In this issue:

Transcription

In this issue:

Clan MacLeod USA
New England Region
Dr. Donald A. MacLeod, VP
31 Summer Street
Fitchburg, MA 01420
Clan MacLeod Society USA
New England Regional Newsletter
Greetings from the Regional VP
Your fellow New England clansfolk (shown here at the “tentless tent” at Loon Mountain)
invite you to visit our website, at http://www.macleodnewengland.org!
Page 20
Welcome to all new CMS members!
I wish all of our members a great holiday season, and look forward to
seeing you in person in the new year.
Dr. Donald MacLeod
VP for the New England Region
Clan MacLeod USA
In this issue:
New England St. Andrews Societies ........................................... 2
CMS at New Hampshire Highland Games .................................. 3
National Tartan Day Petition...................................................... 4
MacLeod news from around New England ................................ 5
Recent Scottish Events ............................................................... 6
Celtic Colours ...................................................................... 6
Royal Scottish Country Dance Society Annual Concert ...... 7
Clan MacLeod Parliament 2010 ................................................. 7
Other Upcoming Local/USA events.......................................... 10
Strathspey and Reel Society of New Hampshire .............. 10
Christmas Walk and CMS Meeting, Alexandria VA .......... 10
How I Came to Parliament ...................................................... 11
Patterns for Fabric Hose .......................................................... 16
From your Newsletter volunteers ............................................ 19
If your year-end charitable giving plans have room for MacLeod
considerations, please check our web page for some suggestions
http://www.macleodnewengland.org/macleodcharities.html.
October 2009
From your Newsletter volunteers
Welcome to our new members
Clan MacLeod Society New England
Name
City and State
DORI L DEAN
JAMES E FOSTER
TUCKER MACLEOD
CAROLINE MACLEOD SAWYER
MARILYN CHRISTINE PRATT
RORY MACLEOD
ROBERT J. HOAGLAND
REBECCA L. GIFFORD
NEIL H THOMPSON
JOYCE ANN MACLEOD
BRUCE RIDER
ROBERT B. THOMPSON JR
NORTHAMPTON, MA
NORTHAMPTON, MA
PRINCETON, MA
FOXBORO, MA
E BRIDGEWATER, MA
WAKEFIELD, RI
BARRINGTON, RI
BARRINGTON, RI
BRISTOL, RI
WARWICK, RI
No. PROVIDENCE, RI
No. PROVIDENCE. RI
New England St. Andrews Societies
To augment Audrey MacLeod Pfeiffer’s mention
of St. Andrews’ Societies on page 5, here’s a list of
societies in New England. Each one has its own
website, and is a good source of information for
events such as Burns dinners, which will happen in
January, or Tartan Day activities in April:
Maine
http://www.mainehighlandgames.org
Massachusetts
http://www.st-andrews-of-mass.org
New Hampshire http://www.standrewsocietynh.org
Rhode Island
http://www.standrewsri.org (might be offline)
Vermont
http://www.standrewssocietyofvermont.org
Connecticut
http:// www.sasct.org (CMS USA Northeast region)
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October 2009
Our aim is to publish the newsletter twice a year. In each issue, we’ll
include items of regional and general interest. We are very interested in
your feedback on the purpose, content, and format of the newsletter. It
would also be great if you’d volunteer to help with any of the activities
mentioned.
We’ve had some GREAT help with the newsletter this year! HUGE
thanks to Scott MacLeod for the lovely piece on his parents’ 50th wedding
anniversary in the last issue, and this time we have an article from Audrey
MacLeod Pfeiffer. You too are invited to share what you know of your
heritage and the MacLeod “family” today. Articles on family history,
memorable relatives, travels, or Scottish events are all welcome.
Remember that weddings, graduations, and other life milestones, especially
with pictures, are of interest to fellow clansfolk. Let us know! We’d also
like to dedicate a bit of free space to MacLeods who want to give away or
sell personal property that is of interest to clansfolk, in a “MacLeod to
MacLeod Marketplace”.
Please keep in mind that there is no funding for the newsletter, just a
handful of us who feel strongly about it chipping in to make it happen; but
we can't do this indefinitely. To save on postage, paper and production
costs, we'd much rather send the NL by e-mail, but we have only a small
percentage of e-mail addresses for CMS members in the New England
region. So please send your email address to
newenglandnews@clanmacleodusa.org. In the meantime, we will send
hard copies to members for whom we do not have email addresses.
