Clan MacDonald of Keppoch’s New Chief Installed

On Wednesday, Ranald Alasdair MacDonald officially was installed as the 32nd chief of the MacDonalds of Keppoch, an honor for which he has struggle for more than 30 years. With regard to his opposition, he said, “I’m not here to make excuses or defend my position. I’ve already done all that legally.” Rory MacDonald of Blarour, who opposes Ranald’s ascension, said, “We have ignored him pretty successfully until now, and I think we will be able to go on ignoring him.”

Being a clan chief these days is not what is once was. In the good auld days, it was like being a count or an earl with the added advantages of being a Roman pater familias. It was a job worth fighting over. Thanks to the failure of the Jacobite movement in the 18th century, and the rise of the wee German lairdy whose offsprings' backsides still sit upon the throne of the UK, the job is more decorative than useful.

According to the Scotsman newspaper, “The title had lain dormant because the 21st chief, Chichester MacDonald, died without male heirs in 1848. The new chief, a retired Edinburgh audiologist, fought a lengthy campaign for the title and presented a petition, which was refused by the Lord Lyon, King of Arms, in 2002. However, an appeal was lodged two years later with the Court of Session, which upheld the claim.” It seems that the court counted Ranald's ancestors as chiefs 22-31.

But cousin Rory argues that Ranald’s claim comes up short. It seems one of his ancestors, Alexander MacDonald (born 1832), was illegitimate. If so, Ranald’s claim is weakened, but not lethally so. The laws of clan succession (tanistry) don’t appear to disqualify anyone. Unlike Sassenach law, there is no absolute claim, merely numerous claims of varying strength. Imagine the claims that there would have been if the job weren’t as worthless as being Vice President of the United States (itself once described as "not worth a pitcher of warm piss.")

The Scotsman also says, “Olwyn Macdonald, Highland Council’s Lochaber area committee convener, said she was disappointed with the bad feeling, and added: 'I think it’s quite sad that the MacDonalds cannot get together and unite on this'." Of course, if she really wants to unite the MacDonalds, all that is necessary is to pick a fight with the Campbells. Burgers versus soup– either beats haggis and neeps.

© Copyright 2006 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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