Isle of Skye welcomes the world’s Macleods

Press, 7 August 1982, Page 14

Isle of Skye welcomes the world’s Macleods

From ROGER KERR, in Glasgow

Delegates from' all over the world, even Poland, have gathered on the Isle of Skye ir western Scotland to attend the Clan Macleod parliament, held once every four years. This obscure gathering at Dunvegan Castle, seat of the Macleods since 1200, is the latest in a tradition stretching back 800 years. Until recently, the parliament, or meeting of the clan chieftain and elders, was held in times of emergency or, as John Macleod of Macleod, the twenty-ninth chief, put it, “to decide whether to attack or not.”

As times became more peaceful the meetings became less frequent, but were reconvened at four year intervals in 1956 by the then chieftain, Dame Flora Macleod of Macleod.

The aim of the parliaments is to strengthen the bond between Macleods all over the world and sort out clan matters and differences. "Problems are now very different from the days when we had to. defend our land, cattle and women. These days it mostly concerns defence from the taxman,” said John Macleod, a 47-year-old musician and the grandson of Dame Flora. The choice of the word "parliament” to describe the gathering is not just a piece of Scottish whimsy. “The clan system was not a feudal system,” according to Macleod of Macleod. “It was a particularly social system with the chief regarded as the father of his people and everyone had a voice. Indeed, if a chief was no good he was just dumped.” Almost 250 Macleods representing. their various families - including a newly-formed French strain - will sit down •in a marquee every morning until this Sunday for discussion. Major points on the agenda are communications between families and finances. Even the Clan Macleod parliament has a committee system and the Ala-

stair Crottach Committee (Projects) will be pressing for support. to save the tombs of ancient, chiefs who. have been buried ; far.from Skye. The parliament is hectic, and includes . an agricultural show, piping, dancing, fireworks and a ceilidh.

Perhaps the most intrigued of the parliamentarians will be the gentleman from Tasmania who will be taken to the neighbouring Isle of Raasay, home . of . the Raasay Macleods

until the sixteenth century. It has emerged that the Tasmanian Macleod is the rightful Raasay chieftain. Tasmania was about as far as his ancestors could go after the English, in retaliation for the Raasay Macleods helping Bonnie Prince Charlie in his rebellion against the London Gov-' ernment in 1745, destroyed every house on the island,., slaug itered the cattle and sank 1 all th* boats. Copyright, London O. server Service.