity here in Scotland.

“Helen’s commitment to Scotland’s heritage, protecting the places we love for future generations, is inspiring and deeply valued.”

Burns’ The Twa Dogs is the opening poem in Burns’ first published collection, the 1786 Kilmarnock Edition.

Luath was the name of Burns’ own collie and it is said that Burns met his future wife Jean Armour after she tripped over Luath at a wedding.

A social satire on wealth, poverty and class, the poem is largely told from the viewpoint of the dogs, with Burns using the conversation between Luath and Caesar to pointedly examine society’s inequalities.

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