Glencoe massacre remembered in annual service

Around 40 people ignored the drizzling rain to gather at the Massacre of Glencoe Memorial last week for the annual commemoration of the treacherous events of February 13, 1692.

Local residents from Glencoe and Ballachulish were joined by several visitors from overseas, including the United States.

Last Wednesday’s events began with a service in St Mary’s Church at Glencoe – conducted by the Rev Amanda Fairclough and assisted by William Mather, president of the Clan Donald Society of the Highlands and Islands – which was also attended by youngsters from Glencoe Primary School.

The traditional procession to the tapering Celtic cross memorial followed, with piper Iain MacGillivray, Commander of Clan MacGillivray – ancient allies of the MacDonalds – leading the way. Wreaths were laid on behalf of Clan Donald Highlands and Islands by Mrs Diane Carey-Schmitz of Clan Donald USA; by Ros MacDonald on behalf of Glencoe Heritage Trust (sponsored by Mr and Mrs R Littrell of the USA) and by the National Trust for Scotland.

In attendance were the High Chief of Clan Donald, Lord Macdonald, and his wife, Lady Macdonald, from Skye; and Iain MacGillivray, chief of Clan MacGillivray.

Also attending in his official herald’s office of Finlaggan Pursuivant to the chiefs of Clan Donald was Tom Miers, currently an elected member of Scottish Borders Council who resides in Kelso in the Borders.

The 23rd Psalm was then sung and young piper Ronnie MacIntosh, from Fort William, played The Lament at the memorial. A Gaelic address was given by Brigadier John Macfarlane of Taynuilt.

Glencoe Heritage Trust’s Ros Macdonald, who was attending the service for the 38th year, said it was good to see such a strong turnout despite the dreadful weather.

‘The weather was not very nice and I felt really sad for the youngsters as they had to wait so long in the rain,’ she said.

‘But it was fantastic to see them and it all went very well. I don’t think there were as many this year as last year, but it was still at least 40 people who made it, which was good.’

All photographs: Iain Ferguson Chas MacDonald goes barefoot in the rain; Ros Macdonald, Glencoe Heritage Trust, laid a wreath on behalf of the Clan MacDonald Society of America; Iain MacGillivray, Commander of the Clan MacGillivray, pipes the procession from St Mary’s Church along Glencoe main street.