Clan chief recognised despite row

A row continues to simmer over the naming of a new Highland clan chief.
Ranald MacDonald, 76, from Edinburgh, will be inaugurated as the Chief of the MacDonald's of Keppoch at a ceremony in Fort William later.

He went to court after his claim was rejected by the Lord Lyon, Scotland's heraldic authority. The clan last had a chief 150 years ago.

Some members of the clan remain opposed to his inauguration and reject the legitimacy of his bloodline.

Ranald MacDonald will become clan chief when he is presented with The Letters Patent and Ensigns Armorial at a ceremony hosted by Highland Council's Lochaber area committee.

It is due to take place on Wednesday afternoon because councillors are to host an evening civic reception for the Viking Surgeons, a group made up of doctors and consultants who work in remote regions.

Rory MacDonald, of Blarour, Spean Bridge, claims clan historians are unhappy about Ranald MacDonald being named as chief.

He said: "There are two traditional things that are required for a clan chief.

"One is that he should be descended from the direct line of the chiefs and the other he should be acceptable to the clan and I don't think that Ranald's claim is legitimate."

Lochaber area convener Olwyn MacDonald said the council had to acknowledge the claim.

She said: "Personally I don't particularly think that we need a chief.

"But he has applied for it and it has been recognised that he is the clan chief so the council really has to recognise that situation.

"I think it's quite sad amongst the clans and the MacDonalds that they cannot get together and unite on this."

'Clownish propaganda'

Meanwhile, the new Keppoch chief has said clan members should accept the decision to inaugurate him rather than indulge in what he calls "clownish antagonistic propaganda".

A petition from the aspiring chief was originally presented in 1986, but was refused by the Lord Lyon in December 2002.

Ranald MacDonald appealed to the Court of Session and was considered by three judges.

The outcome in January 2004 was that the Lord Lyon should grant his claim.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/h...ds/5341444.stm

Published: 2006/09/13 10:20:33 GMT

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