With New York having just celebrated Tartan Week, the international society of one of Scotland’s ancient clans has announced details of its inaugural Gathering.
This July, 2014, the Clan Colquhoun International Society is to gather in the Loch Lomond village of Luss for a five day programme of clan history, genealogy and cultural events hosted by hereditary Chieftain, Sir Malcolm Colquhoun of Luss.
This will be the first Gathering of the CCIS since its formation last year. All proceeds will go towards the creation of a permanent Clan Colquhoun museum in Luss.
Created in 2013, the International Society brings together Colquhoun clansmen and women from across the world, with many members based in North and South America, South Africa and Australasia as well as Scotland and throughout the British Isles. It is the official society for Clan Colquhoun and its septs, which include Cowan, Calhoon, Kilpatrick, Kirkpatrick and MacLintock.
The CCIS is also dedicated to raising funds for a Clan Colquhoun Museum in Luss, the clan’s ancestral homeland, with efforts now underway to find a permanent home for the museum which will provide a safe and secure depository for clan artefacts as well as a tourism asset for the west Loch Lomond area.
This facility will be another ongoing support for the local economy of the famously picturesque lochside village in Scotland’s first National Park.
The Gathering will take place in Luss from Wednesday 2nd July to Sunday 6th July 2014. As well as bringing to Luss clan members from overseas, the CCIS events will also be open to the public, with prices and tickets being released later this spring.
Highlights of the programme include:
- Clan History Seminar, led by official Clan historian, James Pearson.
- ‘Bluidy Sarks’ Tour – a guided tour led by Clan historian James Pearson from Luss to Stirling Castle, reliving the infamous ‘Bluidy Sarks’ incident of 1602 when the Colquhouns clashed with the Clan MacGregor.
- Personal tour of Rossdhu House [ancestral home of the Colquhoun Chieftains and now part of the privateLoch Lomond Golf Club] in the company of Patrick Colquhoun, Younger of Luss.
- VIP access to the Luss [Loch Lomond] Highland Gathering, one of Scotland’s oldest Highland Games.
- Clan Colquhoun Ceilidh
Sir Malcolm Colquhoun of Luss says: ‘We are thrilled to be announcing the inaugural Gathering of the Clan Colquhoun International Society.
‘Luss and the surrounding area is the clan’s ancestral home and we hope to bring many of our members to Scotland for this very special occasion, particularly as 2014 is the Year of Homecoming and a year when Scotland plays host to two of the world’s biggest sporting events, the Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup.
‘This will be a truly unique opportunity for overseas visitors and locals alike to learn about the rich history of the Colquhouns whilst helping us raise funds for the Clan Museum, potentially a great tourism asset to Luss and Loch Lomond.’
www.clancolquhoun.com
