The 20th Clan MacLeod Gathering and Parliament – Young MacLeods Activity Week
Young MacLeod’s Activity Week Report 2026
by Robin McLeod Ingram, ACMS Young MacLeod’s Coordinator
For the first time since 2018, Clan MacLeod was pleased to welcome a new group of Young MacLeods to the Isle of Skye for the 2026 Clan MacLeod Gathering and Parliament. We were honored to have a diverse group from Australia, Canada, England, France, Germany, Scotland, Sweden and United States. During Activity Week from July 26th to August 1st, the Young MacLeods worked diligently on tasks provided by the Dunvegan Castle estate and Dunvegan Community.
The Dunvegan Castle estate has a multi-year initiative to remove invasive rhododendron and replace it with native plants. Half of our YMs worked at the estate office and completely removed an enormous section of rhododendron. I was quite impressed! The other half did work for the Dunvegan Community at St. Mary’s Old Church, also known as Kilmuir Church. Numerous MacLeod Clan chiefs are buried there. They removed mossy overgrowth, placed new gravel on the walkway from the road to the church ruins and helped build new planters by the road. The YMs worked very hard! When planning started 2 years ago, I wanted them to have an environmental project that they could be proud of. Well, they accomplished it as cheerfully as any group of 18-30s I’ve ever seen.
But Activity Week was not all about work! There were trips to Portree for shopping and eating. The YMs were introduced to the crowd in Somerled Square by Pipe Major Peter MacDonald of the Isle of Skye Pipe Band. Norman MacLeod graciously hosted the group at his croft for a barbeque, boat rides, hiking and the most beautiful rainbow I’ve ever seen. A full day on the Isle of Raasay saw the group undertaking RIB boat rides, hiking and a trip down the famous Calum’s Road. And no trip to Skye would be complete without a visit to Coral Beach at Claigan, where we had beautiful weather.
Then, from August 1st through August 8th, the YMs helped run the Gathering & Parliament. They ran the bar, moved tables & chairs, put together welcome bags, carried banners, helped with traffic control and numerous other tasks. The Gathering and Parliament could not have run as smoothly without their help.
I am so honored to know them and hope to see them again at events in the future. They are our future! The push is on to have everyone regroup at the North American Gathering (NAG) in Canada in 2028.
Testimonials from the 2026 Young MacLeods:
“I am so happy to be here. This has been a great opportunity, and I can’t believe all we had to do was a little work for everything we’ve been given by the Clan. I’d like to come back to the next gathering as a mentor.” Lachlan M.-England
“This is my third YM group to participate in, and it has been, by far, the best! I can’t wait until the next, I want to come back. I’ve made lifetime friends that I’ll treasure forever.” Stephanie M.-Scotland
“I really didn’t know what to expect, so I came into this with no expectations. I’ve had a great time, done meaningful (but hard) work, made great new friends and appreciate all I’ve learned about how the Clan operates on a global scale.” Alison J.-Canada
“It was great to be able to help the Dunvegan estate eradicate the “rhodies” with new friends and as I’ll be aging out of the YM’s I would love to come back to the next Parliament as a mentor.” Geoff T.-United States
