25/06/07: The Gathering: Day 5, Final Thoughts
Today was a big day – the presidents of the various Clan Maclean Associations around the world met for the only face-to-face CMIA meeting held in the five-year cycle. Col Donald handed over the presidency of the CMIA to Duncan of Nevada after eight years in the role.
Then it was off to the Clan Congress, chaired by the Chief, Sir Lachlan Maclean, to hear reports on the activities of the Associations and to listen to Rev Alan of Dochgarroch outline the work of the Heritage Trust over the last five years. – there has been some pretty impressive stuff achieved including a major donation to the restoration of Moy Castle, the ancestral seat of the Maclaines of Lochbuie.
Then it was off to the Clan Congress, chaired by the Chief, Sir Lachlan Maclean, to hear reports on the activities of the Associations and to listen to Rev Alan of Dochgarroch outline the work of the Heritage Trust over the last five years. – there has been some pretty impressive stuff achieved including a major donation to the restoration of Moy Castle, the ancestral seat of the Maclaines of Lochbuie.
21/06/07: Day Four - Glorious and getting better!!
What wonderful weather!!! Glorious sun and no wind. On the way out of the Hall I came across Laura Schweitzer (daughter of the Judge! – Sandy Mclean who was appointed to the bench by Arnold Schwartzneger)
21/06/07: Day Three - WET but improving!!
The day dawned VERY wet – the sort of rain that reminds you why raincoats were called “waterproofs”. As far as we were concerned this was not going to be a problem except that it would mean a day with a wet dog. A huge Scottish breakfast set us up well and we ventured forth for the Aros Hall and another day talking to people about history and ancestry. The trouble was that we were now on “island time” and thus late. Oh well. I wasn’t concerned but I found I was the only one with a key – oops!
20/06/07: Day Two - Tobermory
Tuesday saw the start of the main registration period with something like 300 people checking in and collecting their registration packs. Most of these seemed to want to talk about their history or their ancestors and so Jean, Ian and I spent most of the day on our feet talking. Despite the huge flows of people (“…my g-g-g-grandfather emigrated from Mull in 1710 – can you tell me anything about him?”) we did manage to get out into the sunshine on occasion but out on the street everyone seemed to be called Maclean – I wonder why.
19/06/07: Monday - Gathering Day 1
The 1300 km drive north was accomplished without serious issue – the dog didn’t like it much but he enjoyed the visit to the battlefield of Otterburn (where the Scots under the command of James, Earl of Douglas, singed the beard of Sir Harry “Hotspur” Percy in 1383). It was odd but as we got further north the weather got worse but as we crossed the Great Glen (the “valley” between Glasgow and Edinburgh) the Highlands was bathed in sunshine.
