The 20th Clan MacLeod Gathering and Parliament Report
Gathering and Parliament Report 2026
by Kevin John Tolmie
During the first week in August, 290 MacLeods came to Skye from MacLeod lands as far away as New Zealand for the 20th Parliament and first officially named Gathering. This year’s plan was to emphasise aspects that bring Clansfolk together – hence the name change. Based on feedback from the 2023 Parliament, features from the past that people enjoyed were revived. This included the commemoration at the War Memorial and Parade on Sunday and the Fèill-reic or Craft Fair on Thursday.
We were honoured by the presence of Calum MacCrimmon of Breabach who led the parade with more MacLeod pipers than had been seen for many years. Calum is the Piper to Chief Hugh and as is tradition he played for the Chief at the Opening Ceremony.
The theme for this year was ‘Cùm greim air do cliù do shinnsearan – Hold fast to the honour of your ancestors’. The greater presence of Gaelic, the language of our ancestors, was an important feature of the Gathering. This was established from the beginning with the Mervyl and Stanley Memorial Lecture delivered by Associate Professor of Gaelic at Scotland’s Gaelic College, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Dòmhnall Uilleam Stiùbhart. This followed the official opening of the Gathering by Chief Hugh with his fiancé Lucy and Chief John of Raasay with his wife Elizabeth.
As is traditional, Clansfolk took the ferry to Raasay on Wednesday. A special event on the day was the exposition in the partly refurbished Heritage Centre to which Clan MacLeod has provided funds. This was in the presence of Chief John and Elizabeth together with other Clansfolk and representatives of Raasay Heritage Trust, Rebecca Mackay and Mark Wringe.
There was the customary tug o’ war in front of Raasay House. A new, fun activity this year was the fast boat rides which proved very popular.
Back on Skye, the trips to a croft near to Dunvegan also proved to be a success, with extra trips being arranged due to their popularity.
Unfortunately, by the end of the week, the weather became inclement. Enjoyable though it was, many caught cold at the Thursday evening barbeque but there were still many smiles on faces for the first group picture by drone. The cold and rain also led to the cancellation of the Friday afternoon climb of MacLeod’s Table – Healabhal Mhòr – but business was done indoors. On Friday Parliament concluded with the official admission of the Clan MacLeod Society of Italy to the family of MacLeod Societies, the election of new functional heads and most importantly the transfer of Presidential authority from Al McLeod of England to John B MacLeod of USA.
As always, the culmination of the week’s fun was the Ball on Friday evening. By this time, I had lost my voice by a combination of exposure and strain, although I blamed the Witches of Waternish! Thankfully my duties were ably taken on by Jamie Forbes who was Fear an Taigh, my daughter Sarah who delivered the seanachie’s story, and Chief John and Elizabeth who gave out the awards and gifts to the many people who had helped me as Coordinator. I could not have done it without them and we should all be grateful to them. As a finale, there was the presentation of the Bill and Ceebee McLeod Memorial Award. This was given to Norman MacLeod of Bharcasaig who emerged as a fantastic general factotum, rescuing damsels in distress by the roadside, providing hospitality as in days of yore and finally leading a Viking rowing display by the Young Macleods at the Ball. Well done and thank you Norman. Mention of Young MacLeods brings me to my particular thanks to them. Their help and kindness to me through the week was touching. For more of what the Young MacLeods did in the Activity Week that preceded the G&P, I pass with thanks to Young MacLeod’s Coordinator, Robin McLeod Ingram.