Email is the quickest, easiest, and most efficient way to distribute the
newsletter. If you’re receiving this newsletter by snail mail but can use
email, please send us your email address right away (so you don't forget).
Otherwise, we will send a hard copy as long as we can but it will be hard to
keep the newsletter going. Thanks for your interest, cooperation and
support, from your newsletter volunteers:
Sarah Piepgrass
1824 Washington Street
Canton, MA 02021
(781) 828-3930
skyesarah@yahoo.com
October 2009
Veronica McClure
116 Beltran St
Malden, MA 02148
(781) 321-0675
veronica_mcclure@harvard.edu
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pictures, go to http://www.flamingokilts.biz/gallery.html; also visit the “Kilt
Hose Cuffs” link for details and more pictures. These are 80% acrylic/ 20%
wool and the gauge looks a bit large to me but maybe that’s necessary to
be seen from a distance. However, the idea of separate cuffs to mix and
match with your hose does tickle my fancy.
Knitting patterns for fancy hose
Designs for Knitting Kilt Hose and Knickerbocker
Stockings by Veronica Gainford is not for the fainthearted, but according to one customer review on
Amazon, “this is one book I’d buy if my house burned
down.” See http://www.amazon.com/Designs-KnittingKilt-Veronica-Gainford/dp/0942018079.
AND NOW – The pièce de résistance
Scrumptious Hose – Eye-Candy Hose – Knit
to Order Hose, , no pale legs here! Skye
Highland Outfitters is an American firm run by
Joshua Brown, a MacDonald with roots on Skye,
whose daughter is named Skye. The web site
has picture after picture of hose and all sorts of
highland attire - casual, formal, military, band - all in good taste with great
color and variety. How about a family or group chipping in for custommade, custom colored hose for a really special gift?
http://www.skyehighlandoutfitters.com/Skye_Kilt_Hose.html.
The hose are not cheap,
but they are glorious. The
prices simply reflect that
they are hand-made to
order.
Castellated hose
are particularly
rare nowadays,
but here they
are!
This article grew out of my own interest in colorful legs as in the old
pictures, and was propelled by Ruari’s workshop and wardrobe. I haven’t
personally used all of the patterns, but they are inspiring. If you have some
interesting hose, know of another source or supplier you’d like to share, or
just have comments, please send the editors a note and/or photos.
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October 2009
CMS at New Hampshire Highland Games,
Loon Mountain, 2009
By Veronica McClure
The New Hampshire Highland Games proved to be quite an adventure
this year. A last-minute occurrence prevented our usually indefatigable
RVP Dr. Don MacLeod from going to Loon Mountain, and of course he’s the
one with the actual tent, tables and chairs, tartan cloths, banners and flags,
books, magazines, pamphlets, membership leaflets, sale items, etc. – all the
things usually found at clan tents at Highland Games.
Your editor Sarah sent an urgent email asking for help and many of you
rallied to the cause! Dr. Don’s son Don Jr. was able to bring the tent and its
contents to Loon, though he was not able to staff the tent, so Friday we at
least had a physical presence. On Saturday, my intrepid Scottish Country
Dance pals Joan Bannerman and Liz Olson, who've come with me to games
before, and I made the trek to New Hampshire -- only to discover that there
had been a very strong wind the night before (some said mini-tornado) that
destroyed the MacLeod tent and several others. Don Jr had cleaned up the
mess already but I asked him to bring back anything in useable condition -which he did: two boxes of miscellaneous items and tartan fabrics.
Our neighbors in the next tent, Clan Chattan,
took us under their wing, lent us a big heavy bench
that we used as a table, and each of the three of us
had a camp chair. We spread the Raasay tartan
fabric over the big bench and one of my dance
sashes like a table runner on top and that
brightened things up immediately! We put out the few display items from
the boxes, including the MacLeod tartan booklet which was a big draw.
55 people (wow!) are represented by the signatures on the sign-in
sheets, plus there were some who didn’t sign in but stopped by. There
were conversations on many topics, and a lot of curiosity about why we
were sitting in the sun. We began saying “we’re a tentless tent!” which
broke the ice nicely and made people smile.
Several MacLeods were extremely helpful. Bob MacLeod from Lincoln,
NH, the first to respond to the plea for help, stayed at the “tent” for a while
with me and made it possible for several of us to leave the tent for a while.
