I first attended the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in 2005. Chief Robin Malcolm was to be the honored there. Donald and Lise' were going. How could I not go. I had meet the Chief in 2003 on the Voyage of St. Columba. It was to be really big! I made my reservations as a camper.
I was also interested to meet Don Malcolm. Don was President at the time. I appreciated his making available to the Clan a cotton Malcolm tartan. I had purchased several yards which I wore as the feilidh mhor or Great Kilt. I had been married wearing it!
I haven't been able to locate my photos of the 2005 games, but here is the link to the Clan MacCallum/Malcolm Society website with photos of the event. I do have this one of Donald and I with the Chief. When the Chief saw me, he remembered me from the 2003 visit and referred to as the oarsman. What a compliment! My fellow crew members may chuckle as I was probably the one more likely to be out of sync in rowing.
I would like to jump ahead in my recounting the Voyage of St. Columba. Here is the link to photographs of a side trip to Duntrune Castle the seat of Clan Chief Robin Malcolm. Chief Robin was expecting us to land in Crinan and was preparing to entertain the crew. But a storm had placed us two days ahead of schedule. Chief Robin had other entertaining to do when we arrived.
Our skipper Robin knew we must press on to Iona. As we pulled out of Crinan, I could see Duntrune Castle and was so disappointed that I would not meet the Chief. We arrived at our next stop Easdale Island. Our lorry support driver, Roddy Lightbody arrived and he and Donald told me to get into the truck. We were off taking the back roads heading for Duntrune to drop in on the Chief.
Nearly two hours later we entered the gate of Duntrune. Opening the great door to the turret, Donald called out, CHIEF ROBIN! Aye, came the reply, come on up. We entered and went up the spiral stone stair way like so many movies I had seen of castles with knights fighting their way to the top.
At the top we found the Chief in a huge great room. Donald introduced us as this was his third meeting with the Chief. Chief Robin expressed his disappointment the crew could not be there as he made all the provisions to feed us royally. Chief Robin asked if we like a beer and cheeky me replied, "a wee dram would go down better, Chief!" Our hospitable host readily obliged.
After time of getting to know one another, the Chief offered to fill our glasses which suited the parched voyagers. He said we are moving up to the better quality whiskey. We had passed the test!
Chief Robin told us about his family and answered our many questions about the Clan. The Chief of course knew his long lineage and told us of family members who had done well in the USA. I told the Chief that my father had told me as a young man, not to get interested in genealogy as he wanted me to know I came from a long line of thieves and drunks!
The Chief roared with laughter and slapped his thigh and said, "Ernest, be proud of that, as we Scots of nothing but thieves and drunks! That's how my family gained our lands and wealth. He showed us the narrow slits in the castle walls that his forefathers had placed thier arrows/muskets to keep their wealth from other thieving Scots!
As we departed, Chief Robin gave us each a wee bottle of Scotch to wash the dust out of our mouth with a return to Easdale. What a trip!
2 comments:
Ern, how excited I was to view the photo of you, Donald and Robin in the study at Duntrune. Patrick and I stood in the identical spot when we visited Robin the first time! Great connection with great people-Eleanor
Great work.
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