Clan Mackay Society

The Strathnaver Museum 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 members of the Society have been working on improvements to the Clan Mackay Room itself.

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 The Clan Mackay Society this year have taken on a project to refurbish and update the Clan Mackay Room. The Room has been totally repainted, the display cases cleaned and re-labeled and additional items installed. The Editor of the Bratach Bhan spent the best part of two weeks on the renovation and D.Colin[Vice-President],W. Alex [Seanachaidh], William [Grabhalair] and Colin [Vice-President, Kilbarchan] have been working at producing new ideas and preparing new exhibits. 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.