Clan MacLeod Parliaments

Dame Flora McLeod speaks to Fayetteville McLeod Clan Meeting, Fayetteville, North Carolina, 28th September 1953

The Clan MacLeod Parliament is roughly fashioned on the definition of a parliament as “a meeting or assembly for conference on public or national affairs.” Our Parliament is a world gathering of MacLeods, now held every four years, and centred in our ancestral homelands in Dunvegan, Isle of Skye. The purpose of Parliament is to bring MacLeods together from all over the world.

Parliament’s origins are best summarised in a booklet written by Nancy MacLeod Nicol, former President of the Clan MacLeod Society Scotland and holder of various offices in the Associated Clan MacLeod Societies:

“In 1956 [then Chief Dame Flora] decided to hold a “Clan Parliament”, so that Clansfolk from all over the world could meet and discuss clan affairs.

“The agenda included such items as reports from Branches, Organisation of Clan Societies, The Magazine, Clan History, Clan Activities and Clan Interests.

“At this first Parliament it became evident that the social interactions were as important as the business meetings. Many clansfolk felt that they had met long lost cousins and friendships formed have stood the test of time.”

From “Tell Your Children about the Stones”, by Nancy MacLeod Nicol, published by the Associated Clan MacLeod Societies.