When a group of local people came together in late 1950s, they little thought how successful their glimmer of an idea for a local Museum would become. The Strathnaver Museum was eventually opened in 1976 and owed much to the late Joseph Mackay, an external member of the Clan Mackay Society and to Ian Grimble, who himself was an honorary member of the Society. The original Trustees agreed to set aside a Room for Clan Mackay exhibits and the Clan Mackay Room continues to attract many visitors each season, many of whom are Mackays from abroad. During 2002 to 2004 members of the Society have been working on improvements to the Clan Mackay Room itself. There are now exciting changes afoot for the Museum as a whole.

The line drawing alongside is by one of the volunteer curators at the Museum, Elliott Rudie, whose delightful sketches encapsulate many of the buildings of the North of Sutherland. It is folk like Elliott and the Trustees of the Museum itself who greet many returning Mackays from all parts of the world, and share their knowledge of the rich heritage their ancestors left behind in Sutherland in centuries past.

The Clan Mackay Room

This year the Clan Mackay Society have been working on two further projects. The Great Badge, a giant version of the clansman's Belt Buckle Badge, has been hoisted into position on the top internal wall of the Clan Room. This was constructed by Colin Mackay Kilbarchan in metal and his welding machine had been in heavy demand. Colin Mackay is a structural engineerand the badge to be as strong as the Forth Bridge ! [Although not quite as big]. Tommy Mackay, the Chairman of the Trustees organised a loan of some scaffolding and the Badge was hoisted into its new location with much rope pulling. It fits the space perfectly.

The Canadian Visit

This month we look forward to the Visit of Mora Mackay Cairns and her husband. Mora is President of the Clan Mackay Sciety of Canada and will be presenting a new book of Canadian Mackay History to the Clan Room to be placed on a new lectern manusfactured by our indefatigable clan grabhalair, Bill Mackay Linlithgow. The lectern is the other of the new projects mentioned above. The presentation by Mora will be made on the afternoon of Tuesday 21st September. 2004. All are welcome that day.

Donations

A number of donations have been received to cover the costs of painting and installing modern spotlighting, but donations would still be very welcome.

The Trustees

The encouragement of the present Trustees of the Museum, especially Tom Mackay, the Chairman and Irene Ross, the Secretary has been much appreciated by the Society. New Trustees have recently been elected, and we wish to welcome Mrs Gordon and Robert Mackay to the important task that lies before them. The Trustees are embarking upon a major exercise to refurbish the whole Strathnaver Museum and the Clan Mackay Society welcome their initiative. This web-site will feature a summary of the more detailed plans when they come to hand. We welcome Rachel to her new part-time job as curator/organiser for the museum and to look forward to the launch of the fund raising campaign to raise the museum's share of projected capital costs.

Last updated on 22nd March 2006

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