Clan Donald Magazine No11 (1987) Online
Clan Donald Visitor Reception Centre
Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony of the new Clan
Donald Visitor Reception Centre in the former Armadale Castle
Stables building, in Sleat, on the Isle of Skye, took place on
Saturday, 26th May, 1984, in bright sunshine. Approximately 400
clansfolk and well-wishers from Scotland and overseas, notably the
United States of America, gathered for this historic event which was
attended by the High Chief, Lord Macdonald of Macdonald and the
Chiefs of Glengarry and Clanranald, with their ladies and families.
The opening remarks were made by Robert McDonald Parker,
International Director of the Clan Donald Lands Trust, who
introduced Mr Douglas G. MacDonald, current Chairman of the
Executive Committee of the Trust. In his speech, Mr MacDonald began
by presenting the Chiefs, Lord Macdonald, Glengarry and Clanranald
and then went on to stress the fact that Clan Donald had created by
its own efforts, assisted by several official bodies in Scotland, a
visitor centre and facilities which were unrivalled among all the
other clans at the present time. In conclusion, he praised the
efforts made by the Clan Donald Lands Trust and its staff; The
Glencoe Foundation; The Highlands and Islands Development Board and
many others. Mr and Mrs Ellice McDonald Jr. were especially thanked
for the important part they had played in the creation of the
Reception Centre.
The opening ceremony
was then performed by six clansmen representing the Clan throughout
the world, namely Ellice McDonald, Jr; Douglas G. MacDonald; Guy
Magdonelle; Mrs Nan McDonald; Judge Ronald A. MacDonald; and Robert
McDonald Parker, who wielded two double-handed claymores to cut a
MacDonald tartan ribbon and unveil a commemorative stone bearing the
inscription: "The Stables, 1822, re-opened 1984 by Clansmen." After
the conclusion of the ceremony the Drums and Pipes of the Queen's
Own Highlanders, specially flown over from Northern Ireland to
attend, marched off playing, as they had done earlier in the
afternoon and were to do so later in the evening when they beat
retreat on the lawn of Armadale Castle in a picturesque setting with
the blue water of the Sound of Sleat and the outline of the mainland
hills as a fitting background. The salute was taken by Ellis
McDonald, Jr.
In the evening, Mr and Mrs Ellice
McDonald Jr. were the hosts at a dinner in the Armadale Stables
restaurant for representatives of the Highlands and Islands
Development Board, the National Trust for Scotland, the Clan Donald
Societies and past and present trustees of the Clan Donald Lands
Trust. Later, a grand ceilidh, organised by Robert McDonald Parker
and featuring singer Alasdair Gillies, took place in a marquee
erected in the grounds of the Clan Donald Centre.
The following morning, Sunday, 26th May, a memorial service,
conducted by the Rev. Tom Hudson, Clan Donald USA Chaplain, was held
in the memory of the late Donald J. Macdonald of Castleton, esteemed
former President of the Clan Donald Society of Edinburgh. During the
service, Ellice McDonald Jr. rendered a most moving eulogy. Mrs
Donald J. Macdonald (Bunty to her close friends), and members of her
family were present as they had been during the events of the
previous day.
Those clansmen who had taken the Clan Donald Tour were entertained
by the members of the Clan Donald Society of Edinburgh (as they had
been by the Clan Donald Society of Glasgow at the commencement of
the tour) at a farewell dinner in the Royal Scot Hotel, Edinburgh,
when the entertainment provided by Tom Spiers (pipes); Tom Selvester
(Fiddle); Ella McConnell (Scots Songs); May Macdonald (piano
accompanist); Alan McDonald (Selkirk Grace) and Norman H. MacDonald
(Gaelic and Scots song) was supervised by the President of the Clan
Donald Society of Edinburgh, Donald M. Macdonald, who on behalf of
the Society welcomed the visiting Clansfolk. Votes of thanks were
proposed by Major Alan H Donald OBE of Bexhill-on-Sea and a book
entitled "Australia's Heritage Watch", signed by all the Australian
Society members present was presented by them to the President for
the Society as a token of appreciation and friendship.
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