Clan Donald Magazine No 12 (1991) Online
Messages From The Chiefs
From the Rt. Hon. Lord Macdonald.
Kinloch Lodge
Isle of Skye.
 It gives me, once again, the greatest pleasure to have this opportunity of sending my warmest greetings to my clansmen and clanswomen throughout the world. Since I became High Chief of Clan Donald, now some twenty years ago, our Clan has continued to grow in stature round the world. There are several reasons for this growth and interest. Communication is now much easier, and the world is appearing to shrink as a result. Travel from the furthest points is now much easier than it used to be with the result that many many more people now have the opportunity of visiting or contacting the lands of their forebears. This interest is now embodied in our Clan Centre here in Skye which continues to grow and offer more and more. The expansion of this great facility, over the last two decades has done more than anything else, in my opinion, to help foster the true spirit of clanship and give it a real meaning and relevance as we draw to the end of this century.
I am more than proud to have been High Chief of our great clan during this most exciting phase of our continuing history.
I wish you all the very best.
Macdonald.
From Sir Ian Macdonald of Sleat Bt. FRICS MRSH.
Thorpe Hall, Rudston,
Driffield, East Yorkshire.
 It is with the greatest pleasure that I congratulate the Clan Donald Society of Edinburgh on achieving its 100th Birthday. Although the many Clansmen who live outwith these shores tend to look to Armadale and the Lands Trust as the centre of activity in Scotland, let us never forget the valuable contribution that the Edinburgh Society has made for a very long time to the furtherance and advancement of the knowledge of all matters concerning The Clan. Perhaps the Edinburgh Society could be likened to a retired History Master?
I can well remember attending my first function at my coming of age, and looking round the Gathering thinking how old all these venerable Highlanders looked with their wrinkly knees and earnest voices. Sadly that generation has passed away and it is me now that has to put up with comments from rude children about fossils and dinosaurs.
The Edinburgh Society has always been very kind to my family and I am confident that this close relationship and friendship will continue through the generations to come. Armadale might be the centre of activity but the Societies are Guardians of Clan Donald's Soul.
With much love and affection to you all.
Ian.
From Air Commodore Donald MacDonell of Glengarry CB DFC.
Fortrose,
Ross-shire.
 It is a privilege and a great pleasure to be invited to send greetings to all members of Clan Donald, world-wide on the occasion of the Centenary of the Clan Donald Society of Edinburgh.
The Society was formed when my father was sixteen years old and, ten years later, at the age of 26 he inherited the Chiefship of Glengarry.
To me, his heir and successor, he always spoke with his gift of romanticism and historic knowledge of our branch of the great Clan Donald, and I know that he was a staunch supporter of the Edinburgh and the Glasgow Societies.
Thus my own enthusiasm and pride was kindled and I have lived to see the spread of kinship sweep throughout the world from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Belgium. to countries where our forebears settled after the dismemberment of our Clan following the calamity at Culloden.
Though I am no longer able to travel as much as I would wish, I look with pride and admiration at the tribute to our heritage that is to be found in these Clan Donald organisations.
To all of you, but especially to the Clan Donald Society of Edinburgh, Lois and I send you our warmest greetings.
Keep the torch burning. And to Edinburgh congratulations on Your centenary. Well done indeed.
Glengarry.
From Ranald A. MacDonald of Clanranald KM.
Sutton Bonnington Hall,
Loughborough,
Leicestershire.
 I am always happy to be given the opportunity to prepare a message to Clansmen when requested by Norman, your editor. The problem is knowing quite what to say, of course, the first and most important thing is to wish all Clanranalds my best wishes for happiness, good health and contentment and to add that I am always pleased to hear from you. Perhaps it is appropriate to tell of my doings:
As far as my family is concerned, my eldest son and heir is thriving, running his own business with his wife Kate in London; the Boisdale Wine Shops (2) and a fine restaurant also called Boisdale. My younger son Andrew Macdonald of Boisdale is a fast moving management consultant with an American firm Alexander Proudfoot. Kate, my daughter is an undergraduate at Canterbury University doing Fine Arts.
Last year I had the great privilege to be Guest of Honour at the USA Annual Gathering held on the Queen Mary in Long Beach. An event that will forever be in my memory, at which I so much enjoyed seeing many old friends and meeting new ones.
My yacht, a 41 foot racer/cruiser, Birlinn Chlann Raonuill, has returned to the Highlands after two seasons in Italy having finished 3rd, racing across the Atlantic, when we did several Carribean Regattas including being in the Scottish Team for Antigua Race Week. My main interest outside my wallcovering and fabric business, Tektura is the sea. To this end my current project is to build and sail a medieval Galley such as the Lords of the Isles might have used. A great deal of research has been done by many academics, the Keel laid, monies raised and an ambitious voyage from Ireland to Stornoway planned from which we will learn much of the communications of our ancestors. We were the Sea Kingdom. dominated by our ability to master the waves not only for battle but trade and all communications. I send you all my greetings and warmest wishes for your happiness.
Ranald Macdonald of Clanranald.
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