Moo-ved to new pastures

For a few weeks last year, they became celebrities in their own right, photographed by tourists and occasionally mounted and “ridden” by locals after a few drinks. Yes, it’s fairly safe to say this time last year no-one in the Capital hadn’t seen the very public art exhibition that was CowParade 2006.

This year, cow enthusiasts will have to head to the Spanish city of Vigo or to Milan where they will be mingling among the fashionistas.

The cows are also set to make an appearance in Istanbul, Marseille, Copenhagen and Rio de Janiero over the coming years.

In Edinburgh, a total of 94 fibreglass cows were placed throughout the month of May, designed and decorated by local artists, celebrities and community groups, such as art impresario Richard Demarco, TV presenters Colin and Justin and pop singer KT Tunstall.

After five weeks out and about in the Capital last year, celebrity guests battled it out to get their hands on one of the cows at an auction for charity in September.

Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov and Rod Petrie, chief executive of Hibs, author Ian Rankin and Kwikfit founder Sir Tom Farmer were just some of the people determined to give the cows a good home.

Sixty-four of the fibreglass bovines were sold, raising 253,400 for the OneCity Trust and Vetaid charities – and it was Vladimir Romanov who decided to look after the most, shelling out more than 58,000 for six cows, including the newly created Saltire-adorned Salty which cost him 15,000; the Thistle Be the Cow which he sat on after Hearts’ 2006 Scottish Cup final victory which cost 10,000; and Coo-ween of Hearts which was 10,000.

But a year on what has happened to the Capital’s cows? Have they moo-ved on to pastures new or are they languishing forgotten in a warehouse?

Hearts owner Vladimir has been fairly generous with his mini-herd, donating many of them to others.

Navy Moo was returned to his friends on HMS Edinburgh and is now one of the crew. She’s even become something of a celebrity – rumour has it she might be given an honorary rank soon.

“There has been a lot of interest in her from the other ships, with the Danish and Swedish sailors just curious about what this purple cow is doing on a warship,” said Lt Cdr Richard Goldstone.

“The German sailors really took to her though, and they were delighted to take her over to their ships and get their photo taken with her.”

Although Vladimir said last September that he was planning to donate Salty back to the Scottish Parliament, she is actually still at Tynecastle and is set to adorn the main entrance of the Lithuanian bank, Ukio Bankas, which sponsors the club, when it opens an office in Castle Street in June.

Vladimir’s Festival Cow was donated to the Hub, and Coween of Hearts will be heading to Lithuania’s capital city, Vilnius – although the poor cow is currently hidden in storage somewhere in the deepest depths of Tyncastle. But talks are on-going with the mayor of Vilnius to free Coween from isolation.

“Although Mr Romanov is Russian-born, he has spent much of his time in Lithuania and [by donating the cow] he did feel it was a way of showing the very close links that now exists between Lithuania and Edinburgh,” explains Mr Romanov’s spokesman.

In fact, Thistle Cow is the only one on public display at Tynecastle by the main players’ and directors’ entrance.

Ian Rankin, Britain’s best-selling crime writer loves his city, so it came as no surprise he fell for the charms of Cow of the Castle, buying it for 13,000 after a bidding war with Vladimir. “I bought it because it’s like the front cover of the OneCity Trust book which I contributed a story to,” he said at the time.

He also bought Lu-Moo-Nescence which is tipped to make a guest appearance in his new Inspector Rebus novel. But in the meantime, the cow, which cost him 8000 and inspired by the Northern Lights is living in his back garden. However, rumour has it that Lu-Moo-Nescence nearly didn’t make it to grazing in the Rankin’s back garden after Ian couldn’t understand why its eyes weren’t lighting up so complained that it wasn’t working. He was then told that he would have to plug it in. Unfortunately the author wasn’t available to confirm or deny this rumour.

Tom Farmer lived up to his name when he bought a herd of the CowParade cows. He bought the kit-clad, claymore-carrying Brave Moo for 5000, Scottish Thistle cow for 2600, the Can-Can cow for 1800, Moo-ball for 2600 and Creative Creatures from Bonnington for 2600.

It’s nothing but the finest grass for Princess Moo who takes proud place in Sir Tom’s back garden at his home in Barnton. “He chose this one so his grandchildren could enjoy it when they came to visit,” says a spokesman for Sir Tom.

Moo Ball was donated to Easter Road where it greets Hibs fans in the entrance hall, while Can-Can was donated to Sir Tom’s nephew Anthony whose wife died recently from cancer, leaving two young children.

The Scottish Thistle cow was returned to its sponsors, St Columba’s hospice and it now grazes on the hospice front lawn. And Creative Creatures is destined for another local charity in the near future.

And what happened to the iconic Brave Moo? “It’s currently on its back in storage,” laughs the spokesman. “It will be coming out at some point, but it’s yet to be decided when and where.”

Creepy cow, Nightmoo on Blair Street, managed to get a home with the Mackinnons. Elle Mackinnon, whose husband Duncan owns the Drambuie Liqueur Company in Broxburn, splashed out 2500 on the black glow-in-the-dark cow as a unique garden ornament for her horror film-loving children, ten-year-old Clark and seven-year-old Fern.

“I think it’s a great cow, and it’s different,” she says. But the latest addition to the family has lost his luminosity and his varnish is beginning to peel. So Nightmoo’s going to pay a visit to an artist for a touch up.”

Nightmoo is still managing to attract attention. “Everyone who comes to visit the house, like postmen or workmen, are always intrigued by him. They [the cows] are quite big things and certainly I think they are a lovely thing to have and certainly a talking point.”

Many of the cows were snapped up by their sponsors, while others were bought by members of the public. But one of the brightest stars of the CowParade, Watt, managed to return home to Dunbar Grammar School. Watt was originally designed and painted by the school’s third-year art pupils, and after it was bought by British Energy’s Torness power station, it was donated back to the school.

Headteacher Paul Rafaelli was pleased with the creative efforts of his pupils. He adds: “She’s taken pride of place in our new quadrangle in the centre of the school which has recently been created out of rough ground and provides a sheltered spot, full of colour, for pupils and teachers alike to enjoy.”