I t is with great sadness that we announce the death of Ellice McDonald, Jr., CBE, a central figure and past High Commissioner of Clan Donald USA. McDonald spent a lifetime involved in the clan society and received many awards and honours for his work, including the title of CBE. He was also chiefly involved […]
In the western isles of Scotland two great clans were locked in a long running feud. The MacLeod’s who occupied parts of Skye and Harris and their neighbouring MacDonalds from Skye and Uist. Over centuries the two clans had a number of pitched battles as dominance of the area swung to and fro. These ‘tit […]
MacNicol Mor, a chief of the MacNicol clan was engaged in a heated discussion with MacLeod of Raasay. While the two men argued away in English a servant, who could speak only gaelic, presumed that the two leaders were quarreling. The servant, thinking his master in danger, drew out his sword and slew MacNicol Mor. […]
Knock Castle is also known as Caisteal Camus, it is 3.5 miles north of Armadale on the Isle of Skye. It was held by the MacLeods in the fifteenth century, but later passed to the MacDonalds. Knock Castle became the key stronghold for the Lords of the Isles – The MacDonalds. Some say that […]
Kylekin is a small promontory that juts out of the east end of Skye and is crowned by the ruins of Castle Maol. The main wall of the ruin is an impressive eleven feet thick, but ended up defeated by the great storm of 1948. On Febuary 1st 1948, the main wall of Castle Maol […]
Pabay is a small island just off Skye. On Pabay are the ruins of a small chapel, built originally by St. Columba’s monks. After the chapel fell into disuse and the monks left, it became a refuge for outlaws ‘broken men’ and robbers. They caused much trouble on the main island of Skye. Legend has […]
The Cuillins or The Black Cuillins to be more specific are as dark as their name, a mass of pinnacles and sharp rock ridges violently indented against the sky. It is of no suprise that they play host to many legends. I have begun to collect a few while I’ve been in Skye, here […]
