PICTURES: Rain and wind hold up, but fail to dampen, historic inauguration at Strathnaver Museum of chief of the Clan Mackay
Aeneas Simon Mackay, Lord Reay, has been inaugurated as the chief of the Clan Mackay in a ceremony laden with historical significance and held in north Sutherland this morning.
The outdoor event in the grounds of the Strathnaver Museum in Bettyhill had to be put back an hour as the tail end of Storm Betty brought high winds and downpours across the Highlands.
But eventually the skies cleared, although the wind remained, lifting kilts and plaids and causing clan flags to flap merrily. By noon the ceremony was under way.
More than 200 people, from a number of different countries attended the inauguration with other clan chiefs present as well as representatives from Clan Mackay societies in Canada, USA and Germany as well as Scotland.
The ceremony, which lasted over an hour, followed age-old tradition. It involved a religious blessing, poetry, readings from ancient documents relating to the Clan Mackay and Mackay County, a recitation of the new chief’s lineage and the presentation of a dirk, staff and seal to the chief.
Clansmen pledged their allegiance to the chief and drew out their Highland dress daggers to demonstrate their willingness to protect him.
Events began with Local piper Carol Anne Farquhar heading a procession of dignitaries who made their way from the road, up to the museum and round the site to the Farr Stone, where the ceremony was conducted and where a crowd had assembled.
Also playing were the chief’s Clan Mackay drummers.
A wooden platform had been installed next to the stone - a prominent Pictish rectangle that stands in a vertical position a few yards west of the building. It has been a monument in Farr since the 9th century.
The ceremony was led by the ‘Seanchaidh’ - Gaelic for storyteller - Christopher Mackie of Carrickbraith.
A corporate financier, Aeneas Simon Mackay is the 29th chief of the Clan Mackay and succeeds his father, Sir William Hugh Mackay (14th Lord Reay) who died in 2013.
Mr Mackie said at the outset that the Clan Mackay had waited so long for the inauguration because they wanted to “get it right”.
Watching the ceremony were Mr Mackay’s family, his wife Mia Ruulio, who is from Finland, and their three children, Alexander, Master of Reay, Iona and Harry.
Rev Mary Stobo, interim moderator at Bettyhill gave the Benediction and said a Highland blessing over the chief.
An ode celebrating the Clan Mackay and the chief, written by Charlotte Fairbairn, was read by her sister Anna-Karina Henderson. The sisters are cousins of Lord Reay.
Sutherland Lord-Lieutenant Patrick Marriot read historic letters “of His Late Majesty King Charles I, raising the forefather of our chief, Sir Donald Mackay, and his heirs, to the Peerage of Scotland".
After initially standing on the platform for the first part of the ceremony, the chief was led to a chair set before the Farr Stone and was presented with his dirk, seal and staff.
He later took the oath administered by Kenneth Mackay, Deacon of the Church of Scotland. The chief promised to be a “loving father to the Clan of Mackay and to be loyal and true to his clan".
Senior clansmen, along with the chief's son Lord Reay, pledged their allegiance to him, touching his bonnet which had been laid on the table, with their left hand while holding up their right hand and saying “So mote God help me as I shall support thee”.
At the end of the ceremony, the Seanchaidh said it had been a long time since so many members of the Clan Mackay had gathered together.
He said: "It is an auspicious moment for the clan, our chief and the land itself. There was a time when our people intimately knew these hills and rivers. We are much fewer than we used to be but now we have come home. Be Loud, Be Proud, Be Mackays.”
“The newly inaugurated chief told the gathering: “It is a huge privilege to be inaugurated as the 29th chief of the Clan Mackay and I would just like to salute you all for turning out in such large numbers, braving the typical Highland weather.”
