 History
of
one McLeod Family in Ontario |
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| Dunvegan
Castle, Isle of Skye From the writings of Edith Ham, July 1935 |
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In the first issue of the Clan McLeod magazine, published in February 1935, the Chief of the McLeods in his foreward says: "We are more fortuante than many clans in that our ancient, beautiful and romantic fortress is still the home of the Chief where he can welcome clansmen from near and far. Thousands come every year and leave entranced by its magic beauty. Of Dunvegan's history, much has been told, but the MacLeods have lived in Dunvegan for over 700 years and surely much remains to be told. From so deep a well of legend merging into history, when the clan played no insignificant part, there must be rich reward for intelligent research." Skye, we are told, is an island of mountains, mists and mystery. On its western coast, standing there on a rocky headland, is Dunvegan, washed on three sides by the sea, while on the landward side, it is approached by a bridge across a narrow ravine. Remote, grim, mysterious, this ancient pile on Lech Dunvegan is Skye's most interesting landmark and the island's chief repestry of love and legend out of the dim past. |
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Scroll your mouse over the castle for some historical facts! The
Fairy Flag Rory
Mor's Horn |
Dunvegan is the eldest inhabited castle in Scotland. It dates back to the ninth century and was an ancient structure in Leod's time.The Keep was built by one of MacCrailt Armuinn's ancestors, but the date is lost in the mists of antiquity. The origin of the name is Norse, the derivation is "Dun-Vaagen," meaning dun or fort of watching, and that is, quite simply, what the castle always was from the first, a watchtower. Unlike some ancient mansions, this brooding stronghold of the MacLeods has nothing cold or forbidding about it, but is homelike and inviting, and has a dreamy poetic air that's impression is heightened when one goes inside. The mansion contains endless treasures, among them many valuable paintings, the famous fairy flag, said to be of Saracen origin, Rory Mor's horn that holds fully an imperial quart of claret and that in olden days had to be quaffed at one draught by each Chief on his coming of age, in proof of his manhood, and a Hebridean cup or challice of silver bearing the date 933. Much more could be said of Dunvegan, but many of our readers have already read of it's romantic beauty and charm and of the hospitablity of its venerable Chief. For more information visit the official Dunvegan Castle Web Site |