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Robert Hoagland from Rhode Island stopped by and helped with the
greeting and meeting. The family of the late N. Douglas MacLeod and the
Cape Cod folks talked about events down their way as well as helped at the
tent; Audrey MacLeod Pfeiffer (former RVP Herbie Macleod’s daughter, see
her article in this Newsletter) was also very helpful. In fact, everyone who
stopped by made the day in the sun worthwhile.
other patterns to see hose and clothes from other times and places.
Reconstructing History patterns generally have historical notes and
suggestions for period-appropriate fabrics, threads, etc. However, you can
be period perfect or experimental. You might try the hose with a less
expensive solid color cloth, and then with plaid or tartan cloth.
Unfortunately, there was no systematic lining up for the clan parade this
time (a Loon problem), and we almost didn’t make it into the lineup.
Despite this, we had a good group with more folks in the seats primed to
call out “Hold Fast” with those of us in the ring. I have the nagging worry
that we may have lost one or more MacLeods along the way to the parade.
If so, please know it was only the confusion caused by the lack of
coordination in setting up the parade.
KANNIKS KORNER offers Historic Costume Patterns, Books and Cross
Stitch Kits. See pattern KK-6001 – Stockings, pockets, and mitts at
http://www.kannikskorner.com/pataccess.htm
When Joan, Liz and I stepped off the
shuttle bus to our car and the drive home,
we saw two vapor trails crossing each
other in the dark blue sky. This elated us
greatly. We immediately decided it was a
St. Andrews Cross and were happy to take
it as a sign of victory over difficult
circumstances.
Alas, no one was able to staff the tent site on the Sunday, so there was
no MacLeod presence that day. But given the last-minute nature of the
emergency, compounded by the wind destroying the tent, we MacLeods
pulled off a great day on Saturday.
Here’s to all the MacLeods who indeed Held Fast at the New
Hampshire Highland Games, Loon Mountain, 2009!
National Tartan Day Petition
Speaking of Tartan Day… Feel free to look at the National Tartan Day
Petition (http://www.petitiononline.com/Sep2009/petition.html) and take
a few minutes to read it. There is a grassroots movement to get Tartan Day
added to the official USA national calendar, and at the same time have the
National Tartan Day Proclamation made in perpetuity. If you’d like to
support this movement, information here will tell you how. (Please note
that this is not an endorsement from CMS.)
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October 2009
Kanniks Korner
Pockets used to be separate items, tailored bags on a band tied about
the waist. I never understood the nursery rhyme about the little girl who
lost her pocket until I got interested in clothing history.
I believe there are more sources for patterns for fabric hose, but these
two are a good start.
Cotton hose
I am not going to include information about readily available kilt hose,
but here are two vendors of cotton hose for those who are allergic or who
may prefer a lighter weight for warm climates or seasons. I haven’t worn
them, but re-enactors wear them while running, jumping, climbing, pulling
cannon, etc. which indicates to me that they are serious hose.
Sutlers (merchants to Revolutionary and Civil War re-enactors) have
socks and stockings that one doesn’t easily find elsewhere, including cotton
kilt hose. A New England sutler who stocks cotton kilt hose is Steve Pano,
PO Box 4004, Shrewsbury , MA 01545 -7004, 508-852-5527. He visits many
events in New England and sets up shop. Contact him to find out more
about his hose and get a schedule of events.
Smoke & Fire, a company in Ohio, has a variety of socks and hose,
including cotton. Go to http://www.smoke-fire.com/hats-and-stockings2.asp for a look. While most of them are solid colors, you don’t have to buy
only white. Sadly, I suspect the vertical stripes might not work with a kilt,
but if anyone tries it, please send pictures!!
Hose cuffs - Flamingo Kilts
Honestly, I got this idea by all by myself -- but then Joshua Brown (see
last item) told me that others beat me to it, including Flamingo Kilts. For
October 2009
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MacLeod news from around New England
by Audrey MacLeod Pfeiffer
Ruari brought samples to his Ottawa workshop, and although I knew
about fabric hose, I had never met anyone who had made his own pattern
on his own legs and feet. Of course, that’s how patterns begin, but I hadn’t
met anyone who did it, especially on him or herself. That’s quite a “feat” as
pattern-making goes. The important fact is that the fabric is cut on the bias,
the true diagonal across the weave. Bias allows fabric to adjust to contours,
and thus makes excellent hose. Make them longer and footless and they
become the true trews which were much more fitted than any trousers
you’ll see today.
