Images of The Clan Mackay

Once again a stalwart party of Mackays descended upon Shore Park Durness for the 2004 Highland Games.This was our chance to wear our kilts, to admire the scenery and to join in the busy, happy and event packed games. The programme was as good as ever, despite our withdrawing from the Tug of War , to give the other teams a chance you understand. The ghosts of the Clan paraded as usual , how strange it was that whenever Charlie Mackay arrived at the games, the "Spirits came out". Perhaps that is how Jim McColl, the Games Chieftain and Donald Macleod the editor of Am Bratach and a selection of MPs and MSPs were such regular visitors to our new and splendid tent. Located and purchased on our behalf by Colin Mackay of Kilbarachan our tent was the envy of other stall holders. It virtually puts its own frame up if you can find which bar to pull and comes down in record time. A new experience was being dive-bombed by the RAF Tornado Display. It was a pity that the Military Helicopter had to call off due to its carrying out a rescue. How inconsiderate are climbers and fishermen to require rescued on Games Day. Our Congratulations to the President, Committee members and Judges and of course to the former Chieftains, including the late Charlie, who marched from the Village Square like a spring chicken !

Only Magda Mackay Smith
could have the same birthday twice !


Our longest serving Clan Mackay Council member, Magda Mackay Smith, from the Western Isles and Corstorphine, Edinburgh celebrated her ninetieth birthday again this year. Yes "again" since the Clan Mackay had given her a celebration a year early. The registrars in the Western Isles had dreadful handwriting in those days and no doubt still used quill pens. For this year's official event there was of course a Ceilidh in St Ninians Church Hall and many clansmen and clanswomen joined her family and friends for food drink, dancing and singing. Magda as we would expect was in the thick of it all. Her daughters, Sheila and Fiona [also a Council Member] made splendid arrangements for the day. There will be full page about Magda's long and interesting life in the next edition of the Bratach Bhan. Look out for the dazzling young nurse in war-time !
		Magda and Elizabeth Fairbairn at the Clan 2003 Birthday Party
	What has the Grabhalair been making now ? Our Grabhalair has been busy again, carving away. This was a secret in July but all was revealed in the Mackay Room of the Strathnaver Museum on Tuesday 22 September. Now who can spot the Clue ? More about the great Mora in the next edition of the Bratach Bhan, the newsletterof the Clan Mackay Society being published in November 2004

In the meantime Bill Mackay of Linlithgow has been out hunting for his supper or maybe for wandering Sinclairs, Gunns or Sutherlands who have strayed on his ancestral lands.

Images of the Clan Mackay

The Durness Games 2004