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The Clan MacKenzie
Gathering was held between the 6th and 14th of August. 300 Mackenzies from
the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, France and Chile attended as well
as those form the UK itself. Here are some pictures...
Taken at the bonfire following the march with
flaming torches from Castle Leod
Members present at the Opening ceremonies. I
took these from the stage where I sat with the Chief and other heidyins!
On the left is M. Didier Bauland, President of
the Clan MacKenzie Society of France with his wife. On the right shows the
Canadian members present in front of Castle Leod. The Chief (John
Mackenzie, Earl of Cromartie) is in the front row.
The picture on the left shows the members
present from the United States - also in front of Castle Leod. On the
right are the United States members in front of Castle Leod with the Clan
Chief in front.
A small group (from Scotland and New Zealand)
at Fort George - one of the many Coach trips arranged at the Gathering.
The museum was an important pert as it contains the exhibits of the
Mackenzie regiment - The Seaforth Highlanders. On the right is one of the
French members at the same museum
A happy picture of Lady Julia Mackenzie
(half-sister of the Clan Chief). By her side is James Malcolm MacKenzie -
our new clan commissioner for Nova Scotia. On the right is Coul House
Hotel, Contin - once the impressive home of the Mackenzies of Coul.
Some important Americans invited me (Canadian
Commissioner, Alan McKenzie) to dinner at the Coul House Hotel. On the
right is Catherine McKenzie Jansen at one of the many coach trip venues.
This one at the Newtonmore Highland Folk Museum.
On the left is a 1930s classroom at Newtonmore
Highland Folk Museum and on the right is a typical Highland crofters home
On the left is for very basic accommodation -
this is a sheiling - no room to stand up and will hold just one or two
people at a pinch. On the right are the ruins of Ruthven Barracks -
destroyed by the Jacobites after the Battle of Culloden.
On the left is New Zealand Clan Mackenzie
Commissioner Jim Thwaites with Lieutenant to Cabarfeidh Sonia Mackenzie.
On the right all dressed up for the Clan Mackenzie Banquet in Strathpeffer
Spa Pavilion.
On the left is at the banquet - Janet Lady
Cromartie with Lieutenant to Cabarfeidh Ron McKenzie from Georgia USA and
on the right a merry table at the banquet.
On the road for a coach trip to Applecross -
Loch Marie is in the distance and on the right taking to coast road to
Applecross
Applecross Museum. Applecross was all once
owned by the Mackenzies of Applecross and on the right Exiting ever
upwards over the mountainous "Pass of the Cattle".
Commencing the treacherous descent down the
"Pass of the Cattle" from Applecross.
We had time to cross over the bridge to Skye!
On the right Eilean Donan Castle - the Mackenzie Stronghold in the west
until it was destroyed by British warships and gunpowder at the Battle of
Glenshiel in 1719. The new castle is owned by the MacRae family.
On the left is a shot taken from Eilean Donan
Castle. In the distance are the hills of Skye. On the right is the
memorial to Roderick Mackenzie, an officer in the Jacobite army, who may
just have saved the life of Bonnie Prince Charlie.
Inside the marquee at the Strathpeffer
Highland Games and on the right the Canadian contingent getting started on
the Mackenzie march past the Clan Chief at the Strathpeffer Highland
Games.
On the left the New Zealand Mackenzies parade
past the Clan Chief at Strathpeffer and on the right the French members in
the Clan Mackenzie parade.
On the left the Mackenzies from Chile and on
the right the massed bands in Mackenzie tartan (most of them!)
The Mackenzie flags lead the parade - Lady
Julia Mackenzie is in the front row and on the right the Canadians
Mackenzies from around the world and on the
right the New Zealanders sang a farewell song at the closing ceremonies
Pictures from Jim MacKenzie...
Castle Leod
Culloden Cairn
Trebuchet @ Urquhart Castle
This is the big dig taking place at the old
Tarbat church near
Portmahomack. Thought to have been an early site of the Picts.
The chap on the left is James Malcolm
MacKenzie who is our new Commissioner
for Nova Scotia for the Clan Mackenzie - this taken at the Clan Gathering
in Scotland.
The clan chief - the earl of Cromartie is
piped in to the opening
ceremonies at the Clan Mackenzie Gathering in Strathpeffer.
The Clan Mackenzie Chief gives permission for
the massed bands to retire at
the Strathpeffer Highland Games. 300 Mackenzies present!
Clan MacKenzie International Gathering at
Castle Leod August 2005 |