But you don’t have to make your own pattern – they are readily
available and marketed to persons who re-enact earlier times. Here are
some ideas together with samples and suppliers for ways to stem the tide
of pale legs. I must emphasize that these are NOT endorsements as I
haven’t tried them all myself. But it is a start in getting familiar with fabric
hose and other interesting goodies.
Patterns for Fabric Hose
Reconstructing History
See https://www.reconstructinghistory.com/ and search for:
•
•
•
•
Pattern #RH001 is a basic hose pattern with variations in the hose and in
the garters.
Pattern #RH308 Quintfall Hill, (Scotland), late 17th century
Pattern #RH 309 Arnish Moor, Isle of Lewis, late 17th/early 18th century
308 and 309 each have several articles of clothing as well as hose and
are based on information from original clothing.
Hose were not limited to Scotland, so you might also enjoy browsing the
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October 2009
Fall greetings to all MacLeods. I hope that despite
the rainy and humid summer weather you all
experienced a pleasurable summer and had the
opportunity to connect with friends and family via
vacations or attending Celtic events. My husband
Donald and I traveled to the Canadian Maritimes (Cape
Breton and Prince Edward Island) where my ancestors settled from
Scotland before migrating to the "Boston States". It is a favorite vacation
destination for us and my extended family as we have many relatives there;
also the numerous Celtic activities featured across the provinces such as
concerts, ceilidhs and highland games make it a great place to visit. The
weather mimics the New England climate however nights tend to be a wee
bit cooler.
If you can't get away to the Maritimes and you are from southern New
England you are in luck as the Blackstone River Theatre (BRT) in
Cumberland RI will be starting their musical season. Their program features
a variety of artists among whom are Celtic artists from Ireland, Scotland and
Canada. BRT also sponsors an annual Celtic Festival (for 2010 it will be held
in June) and they are currently looking for people or businesses to help
sponsor this event. For more information about the BRT see their web site
at http://www.riverfolk.org.
Another organization that hosts Scottish activities is
the St. Andrews Society. There is a branch in most
states; in the southern New England area we have the
St Andrew's Society of Massachusetts: http://standrews-of-mass.org/, as well as the SAS of Rhode
Island. They will be having their annual St Andrew's Dinner in the fall and
Burns Dinner in February. (The Burns Dinner usually has 400-500
in attendance.) They also hold an annual Tartan Day, Whiskey tasting and
Christmas Party just to name a few of their social events. For membership
information contact Cindy McDonald at cindymac123@hotmail.com.
Some of you may remember my father, Herbert "Herbie" MacLeod, as
he was your Regional VP for NE for nearly 20 years (too many for me to
October 2009
Page 5
remember exactly). A beautiful waltz was written in his memory by the well
known Scottish-Canadian composer, Jerry Holland from Cape Breton, who
we mentioned in connection with Celtic Colours (next page). Jerry
unfortunately surrendered to cancer in July, but one of his compositions
was “In Memory of Herbie MacLeod,” I would like to end my note by
suggesting that you fix yourself a cup of tea or a wee dram of scotch and
look up Jerry Holland on http://www.youtube.com, highlight this
composition, and sit back and enjoy the song while you sip.
Hold Fast,
Audrey Macleod-Pfeiffer
Recent Scottish Events
Celtic Colours (now gone by – consider next year!)
Cape Breton, Nova Scotia October 2009
Although summer is the highlighted season for the Maritimes there is an
event in the fall, Celtic Colours in Cape Breton Nova Scotia, which has taken
place there since 1997.
Celtic Colours is an annual international music festival held in various
communities throughout Cape Breton in the month of October. In 2009 it
too place from October 9-17. It is the largest celebration of Celtic culture in
North America.
For information related to events and lodging about Celtic Colours visit
http://www.celtic-colours.com. There is also a toll free phone number for
tickets: 1 888 355 7744. Not only is the music outstanding but the Maritime
foliage at this time of year is, too. Driving thru New Brunswick and Nova
Scotia provides breathtaking scenery of the leaves
changing colors accompanied by the rugged coast
lines and highland lakes. You need to see it to
believe it!
cream, or pale tan – boring.
True such hose are economical, but kilt hose do come in other colors.
Look at this picture of our late
Chief John MacLeod of MacLeod,
with Ulrika, at left.
But then look at these vintage
pictures to the right.
So I was primed to be
fascinated when at last year’s
North American Gathering (NAG) in
Ottawa, Ruari Halford-MacLeod,
President of the Clan MacLeod
Society of Scotland and also
interested in clothing and tartan history, did a program
on tartan and fabric kilt hose with color and pattern.
