Clan Macintyre
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Clan Macintyre is a Scottish clan that was started in the 12th Century.
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[edit] History
[edit] Meaning of the Name
In Gaelic, the name Macintyre is rendered ‘Mac an t-Saoir’, meaning ‘son of the carpenter’.
[edit] Origins of the Clan
A traditional account dates the origins of the name to the early twelfth century, when Somerled was establishing his lordship in the Western Isles. After Olav the Red, Norse King of Man and the Isles, resisted Somerled’s ambitions, he then resorted to diplomacy, and sought the hand of the king’s daughter, Ragnhild, in marriage. Somerled’s nephew, Macarill or Maurice, assured his uncle that he could devise a scheme to win the bride. It is said that Macarill sabotaged Olav’s galley by boring holes in the hull, which he then plugged with tallow. He contrived to be a passenger on the king’s galley, and went well supplied with wooden plugs. Heavy seas washed out the tallow and the galley began to founder, at which point Macarill promised to save the king’s life if he would promise his daughter’s hand to Somerled. The pact was sealed, and the plugs used to stop the leaks. Macarill was thereafter known as the ‘wright’ or ‘carpenter’, and found high favour with his uncle.
Macarill’s descendants later established themselves on the mainland where, according to legend, they were warned by a spirit only to settle where a white cow in their herd came to rest. The land they settled was the rich and fertile Glen Noe by Ben Cruachan on Loch Etiveside. By the end of the thirteenth century the Macintyres were foresters to the Lord of Lorn, an office they held through the passing of the lordship from the Clan MacDougall to the Stewarts and finally the Clan Campbell.
[edit] 17th Century
As the family records have been lost, the Macintyre chiefs cannot be listed with any accuracy, but the first chief of record was Duncan, who married a daughter of Campbell of Barcaldine. Duncan died in 1695 and was buried in Ardchattan Priory in a tomb worthy of his rank.
[edit] 18th Century
Originally the MacIntyres held their land by right of sword but they had acquired feudal obligations to the Campbells, which were purely symbolic until the 18th century.
James, the third chief, was born around 1727. He was sponsored by the Campbell, Earl of Breadalbane and studied law, being regarded as a good scholar and a poet. On his father's death he returned to Glen Noe. When Prince Charles Edward Stuart raised his father's standard at Glenfinnan in 1745, James Macintyre would have joined him but for the influence of his Campbell wife and neighbours. Many Macintyre clansmen, however, slipped away and fought for the British government at the Battle of Falkirk (1746). A monument to the poet's memory was erected in 1859 near Loch Awe.
When the Campbells of Breadalbane imposed a rent that progressively grew too great, first Duncan, then Donald, 4th & 5th Chiefs respectively, emigrated to America by 1806.
[edit] Clan Macintyre Today
In 1991, the correct shield of arms was recorded by the 9th Chief and the MacIntyres once more took their seat on the Council of Clan Chiefs.
[edit] Pipe Music
The Macintyre march is known as the Gabhaidh sinn an Rathad Mor, or in english "We Will Take the Good Old Way" or "We Will Take the Highway." A more popular name for the March is "The High Road to Gairloch". This tune resembles the popular children's tune "London Bridge is Falling down." It can be heard on the Clan MacIntyre Association website at www.macintyreclan.org.
[edit] Coat of Arms
A Buckle with a up raised fist holding a blade. The words "Per Ardua" (Through Difficulties) written above. In some cases there is a snowball placed upon the blade.
