Comann Chlann Dòmhnaill na h-Alba

Welcome from the President: An Introduction.

Welcome to The Clan Donald Society of Scotland, to all those who are Donalds by descent or by marriage, wherever you are. A shared interest in heritage and history can be greatly beneficial to people and the sense of belonging to an extended family is important.

Clan Donald is composed of over 450 separate family names ranging from Abrach to Wright. The English translations of Gaelic names has led to a great variety of spellings, for example the Gaelic spelling for MacDonald is MacDhomnaill, from this we now say thanks to the inconsistent translations; we now have to deal with MacDonald, Macdonald, McDonald, Mcdonald, Mc Donald, MacDaniel, McDaniel, MacDonell, MacDonnell, McConnell, Donaldson, and the list goes on. But it’s all MacDhomnaill, the largest Clan in Scotland.

My name is Graeme J MacDonald, born and bred a Highlander from the Village of Beauly near Inverness, and proud to be a Highlander.

On the 18th of May 2024, I was elected to become the new President of The Clan Donald Society of Scotland, as a young boy growing up in The Highlands of Beauly, I had no idea of what being a MacDonald was, I was never taught the History of the MacDonalds nor of The Highlands, I learned as I grew up, but I have also learned a lot more in the last ten years, listening to the many MacDonalds around me.

The Clan Donald Society has an annual programme of events, such as a Lectures, a Ceilidh and commemorative events throughout the year, including the Battle of Culloden Commemoration, followed by the Clan Donald Culloden Lunch, as well as annual outings to places of relevance to The Clan Donald. The twice-yearly newsletter, A’ Bhirlinn, continues to be sent to members in hard copy.

The Clan Donald Society of Scotland will continue, not just to continue, but to continue to be bigger and better, and also to improve, and not just under my name but to the good-good people I have involved in The Clan Donald Society, the Vice Presidents, the Secretarys, the Treasurer, the Council Members, even our very own Clan Donald Society of Scotland Piper, we need a good tune to keep our spirits up.

However, the most important people we need to keep The Clan Donald Society of Scotland bigger and better, is You, the people out there in the big wide world, without you, we cannot get bigger and better, we cannot improve without your help, so I ask everyone out there who is connected to the Clan Donald in any way, come and join The Clan Donald Society of Scotland, we will listen to you to improve, and to keep us the largest Clan in Scotland.

Gach Dùrachd,

Graeme J MacDonald

Ni h-eibhneas gan Chlainn Domhnaill

It is no joy without Clan Donald

Mission Statement

To create a focus for people who belong to Scotland’s largest clan, which includes the MacDonalds of Sleat and of Clanranald;  the MacDonells/MacDonalds of Glengarry and of Keppoch;  the MacIains/MacDonalds of Glencoe; the MacIains of Ardnamurchan and the MacDonnells of Antrim.

Enquiries about any of the events below should be directed to the Secretary at contact@clandonald.org

For a full list of Clan Donald names click here.