Note, Ruari is not only interested in these things, he
wears them! In fact, he makes many of them, including
the kilt and jacket he’s wearing in the group photo, on
the next page. (Ruari is at the far right.)
Ruari’s jacket is his own design based on 18th-century
military jackets which had folded back center-front
facings of a contrast color compared to the body of the
coat. In this case the facings and cuffs are blue. And
then there are the terrific “diced” hose with purposefully
noticeable garters. Today, flashes are the stylized
reminders of various tied garters used long ago; these
garters are in full glory – no hiding here. (Neil of Canada,
second from the left, is the only competition with his
Argyll hose in the yellow tartan colors, which look quite spiffy.)
This year, there was be a special tribute to the
late fiddler Jerry Holland. Born in Brockton MA of
Cape Breton parents, he moved back to CB in 1975,
and never looked back. A successful performer,
composer and teacher, he touched countless lives with his music. For more
information, go to http://www.jerryholland.com/index.htm
Below are the Presidents of various national Clan MacLeod Societies,
ACMS, and the late Chief John. Unfortunately the colors aren’t quite right
as the very blue kilts are actually the blue and green “Harris” kilts. The red
kilt is MacLeod of Raasay, and Ruari is wearing a sett shown in a portrait of
John Norman MacLeod, 24th Chief, at Dunvegan. For more on the many
MacLeod tartans, see the booklet “The Tartans of Clan MacLeod” available
on the “Merchandising” page of the ACMS website.
Page 6
October 2009
October 2009
Page 15
sites on Lewis and Harris, I almost had a breakdown! Now I was really in
hot water. Which to do???
Royal Scottish Country Dance Society Annual Concert
Push finally came to shove when Ken said ‘it’s now or never, are you
Dancing in Scottish Castles or not?’ I read his new itinerary with Regency
locations rather than Victorian, gave up my hoop-skirted ball gown for my
slim Regency dress, and said “Yes.”
The phenomenal guitarist Tony McManus was the principle guest artist
at this year's Royal Scottish Country Dance Society Boston Branch annual
November concert, held Saturday November 7th in Lexington MA.
http://www.rscdsboston.org/events-november-concert.html.
I had a wonderful time dancing in Scottish Castles. It was also a
wonderful introduction to Scotland and convinced me that I should
somehow, someway go to Parliament the following year.
I was in a summer school class with him WOW!!! He's an excellent teacher, an amazing
musician, a very nice guy, and easy on the eye!
Also featured were the talented and
successful fiddler Hanneke Cassel, pianist David
Wiesler, as well as the RSCDS Demo Team and
other local dancers. It was a fabulous concert,
followed by country dancing for all in the theater
lobby. Remember, this is an annual event, so be
sure to watch for it next November!
In the end I did both trips, even though once I made up my mind to go
to Parliament it was late for finding accommodations for a single person
sans car. After many, many inquiries led nowhere, a very nice B&B hostess
responded that although she couldn’t take me, she had a friend who
sometimes took in persons for her, should she ask on my behalf? “Yes,
please”. So I stayed in a private home on the outskirts of Dunvegan village,
close enough to walk into town for all the events!
Travelling to the Pre-Parliament tour went well because I now had
experience and felt much more at ease travelling alone in Scotland. I made
my way to The Outer Hebrides, joined the MacLeod tour, and while I still
don’t know exactly how it happened, for the opening dinner at Stornoway I
was assigned to Chief John and Ulrika’s table, me! – a total unknown,
rubbing elbows with my Chief!
The details are another story, maybe another time. The bottom line –
I’m so glad I was there, and I want to go back. If timid me can do this, so
can you. Just don’t wait too long to book your accommodations – I learned
that’s one thing you should not trust to luck and The Fairy Flag!
P.S.: Ruari really is a terrific trip leader!
WHERE HAVE ALL THE COLORFUL HOSE
GONE?
In which Veronica not only complains about pale legs but offers some
ideas to remedy the situation.
I’m fascinated by the great variety of hose shown in old pictures of men
in kilts. Even the black and white pictures, whether drawings or
photographs, show pattern and suggest color. Yet lately at Highland Games
I’ve been seeing more and more of single color hose, and most often white,
Page 14
October 2009
By Sarah Piepgrass
Clan MacLeod Parliament 2010
By Sarah Piepgrass
We are now only months away from the 16th Clan MacLeod Parliament.
