Clan Macrae, an ancient Scottish clan closely associated with Eilean Donan Castle

Introduction

 
This afternoon, I am focusing on Clan MacRae. This clan has long been associated with famous
 Eilean Donan Castle in Kintail, Scottish Highlands.  

Eilean Donan Castle 

 Information on Clan Macrae      

Eilean Donald Castle is located at Dornie which is just 9 miles east of Kyle of Lochalsh and gateway to the Isle of Skye.

In the early days, Eilean Donan was held by the MacRaes on behalf of Clan Mackenzie. In this way the former benefited from expansion of the latter’s territory at expense of the MacLeods.

Post Reformation in 1560, senior MacRaes established reputations in the fields of religion and culture, including the Gaelic language and poetry.

Unfortunately, the MacRaes did suffer discrimination in the 17th century. This was due to the clan's adherence to Episcopalianism at a time when Calvinism was gaining ascendancy.

Although Clan MacRae does not currently have a Clan Chief, Eilean Donan is recognised as the premier MacRae site in Scotland. This castle serves as an extremely popular visitor attraction and filming location.

Video clip of Eilean Donan Castle

 
 
 More information

For more information on a wide range of aspects please refer to Visitors’ Guide to Scotland, ISBN 978-1-9161332-0-4. This book is also available via Kindle.

 

Comments

  1. heatherSeptember 4, 2023 at 3:39 AM

    Exploring my ancestral roots, I discovered the rich history and traditions of my Scottish clan, a journey filled with heritage.

    ReplyDelete

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