From Deseret News archives:
Scottish clan gets new leader after long court battle
These days, clan chiefs get little more than a coat of arms, a motto, and a personal tartan for kilts although the title does carry considerable prestige.
But that didn't stop Ranald MacDonald from waging a bitter two-decade-long court battle to be named chief of Clan MacDonald of Keppoch a title that has been dormant since 1848 when the 21st chief died without a male heir.
Persistence paid off for the 75-year-old MacDonald: The Highland clan installed him as its leader on Wednesday.
"The record has been set straight," the retired hearing aid specialist told The Associated Press. "That is the point."
MacDonald's claim was contested by clansmen who claim that his ancestor, Alexander MacDonald, was born out of wedlock in 1832 and corrupted the bloodline. Rory MacDonald, a historian of the Keppoch clan that is a branch of the larger Clan Donald, said many clansman will continue to refuse to recognize MacDonald as their leader.
"You cannot become clan chief without the acceptance of your clan. We will not recognize this," he said.
While investigating MacDonald's claim, he looked at old papers at the New Register House in Edinburgh, which has public records dating to the 1550s. The genealogist was able to trace MacDonald as a direct descendant of Donald Gorm MacDonald of Inverroy, who was the fourth son of Alistair Buidhe, the 14th chief of the MacDonalds of Keppoch.
"This case is proven," Peskett said. "I do not think any chiefship has been so soundly tested in the courts for a long, long time. But there are people who do not like the decision by the court. This is just sour grapes by bad losers."
MacDonald's case rested on the concept of "sloinneadh" (pronounced SLO-ny-ug) a Scottish Gaelic word referring to the genealogy of the male line handed down orally. Peskett said he tracked MacDonald's birthright through an old woman who had lived in clan territory all her life and had carried on the oral tradition of keeping local history alive.
The court case wasn't quite as simple, however.
Comments
- Crèche convention opens in SLC 4:02 p.m.
- Utes focus on game, not 'GameDay' 3:58 p.m.
- Utah, waste incinerator settlement 3:58 p.m.
- Duchesne developers charged 3:16 p.m.
- Hall closing in on victory milestone 3:15 p.m.
- Pentagon defusing roadside bombs 3:11 p.m.
- Palin confirms tension with aides 3:08 p.m.
- Stock market dragged lower 3:07 p.m.
- 'Pirate Radio' fun rock 'n' roll movie 3:02 p.m.
- Cast second fiddle to '2012' effects 3:02 p.m.
- House passes health care bill
317 - SLC council OKs gay rights policies
308 - TCU showdown has big implications
195 - Senators want food tax restored
158 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - Will state consider gay rights law?
128 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
116 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
110
Maybe someone out there can help me understand how raising the state...
Boozer needs to go. I don't think there is another player in the league that...
Dilligent Dave -- But then again, maybe Colorado will dam the Colorado river,...
JMT and Ryan, I could see through this ponzi scheme, but my relatives...
We the people are the government. It is just that some of we people are more...
Why do they allow those three to broadcast? The answer is obvious. They don't...
How big will a BCS win be in a few years from now? There is only ONE...
I think Palin is a really good person and the world would be a better place...
keep it up , the fraud capital of the US!!
It doesn't matter what the Church says or does on the issue, it will still...
Davis was going to get there heads handed to them by Skyline in the Semi's,...



You can be the first to comment on this story.