As with the successful pre-Parliament trip to Harris and Lewis in 2006, this
time there will be a pre-Parliament trip to visit MacLeod lands in Assynt: (on
the mainland), from Wednesday July 21 to Saturday 24 July. Then the
‘main’ Parliament will be held in Dunvegan, Isle of Skye from Saturday July
24 to Saturday July 31, 2010. A preliminary program is available on the
Parliament section of the ACMS website, starting at
http://www.clanmacleod.org/clan-parliament/clan-parliament-2010.html.
You can sign up to receive an emailed Parliament newsletter where it
says “add your name to the mailing list”. And be sure that you click all the
way to the specific Parliament 2010 page, (rather than the generic “Clan
MacLeod Parliament” page) shown in the left-hand list.
In the last NL issue, we did “Parliament Then”, a brief history of the
MacLeod Parliament (still the envy of many a Clan Society!) In this issue,
we’ll look at “Parliament Now”. Remember we said that the Clan MacLeod
Parliament is a world gathering of MacLeods, held every four years.
Parliament has evolved over time to become a combination of
October 2009
Page 7
business/clan meetings and of social/cultural events, centered in and
around Dunvegan, on the Isle on Skye, bringing MacLeods together from all
over the world to talk about the Clan.
Parliament Now…
Generally speaking, Parliament is a 6-day event. The
format for Parliament has become the following:
Saturday: MacLeods from all over the world arrive in
Dunvegan, find their B&B’s and get settled in, then meet
together in a central location (most recently the Village
Hall) where CMS England hosts a welcome wine-andcheese gathering, where everybody greets everybody
else, and begins catching up on news since the last Parliament.
Sunday, many people attend services in the local Duirnish Parish church
(you may remember that the Dunvegan Foundation of CMS USA supports
their music program in memory of the fact that Dame Flora was very active
in the parish and played the organ in the church). After church, we all
gather at Parliament Central for the formal opening of Parliament,
preceded by a lunch hosted by ACMS, and followed by the Stanley McLeod
memorial lecture, the group photograph, and an otherwise leisurely
afternoon of catching up and de-jetlagging.
Monday through Friday follow a general structure: Parliament business
meetings in the mornings (for example, reports from national societies,
discussions on how to identify Clan needs, collect and spend money on
activities and locations of Clan interest, etc.); social activities in the
afternoons (including a pilgrimage to the MacCrimmon cairn at Borreraig,
climbing at least one of MacLeod’s Tables, a trip to Raasay, and something
which is centered around the village of Dunvegan); and social gatherings in
the evening (including a formal clan dance, an informal meal, and a fun final
ceilidh).
Saturday, we have the option of attending the Dunvegan Show, the
community’s yearly agricultural fair. Afterwards everybody leaves Skye and
disperses from Dunvegan to their next destination – continuing their
vacations elsewhere in Scotland or Europe, or heading south for the journey
home. (Nostalgically speaking, in the “good ole days” before the Skye
Bridge, most folks would head for the Kylakin to catch the ferry to the
mainland, and it could only take about 20 at a time, cars would be backed
Page 8
October 2009
dancing in about 2000 and shortly after my email exchange with Ruari, I
started hearing about these great trips to Scotland and other places that a
dancer named Ken McFarland organized, with dancing, for dancers. It was
too much when he announced “Dancing in Scottish Castles” for summer ’04
– especially when he described a newly opened to the public Victorian
castle – I wanted so much to dance there in my mid-19th century ball gown,
hoops and all!
Then the buts kicked in again. But you can’t afford this, but you’re not
an experienced traveler, but, but, but... but then again, what’s the harm of
one email?
Still I hesitated, even as I drooled over the trip descriptions on Ken
McFarland’s website. Finally I wrote. Ken responded promptly that the trip
was so popular that it had sold out almost immediately. However, even
though he does not usually repeat his itineraries right away, he was
considering repeating this one because it was so popular. He’d send me an
email when he decided.
Veronica McClure
and Nicole
Sammarco
Phew – saved again! Or so I thought, because then
the CMS Parliament publicity started in earnest, and that
sounded like such an interesting trip – totally different
but just as interesting. I hemmed and I hawed.
Then an email came from Ken that he was going to do
another “Dancing in Scottish Castles” trip for summer ’05.
There were still many arrangements to settle, this was
just an early notice, but it was going to happen. My heart
sank as I figured there was no way I could go to Scotland
twice, once in ‘05 for Dancing in Scottish Castles and again
in ’06 for the Clan Parliament.
