ENSIGNS ARMORIAL :, THEREFORE, the Lord Lyon King of Arms, for aught yet seen (Primo) MAINTAINS, RATIFIES and CONFIRMS unto the Petitioner and his heirs male, Chief of the Name and Arms of MacDonald of Keppoch and of the Honourable Clanranald, Mac'ic Raonuill, the following Ensigns Armorial, videlicet:- Quarterly, 1st, Or, a lion rampant Gules armed and langued Azure, 2nd, Argent, a dexter hand Gules holding a cross crosslet fitchée Sable, 3rd, Argent, a lymphad sails unfurled and oars in action Sable flagged Gules, 4th, Azure, a salmon naiant Proper. Above the Shield is placed an Helm befitting his degree with a Mantling Gules doubled Or 6 7 , and on a Wreath of the Liveries is set for Crest an eagle displayed Gules crowned of a ducal coronet Or, and in an Escrol over the same this Motto "AIR MUIR 'S TIR" and in another Escrol below the same this Motto "DIA 'S NAOMH AINDREA"; and on a compartment below the Shield comprising a rock Proper charged with the outline of a footprint are set for Supporters two wild boars Azure armed Argent langued Gules crined Or, each holding a Lochaber axe, its head facing outwards, Proper the cutting edge Sanguinée; and for his Standard three and a half metres long having Azure a St. Andrew's Cross Argent in the hoist of two tracts Gules and Or with his Crest depicted once and the slogan "DIA 'S NAOMH AINDREA" in letters Sable in the fly; and for his Pinsel 135 centimetres long and 60 centimetres high Gules, bearing the foresaid Crest within a strap of leather Gules buckled and embellished Argent inscribed with the Motto "AIR MUIR 'S AIR TIR" in letters also Argent all within a circlet of the Last, fimbriated Azure, bearing his title "MAC'IC RAONUILL" in letters Gules and in the fly, surmounted of a sprig of white heather Proper, being the proper plant-Badge of Clanranald of Lochaber, the slogan "DIA 'S NAOMH AINDREA" in letters Sable, and (Secundo) GRANTS WARRANT to the Lyon Clerk to matriculate the foresaid Ensigns Armorial in the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland.

NB. The use of the wild boar symbol, is the ancient Celtic Gael symbol of both war and kingly, derived from the Sun ( masculine ). It is also symbolic and directly associated with the Dunadd Boar Stone in Dalriata, the ancient crowning stone of the first Kings of Scots up to Kenneth MacAlpine. The twin boars are standing on the Boar Stone each hold a lochaber axe sanguine ( bloodied ).The footprint on the stone is where the king placed his barefoot while being inaugurated, and is shown on the stone beside the boar's foot.The king wore a white gown to signify purity of spirit. On his head was placed the Scottish gold crown. He held the sword of state in one hand, and held the septre in the other hand, signifying the right to rule over his people.
Memorial Appeal
 

During the Gathering 2009 it was my intention to explain something about our clann territory ( Ur Duthchas ) but time did not permit me to do so.

Due to the importance of the subject I am making available on our clann website a CD recording of my presentation. The purpose of which is not to just to elucidate on the subject of our clann territory but to explain why we are not in possession of it today.

I also learned while attending the Clan Convention in the Scottish Parliament, that a gentleman who approached me is also very deeply interested in this subject. He explained that he had been speaking to our Scottish Culture Minister in the Scottish Government Jim Mather, who he had an appointment with to discuss a Private Members Bill to go before the Scottish Parliament for discussion and debate. I will make an appointment to see Jim Mather and discuss the subject with him in depth. If it is in order to do so, I will report the outcome on our website as soon as possible. This subject has always been on my mind since a very young man.

The burning question has haunted me ever since. "What has happened to the Keppoch Clan Duthchas ?". My exposition available to download in Mp3 format will help to supply some if not most of the answers to that valid question today.

Mac Mhic Raonuill

 

Click here to play Ur Duthchas Mp3

 

  




E-mail: ranald@macdonaldofkeppoch.org