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Clan Maclean Heritage Trust

Achievements

Cairns

Since 1996 memorial cairns have been erected by or with the help of the Trust at Ticonderoga in USA, and at Inverell in Australia. A cairn has also been built at Traigh Ghruinneart on Islay to remember the death of Sir Lachlan Maclean of Duart in 1598, and an associated historical display was researched and produced to educate the public about the Battle of Traigh Ghruinneart.

One of the Trust's most ambitious projects was the cairn at Pitreavie, Fife, erected in 2001 to commemorate the death of Sir Hector Maclean of Duart, the Chief, along with 760 clansmen in 1651 at the Battle of Inverkeithing. The cairn is built from granite brought 150 miles from the Maclean lands. Associated with this project was the preparation of display boards and liaison with the local primary school.

In 2007, during the International Gathering on Mull, a cairn was unveiled at Kilninian, on the Torloisk Estate on the island, to commemorate the life of General Allan Maclean (1725-1797). The General was a brave and distinguished Maclean whom many consider as being the Hero of Quebec and the saviour of modern-day Canada.

Memorial plaques

Various significant members of the clan have been commemorated by memorial plaques, including the Hon. Allan McLean (1839-1911), the 19th century Australian Premier and Federation Father, at Maffra, Victoria.

In 2006 a plaque was erected at the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, to recognise the work of Dr John Angus McLean. He was the first to undertake a successful person-to-person blood transfusion.

Also in 2006, a commemorative plaque was hung in Old Government House at Frederictown, New Brunswick, Canada, to remember the 236th Overseas Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Forces, known as the Maclean Kilties, originally raised as a New Brunswick-based battalion in 1916 during the First World War. The Kilties refurbished this building and used it as a barracks, before returning it for use as a hospital. For a history of the Kilties, see The MacLean Kilties by Ian MacLean on the Clan Maclean Atlantic (Canada) website.

In 2003 a picture of Lieut. Hector Lachlan Stewart MacLean VC was presented to Fettes College, Edinburgh. He was a pupil at the School and was awarded the VC when serving on the Indian North West Frontier in 1897.

In 2009 the Trust erected a memorial plaque at the University of Sydney, Australia, commemorating Dr Archibald Lang McLean (see 2009 Events).

In 2013 two plaques were unveiled in North America (see 2013 Events). One commemorates the building of Fort Dewart in Pennsylvania by Sir Allan Maclean of Brolas, then Chief of the Clan Maclean. It is the second oldest military field fortification on the continent and the only redoubt of its configuration that has never been altered. The name pays homage to the large number of Macleans recruited by Sir Allan into the 77th Regiment of Foot (Montgomery's Highlanders). The other, in Belfast, Prince Edward Island, commemorates the life of J. Angus MacLean, former Premier of Prince Edward Island.

Manuscripts and archives

The tangible heritage of the Clan has included the restoration of the historic Maclean hatchment to Brigadier-General Francis McLean at St Paul's Church, Halifax, Nova Scotia, dating from 1782, the only Maclean hatchment in existence.

The Trust has purchased 700 Maclean papers and documents, including a unique Maclaine of Lochbuie charter of 1493, thought to be the oldest Clan Maclean document in private hands, and a notarial instrument of 1542. A full transcription and translation of the 1493 charter was undertaken. These papers have been indexed and most are housed, on loan, at the Isle of Mull Museum. The older documents, including the 1493 charter and 1542 notarial instrument, are on permanent loan to the National Archives of Scotland in Edinburgh.

The Trust continues to purchase books for the Maclean Library.

Historic buildings

The Trust previously supported the restoration of Moy Castle, the ancestral castle of the Maclaines of Lochbuie. The Trust has also arranged for historic markers at Duart Castle to show the connection between the Castle and the Clan.

Education

Educating the public is a fundamental purpose of the Trust. In this connection a project brought to fruition was the symposium on the influences and legacy of the historian Alexander Maclean Sinclair held at St Francis Xavier University Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada in May 2009. This was co-sponsored by the Trust with the Celtic Studies Department of the University and Clan Maclean Atlantic Canada, and attended by the Chief (see 2009 Events).

Publications

As part of its mandate to educate Macleans and the public at large about the heritage of the Clan, the Clan Maclean Heritage Trust produces books and other publications.

 

Death or Victory – Tales of the Clan Maclean is a collection of short stories about the history of the Clan aimed at children (of all ages).

 

The Trust has also recently produced Pipe Music of the Clan Maclean, the first new book of Maclean pipe music for more than 100 years was produced by the Trust in 2012 (see Piping below).

 

Celebrating the Clan Maclean tells the stories behind the places, people and events which illustrate how Macleans have made an impact worldwide, - including in North America, Australia, New Zealand, Morocco, and of course in Scotland. As a clan and as individuals Macleans have proved to be brave, loyal, determined and adventurous, although not always showing great prudence! Not exactly a history book, but certainly providing the story behind all the projects celebrated in the first 25 years of the Clan Maclean Heritage Trust.

 

All of these publications may be obtained from our bookshop.

 

The Maclean Register (see Current Projects) will be another contribution under this heading.

Piping

Part of the Trust’s policy of taking the Clan’s heritage into the future has been the founding of a Piping Bursary for a young Maclean at the National College of Piping in Glasgow. The bursary is awarded every five years and helps to pay for tuition and accommodation.

The first award was made by the Chief on the steps of Duart Castle during the International Gathering in 2002, to Alexander Maclean from Tiree. The second bursary was awarded in 2007 to Nicholas McLean from Kilmartin by Lochgilphead, Argyll. The third bursary was awarded in 2012 to Jamie MacLean from Hillend in Midlothian. The fourth bursar was Alastair MacLean in 2017, he hails from Oban and has Lorn and Barra connections. The fifth bursary was deferred during to Covid lockdown, however in 2024 Angus McLean of Kilmartin by Lochgilphead, Argyll was able to take up his deferred tuition.

The Trust also arranged sponsorship of a special Clan Maclean area in the main Piping Hall at the College of Piping in Glasgow (thanks to an individual's gift of £1,500).

Most recently, the Trust completed the compilation of the first new book of Maclean pipe music for more than 100 years. For more information about this book, see here. It was launched at the International Centenary Gathering on Mull in June 2012. The Trust also sponsored a piping competition, held at the National Piping Centre in August, when four leading pipers each played one of the Maclean tunes. For further information on both these events, see 2012 Events.

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