But the ideas wouldn’t go away. Figuring one more email wouldn’t hurt,
I sent Ken McFarland an inquiry as to how the second Castles trip was
shaping up. He wrote back right away that it was already 2/3rds sold out
even though it was not yet officially announced! He suggested that I send
in a pre-pretrip deposit if I was at all interested. I did, figuring I still had
plenty of time to cancel.
Almost immediately after sending in that deposit, more information
came about both trips, but when it was announced that Ruari HalfordMacLeod was going to lead a Pre-Parliament tour to ancient and historic
October 2009
Page 13
so engrossed I couldn’t wait to finish it. The last several pages were utterly
stunning in their simplicity. As the final confrontation was coming closer
and closer, Dunnett described a fierce storm that came up over the
Orkneys, delaying the ships trying to come to MacBeth’s aid. While reading
the description of this storm, I realized I was holding my breath.
After recovering from the story, I found myself curious about Orkney
and set sail on the internet. Almost immediately I found Skara Brae at
http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/skarabrae/. The opening lines are:
In the winter of 1850, a great storm battered Orkney. There was
nothing particularly unusual about that, but on this occasion, the
combination of wind and extremely high tides stripped the grass from
a large mound, then known as
"Skerrabra".
Since I’m also interested in really ancient
history, AND there’s a Dorothy Dunnett-like
storm right there on the Orkney home page,
this really got my attention and further
browsing ensued. I stumbled across some
postings about travelling to Scotland, including a really enthusiastic
endorsement of trips organized by someone named Ruari HalfordMacLeod. This web post mentioned especially how well he presented
ancient sites. The idea of seeing some of these places was becoming
tempting; I had been to Europe twice, but it was many years before.
As it happened, I was a new member of Clan MacLeod USA, having
recently joined when I found the MacLeod Clan tent at the Loon Mountain
Highland Games. At the tent, I had noticed a clan publication with Ruari as
author. Here he was again, in a new setting, and highly recommended. The
desire to see for myself began to bubble, but I kept saying “I can’t do this, I
can’t afford this, I can’t go.” Nevertheless, I figured one email wouldn’t hurt
so I sent a message. The reply saved me - Ruari was cutting back on the
travel business but had planned a few more trips and would let me know
when they were ready.
Phew – saved!
But not for long ...
up through the town waiting to get on the ferry. MacLeods would visit
along the row of cars, lingering, chatting, sharing snacks, not wanting it be
over, not wanting to say the final goodbye… *sigh*.)
For the first few Parliaments, meetings were held actually IN the
drawing room and dining room of Dunvegan Castle, but over time, more
and more MacLeods attended Parliament and Dunvegan Castle drew more
and more tourists, so it was increasingly difficult to cope with the
competing needs of the two different groups. It was decided to keep the
meetings at Dunvegan Castle, but to move them to a big tent (marquee)
erected in the gardens for that purpose (much to the distress of successive
estate gardeners), first in the Round Garden, then in the lochside field next
to the Laundry Cottage, on a level spot which in Victorian times had been a
tennis court! The big tent was rented from a company in Glasgow and
required a day to drive the BIG truck with the actual tent and all its
accoutrements (poles, ropes, flooring, chairs) to Skye, a day to erect the
tent, and a day to drive the empty rig back to Glasgow (all this to be
repeated/reversed after Parliament was over). The Clan couldn’t afford to
pay for a driver AND crew, so we agreed to provide our own crew of
volunteers who worked under the supervision of the tent company man.
Helping to erect the marquee was a fun and useful thing to do for
MacLeods who arrived early in Dunvegan; later it became one of the duties
of the young MacLeods who were in Dunvegan as part of the NRG preParliament work week (more on that later).
The Marquee was the central point throughout the week for all daily
meetings and evening activities, and this carried on till 1998. That year, the
month of July had been a particularly wet one, still the Marquee was duly
erected in the Laundry Cottage field, and in the evening a damp but
cheerful Wine and Cheese reception was held. But during the night a HUGE
gale blew up, partially demolished the tent and flooded the part that was
still standing. Sunday morning, desperate but determined Parliament
Organizer Nancy Nicol galvanized into action, contacted various key people
in the village and arranged to move the daily morning meetings to the
Duirnish Parish church, and the evening functions to the Dunvegan Village
Hall.
