Ashbourne Highland Gathering
Clan Corner
The Ashbourne Highland Gathering held annually in July, marks a special event for some of the Scottish Clans and Societies. They group together in one of the corners of the Highland Games field. Over time, this area has grown to be known as 'Clan Corner'. Here, members of the public are invited to visit each of the Clans or Societies Marquees to understand further about the fascinating history of the Clans or even become a member of one of the clans.
Clan MacLeod
Clan MacLeod were the first Clan to make their presence felt at Ashbourne. They run a very well organised Marquee; each Official is extremely knowledgeable and ready to discuss their clan or membership.
The fascinating origins of the clan can be traced to Leod, who was born about 1200, the son of Olaf the Black, King of Man and the Isles. Leod married the daughter and heiress of MacRaild about the year 1220. Through his son, Tormod, came the MacLeods of Harris, Dunvegan and Glenelg, and through his second son, Torquil, came the MacLeods of Lewis.
Throughout the centuries MacLeods have been known for their devotion to their chief, the tenacity with which they have maintained the ancient Dunvegan castle, their appreciation of music and Gaelic lore, their outstanding record in the professions, and their loyalty to one another.
The badge of MacLeod of MacLeod bears the motto 'HOLD FAST', while that of MacLeod of Lewis is 'I BURN WHILE I SEE'
The Stewart Society
"without the inexplicable personal fascination of the Stewarts, the long tragedy of their lives and reigns, and the poetry and romance to which it all gave birth, the world would unquestionably be poorer today"
Membership is open to all who bear the name of Stewart (in any form of spelling) or who are Stewarts by birth or decent. Associate Membership is open to those having a special connection with Stewarts or a special interest in their history. The Objects of the Society are philanthropic, historical, genealogical, and to further kinship. Activities include:-
The Annual Gathering - The Society holds a gathering of members in August or September each year usually in Scotland.
The Magazine - This appears annually and is an extremely professional publication containing articles of an historical or topical nature on matters of general or specific interest, book reviews, an account of the previous year's gatherings etc.
The badge of Stewart bears the motto "VIRESCIT VULNERE VIRTUS" This is translated as: "Courage grows strong at a wound".
Clan Cameron Association
Clan Cameron Association The name is thought to be derived the Gaelic "cam-shron" meaning "crooked nose" but the earliest records show the name as "Cambron" which may indicate that it originated in Camberone (from the Gaelic "cam brun" meaning "crooked hill" - now Cameron parish) in Fife. However, there is also a Cameron placename in the outskirts of Edinburgh and in Lennox.
Sir Donald Cameron stated that: "For a clan which had played such an important part in the history of the Highlands of Scotland, there is a strange scarcity of literature dealing in any depth with the History of the Camerons."
For clansfolk who have shared this feeling while searching through numerous libraries and finding the "generic" one page tartan, badge and written paragraph overview of details, this book is most definitely what you have been looking for.
The book may be obtained through the Clan Cameron Museum (via the online merchandise page). It comes with numerous photographic plates, maps and artwork (25 pages worth, to be exact) and also details the septs of Clan Cameron, its cadet branches, some genealogical information and references to the "Cameron Country" of Lochaber.
The present motto of the Clan Cameron is "AONAIBH RI CHEILE", which roughly translated means "Unite" or "Let Us Unite." This motto is usually used in conjunction with the more accepted "Five Arrows" crest and is also presently used on the Armorial Bearings of Cameron of Lochiel.
In the past, when the old Dexter Arm crest was in wide use, the associated motto was "Pro Rege et Patria," translated as meaning "For King and Country." The present Lochiel uses both mottos.