"The Gathering", Edinburgh, July 2009 
On Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th July, Frances Gunn, Dorothy Pritchard and Rachel Skene from Strathnaver Museum, attended "The Gathering" at Holyrood Park, Edinburgh.
The Museum was pleased that The Clan Mackay Society was receptive to our request to join with the Society in order to promote the museum, aiming in particular to highlight further "The Clan Mackay Room".
The weekend was enjoyable and considered a success by all involved in manning "The Clan Mackay" Tent, within the Clan Village. Many visitors with Mackay connections visited the tent and were keen to learn more about the Clan and the Museum. New connections and friendships were made and information shared.
The picture on the left shows the present Lord Reay, Chief of Mackay, visiting the Mackay Tent.
Auction: The winning bid of £1,000 went to Tom Mackay of Bettyhill.
The Auction is for one special item: "The Book Of Mackay" limited edition, No 71 of 500, 1906, signed by the author Angus Mackay M.A. We shall be promoting this opportunity to own such a special book around the world to as many of the Mackay Global family as possible. The bidding will be sealed and a reserve of £250 has been set. To make a bid please post or e-mail your bid to the museum at address or e-mail below and please include your full name, address & contact details plus the sum you wish to bid.
“MACKAYS WANTED REAL, RELATED, CONNECTED OR ADOPTED! ALL WELCOME”
1st Ever Mackay Global Gathering May 2nd 2009
The event was a great success, see News section for details.
New Museum Patron
The museum are very fortunate that the Honourable Elizabeth Fairbairn has agreed to be their Patron.
Born in the Borders, Elizabeth has lived for most of her life north of the border. She was educated in Berkshire and at St Clare's College in Oxford, but returned on marriage to the east lowlands where she has remained ever since.
The organisations she has been connected with include the Edinburgh International Festival, the Scottish Arts Council, the Edinburgh New Town Conservation Committee, the Edinburgh World Heritage Trust, Castle Rock Housing Association and Live Music Now. She has been a trustee of the Scottish National War Memorial since 1996.
It was in 1995 that Elizabeth, as younger sister of the clan chief Lord Reay, became Hon President of the Clan Mackay Society. She has attended various clan gatherings, including one in Canada, and has remained keen to support the organisation on local, national and international levels.
Since 1999, Elizabeth has run her own business, Festival Beds - an accommodation agency for visitors to the Edinburgh Festival. She combines this with other voluntary works.
In 1999, she was awarded the MBE for her services to Lothian Housing Association.
She is both a mother and grandmother.
Take a Tour of the Mackay Room:
High on the wall in the Mackay Room you will see this huge three-dimensional motto of the Mackay Clan. It was made for the museum by Colin Mackay of the Clan Mackay 
Society of Edinburgh in 2004 and it dominates the viewing area, acting as a proud reminder of the clan’s history.
Under the glass display dome you will find the chanter and music of John Mackay,
from Trantlebeg, Strath Halladale, who was a well known local piper. During his lifetime he composed over 300 tunes. When he was working on the croft a tune would enter his head so he would abandon whatever he was doing and run home to commit the tune to paper. Johnny had ownership of a very old chanter, it was used by a Pipe Major in the 93rd Highlanders (the chanter displayed in the showcase).
The large oil painting displayed in the Mackay Room is of John Mackay, "Hereford" who was born and spent his first school years at Rogart, Sutherland before moving to Hereford. He grew up to become an engineer of note who built railways in South America and became a millionaire. He returned to Scotland in the 1880's and helped set up the Clan Mackay Society and the Crofter's Commission.
The lectern especially made for the book "Clan Association of Canada" - relates to some famous and interesting Mackays in Canada". It was presented to the museum in person by Moira Cairns, President of the Clan Mackay Society of Canada in 2004. This occasion is illustrated on the left.
Inside the tall glass case is the wedding going away (kirking) outfit from 1909, belonging to Anna Mackay (Noah) loaned by her daughter Anna Fraser, Cawdor, Nairn.
There is too much to describe on this web site, so why not come and pay us a visit.
Learn about the Clan Mackay: www.webscot.co.uk/clans/mackay.htm
The Clan Mackay Society: www.clanmackaysociety.org
The Clan Mackay USA: www.clanmackayusa.org
Mackay Country Hotels: Tongue Hotel, Tongue: www.tonguehotel.co.uk
Mackay's Rooms & Restaurant, Durness: www.visitmackays.com