Meanwhile, I’d been involved in various kinds of social dance for years,
including vintage dance (recreating events of the 1860s, 1890s, and ragtime
eras), and my 1860s ballgown is a brown plaid. I began Scottish country
The central point for Parliament has become and seems likely to
continue to be the Village Hall – which, compared to the marquee has the
distinct advantage of having indoor plumbing! Plus, using the Hall has
Page 12
October 2009
October 2009
Page 9
helped us develop a stronger partnership with the Village.
Other Upcoming Local/USA events
Strathspey and Reel Society of New Hampshire
On Thanksgiving Sunday, we'll be going to the Strathspey and Reel
Society of NH’s Annual Gala Concert: http://www.srsnh.org/gala-concert
It's a fabulous afternoon of music, dancing and fun. During Intermission
they have wonderful things to buy - GREAT for Christmas shopping! Note
that the website has an article on Denise Houseman, an exercise
physiologist at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, NH who recently
won the title of Women’s Masters World Champion at the Highland Games
in Inverness, Scotland! We'd like to do a meet-up for lunch in Concord
beforehand, but haven't picked a place yet - any suggestions?
Please do let us know if you can join us in Lexington and what time, and
also if you have any ideas for Concord NH.
The high point of the weekend is the Scottish Walk Parade on Saturday
between 11 AM and 1 PM. This is an opportunity wear your MacLeod
finery and march with your kinsfolk through the lovely streets of
Alexandria. A pipe band wearing MacLeod tartan marches with us. It is a
fun event, whether you are in the parade or watching it from the sidelines.
Before and after the parade we gather at the home of a local MacLeod
family for brunching, munching, and toasting (food or liquid contributions
welcome) - more opportunities to meet other MacLeods! Directions to the
home will be available at the Hospitality Suite. For last minute MacLeod
parade and activity info, call Mid-Atlantic Regional VP Stephen MacLeod
(703) 360-2436. (There are no additional CMS group events planned for
Saturday evening.)
How I Came to Parliament (or, One Good
Trip Deserves Another)
By Veronica McClure
Christmas Walk and CMS Meeting, Alexandria VA
The winter CMS meeting purposefully coincides with the fabulous
Scottish Walk in Alexandria, Virginia held annually on the first weekend in
December, beginning Thursday Dec. 4 with kids' activities, a lively Christmas
marketplace, & a Celtic concert. It is a city-wide, start-the-holidays event
that brings together Scots from far and wide. MacLeod activities begin on
Friday at the Holiday Inn. The Dunvegan Foundation, the charitable arm of
CMS USA, meets Friday morning & the CMS USA Management Council
meets that afternoon. CMS members are invited to observe these meetings
and learn about our ongoing projects and opportunities to volunteer. The
MacLeod hospitality suite at the hotel opens at 4 PM in Room 340 for
refreshments and camaraderie (contributions of both are encouraged), and
general information about the remainder of the weekend activities
including Saturday's Scottish Walk will be available there. Please feel free
to make the Hospitality Suite your hub for meeting other MacLeods. We
have "MacLeod" rates at the Holiday Inn, $119.00 + tax per night, effective
Wednesday Dec 3 thru Sunday Dec 7. The last day on which reservations
can be made at this rate is November 14, 2008.
The Hotel's number is (702) 548-6300, but feel free to stay wherever
works for you.
Page 10
October 2009
MacClure/McClure
tartan
I’ve always known that my surname was Scottish
and I’ve ALWAYS had a passing interest in things
Scottish, but other than one instance in my early 20s
when I learned that McClure is a sept of MacLeod
(and then hogged the dining room table for several
weeks, scared to cut into the tartan fabric to make a
skirt!), it was only several years before Parliament ’06
that I really began to be interested.
It’s like this… I enjoy historical novels, and several years ago, after
reading a couple of stories set in Scotland, I struck up a conversation with a
colleague at work, who in turn told me how much she liked Dorothy
Dunnett’s novels. Bill Marshall, a respectful Dunnett fan, introduces her
this way:
Dorothy Dunnett is best known for her two superb series of historical
fiction – The Lymond Chronicles and The House of Niccolo - set in the
15th and 16th centuries and ranging all over Europe and the
Mediterranean while being anchored in Scotland; and for King
Hereafter, the 11th century story of Earl Thorfinn of Orkney whom
Dorothy believed was also King Macbeth
http://www.dorothydunnett.co.uk/
I got King Hereafter from the library. It was a slow at first, but then I got
October 2009
Page 11

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