Clan Donald Magazine No11 (1987) Online
Messages of Greetings From the Chiefs.The Rt. Hon Godfrey James Macdonald of Macdonald 8th Lord Macdonald and High Chief of Clan Donald. 
It gives me great
pleasure to have this opportunity of sending my greetings and best
wishes to all Clansmen and Clanswomen throughout the world. Since
the publication of the last magazine our Clan has continued to grow
in stature and is now the envy of all other Clans. This is the
result of the many years of hard work put in by an ever increasing
number of dedicated people, who by their unselfish actions have seen
the establishment of the Clan Donald Centre here on Skye. This is
not just any Clan Centre but a magnificent award winning complex
which we should all feel proud to be associated with. With the
centre as our focal point we cannot but be in the forefront
of the resurgence of Clan spirit which prevails as we draw to the
close of the twentieth century. Clan Donald has once again given a
lead to be followed by other clans, this time in demonstrating the
relevance of Clanship in a modern environment.
I am proud to be its
High Chief in this exciting period of our history. I wish you all
well.
Macdonald
Air Commodore AR Donald MacDonell of Glengarry CB DFC RAF (Retd.) 22nd Chief of Glengarry.  Once again I send
greetings to all Clan members world-wide together with admiration
and congratulations for your collective and individual contributions
to the ever-increasing growth and strength of Clan Donald. We are an
international, non-sectarian, non-political great Clan; undivided in
our pride of heritage and our common ancestry. Our history is one of
tragedy and misfortune overcome and, to those of us who have looked
into the mists of the past, the story of our Clan is one of which we
can be proud indeed.
Perhaps then we
should seek how best to bestow the spirit of Clan Donald on those of
our offspring who will follow us. The 'Renaissance' of Clan Donald
is of our generation; if it is not to decline, our successors must
inherit our pride and interest.
As the oldest of the
Chiefs of Clan Donald, I am fortunate in my son and heir, Ranald,
the Younger of Glengarry, who represented me so ably at the AGM of
Clan Donald USA in Boston in 1985, when I was trapped in Nova Scotia
by hurricane Gloria. Also present was Clanranald's second son,
Boisdale. In 1983 Lois and I were accompanied by my elder daughter,
Lindsay, to the Highland Games in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Lindsay
is married to a Canadian: they live in Halifax and have a young son
and daughter. Last year my second son, Patrick, with his wife
and three small daughters, represented me at the CDUSA Annual
General Meeting in Seattle. They live on Vancouver Island, BC, and
are keenly interested in the history of the Glengarry branch of our
Clan.
Lois and I have
attended Clan Donald gatherings in the USA and Canada, in Glasgow
and Edinburgh, at Glencoe and Invergarry and at Armadale, which has
become the focal point for so much of our interest. At last year's
Annual Dinner and Dance of the Clan Donald Society of Glasgow we
were accompanied by Ranald, his wife Ann and their two daughters,
Fiona and Vicky. It was a memorable occasion. So, with our children
James of Scotus and Penelope here in Scotland, Ranald and his
family in Surrey, Patrick and Lindsay and their families in the West
and East of Canada, respectively, we are well placed
strategically both in the United Kingdom and in North America. When
the sands run out, I shall be happy in the
knowledge that the House of Glengarry is in good hands.
To my friends and
clansmen in the Antipodes I send a very special greeting. They are,
geographically, so very far away and yet so close in kinship.
With very warm and
sincere wishes to all of you for the future, wherever you be, from
Lois and me, and with our confidence that the spirit of Clan Donald
will be sustained through our children, their children
and their children's children and will never diminish.
Suas Alba,
Donald
MacDonell of Glengarry.
From Ranald A Macdonald, Chief and Captain of Clanranald.
 I am very pleased to
be able to send greetings to all Macdonalds especially
Clanranalds through this excellent magazine.
It is now thirty years since as a young
man and as the newly recognised Chief of Clanranald, I was
generously entertained by the Clan Donald Society of Edinburgh.
Donald J. and Bunty (Castleton) soon became close friends and many
happy times Ispent enjoying their hospitality - I miss them and
their guidance.
During the last thirty years many things have been achieved. Firstly
my wife, Jane, has put up with me now for twenty six years. Our
elder son Ranald Og (24) achieved an MA at St. Andrews University,
and is now running his own wine business in London - appropriately
"Boisdale Wines" (our Cadet of Clanranald). Andrew (22) is on a
business degree course at Buckingham University and Kate (15) is a
model young lady at St Mary's Convent School at Ascot. We have a
small town house in London and a very pretty early 18th century
house west of Killin in Glen Dochart.
Our life is between the two houses, and our 42 foot racing yacht
Birlinn Chlann Raonaill (Clanranald's Galley. Apart from giving us
much pleasure cruising the Hebrides, following the Viking paths,
Norway, Faroe Islands and southern Spain, we have shown a good clean
stern wave on the racing circuits. In 1983 we were overall class
winner, 1st at Deauville and two wins at Cowes, a third overall West
Highland week in 1986, overall winner at the Royal Torbay Regatta
and second overall Solent Winter Series.
This year we hope to be back in West Highland waters with plans for
Iceland.
Jane paints beautifully in watercolour, with several shared
exhibitions to her credit and much sought after as a teacher having
small classes at her London home and helping out at various
workshops.
Another strong thread in my life is my involvement with Clan Donald
Lands Trust since its inception with particular interest as Chairman
of the Museum of the Isles. We now have a secure, safe and
magnificent place for items of interest, either as gifts, or on long
term loan.
Thirty years is a long time but I have enjoyed every minute and I
look forward to hearing from anyone who may care to contact me
through the Clan Donald Centre at Skye.
Meanwhile my every good wish.
Ranald Macdonald of Clanranald
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