Welcome to The Clan Donald Society of the Highlands and Islands.
What follows is a brief resumé of the history so far.
At our first meeting, held at Finlaggan, Killearnan, Ross-shire, on 12 October, 2009, our Steering Committee of like-minded adherents set about forming what is now the Clan Donald Society of the Highlands and Islands. The first task was to select provisional office bearers. We were extremely fortunate in the individuals who attended that first meeting. They have given their invaluable talents, their advice and their time so generously, and this has enabled the Society to go from strength to strength.
The inaugural meeting of the Society was held on Saturday, 1st May, 2010, and saw the election of a President, Secretary, Treasurer and Membership Secretary. The most important instrument for the general governance and guidance of the newly-formed Society was the proposed Constitution and this was ratified at an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Society held on Saturday, 11th September, 2010. Now the Clan Donald Society of the Highlands and Islands was a reality. (View the opening Mission Statement.)
We invite Macdonalds throughout the world to come and join us in our great adventure and I hope this newly-created website will give you all the information that you require. But please remember to bear in mind that our prime objective is to create a focus for people who belong to Clan Donald. The Society is in the extremely privileged position of being established in the very heartland of Clan Donald and we are very much aware of the honour that confers upon us. Being in that unique position enables the Society to represent Clan Donald at the many historical sites and monuments throughout the region dedicated to the memory of the Clan’s valour and statesmanship and to keep alive the history and traditions of the Highlander, and in particular the language of the Gael, which is the heritage of our great clan. Two examples are the annual pilgrimage to Glencoe each year on 13th February, to keep alive the memory of the valour and courage of the MacIans of Glencoe, and, more recently, our gathering to commemorate the undoubted valour and courage of Major General Sir Hector Macdonald, known as ‘Fighting Mac’, at his monument in Dingwall on 4th March. This will be an annual event, for which the Highland Council are giving us their full support, and it will be exclusively a CDSH&I-organised remembrance of this great son of Ross-shire and national hero of Scotland. We hope to go in the Spring and Autumn of each year to the monument at Rogart in Sutherland to Sir John Macdonald, the first Prime Minister of the then Dominion of Canada. Of course there is also the annual commemoration of the Battle of Culloden, on the Saturday nearest to 16th April, with a service and wreath-laying ceremony at the Main Cairn. Afterwards wreaths are laid at the Clan Donald stones, followed by the now well-established Culloden luncheon; both events being organised by Lois MacDonell of Glengarry.
Lean gu dlùth ri cliù do shinnsre.
Alan Ranald Macdonald
PRESIDENT of the Clan Donald Society of the Highlands and Islands
