The High Council of Clan Donald Chiefs Installs
the Council of Finlaggan

The High Council of Clan Donald, being The Right Honourable The Lord Macdonald, Macdonald of Macdonald; Sir Ian Macdonald of Sleat, Bt., Ranald MacDonell of Glengarry; Ranald Macdonald of Clanranald; and The Right Honourable The Earl of Antrim, is pleased to announce the induction of the Council of Finlaggan.

The Council of Finlaggan

Role
The role of the Council of Finlaggan is to provide advice to the High Council on issues referred to them by the High Council. The Council of Finlaggan may also bring forward for the consideration of the High Council advice on issues of concern or interest.
The members of the Council are to function as the eyes and ears of the High Council; to keep the High Council informed about issues, concerns, and developments in their geographical areas.

Membership
Membership on the Council will be restricted to sixteen persons, each to be appointed by the High Council, to serve at the pleasure of the High Council. Candidates for membership on the Council of Finlaggan may be proposed by any member of the High Council, and appointments must receive unanimous consent from the Chiefs.

Organization
Structurally, the Council will resemble a cathedral chapter, consisting of sixteen "Chairs". Each Chair will be named after a significant Clan Donald or Lordship castle. Members of the Council will be known as "Counsellors", and will be addressed as, for example, the Duntulm Counsellor, or the Tioram Counsellor. The chairman of the Council will be known as the Ṭiseach, and will be appointed by the High Council from among the members of the Council.

Initial Appointments
The High Council of Clan Donald is pleased to announce the following initial appointments to the Council of Finlaggan:

Ṭiseach
Major Bruce McDonald ret'd, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada as Castle Duntulm

Members

  • Allan Macdonald of Vallay, Auckland, New Zealand, as Castle Dunscaith
  • Bonnie Thompson, San Francisco, California, USA, as Castle Dunyvaig
  • Donald Macdonald, Edinburgh, Scotland, as Castle Ceapoch
  • James McDonald, Savannah, Georgia, USA, as Castle Strome
  • The Hon. Hector Macdonnell, Antrim, Northern Ireland, as Castle Kenbane
  • Rory Macdonald of Blarour, Spean Bridge, Scotland, as Castle Ardtornish
  • Douglas MacDonald of Manchester, New Hampshire USA, as Castle Mingarry
  • William McDonald of Milton, New Zealand as Castle Invergarry



The Initial Installation at Finlaggan, Isle of Islay, Scotland, June 2004.
From left to right: James McDonald, Rory MacDonald, Donald Macdonald, Allan Macdonald of Vallay, Bonnie Thompson, Bruce McDonald, and Ranald Macdonald, 24th Captain of Clanranald.

 


The Installation of the Hon. Hector MacDonnell at Glenarm Castle, Antrim, Northern Ireland by his brother, the Earl of Antrim, July 2004.
From left to right: Major Bruce McDonald, the Hon. Hector Macdonnell and the Rt. Hon. Alexander Macdonnell, the Earl of Antrim, 14th Chief of Antrim.

 


The Installation of Douglas K MacDonald during the Clan Donald USA Annual General Meeting in Orlando, Florida, USA, September 2004
From left to right: Ranald Macdonald, 24th Captain of Clanranald, Douglas K MacDonald, Bruce McDonald, James McDonald.

 


The Installation of William McDonald in New Zealand by Council of Finlaggan member, Allan Macdonald of Vallay, Castle Dunscaith, November 2004
From left to right: Allan Macdonald of Vallay, William McDonald

 


Malcolm McDonald (l) and Bruce McDonald (r)
June 2005, Glencoe, Scotland.  Malcolm McDonald of Australia was installed as the Castle Dunaverty Councillor into the Council of Finlaggan by Sir Ian Macdonald of Sleat, Bart, and was presented with his commission by the Ṭiseach, Major Bruce McDonald.


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