MacDonalds of France
and Howbeg celebrated

MacDonalds of France and Howbeg celebrated

IN LAST month’s edition of Am Pàipear, Jean-Didier Hache reported on the history of Marshall MacDonald, Duke of Tarentum and his South Uist roots as an introduction to the unveiling of a commemorative plaque in the village of Howbeg, the birthplace of his father, Neil MacEachen.

The ceremony took place on Friday, 30th April, to the sound of the pipes and drums of Sgoil Lionacleit Pipe Band, followed by speeches from Cllr Alex MacDonald, Convener of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Mr Herve Bouche, the French Consul General in Scotland.

The proceedings were helped along by good weather on the day for the outdoor event and a herd of inquisitive deer, out for the day from the slopes of Corrodale, providing an attractive backdrop for the ceremony.

Cllr MacDonald welcomed the large group of people present, including a number of French guests accompanying Mr Bouche and Mr Etienne Loüys, Secretary General of the French Institute.

Mr Bouche replied to Mr MacDonald’s welcome and in the course of his address removed the MacDonald of Clanranald tartan drape to unveil the plaque commemorating the history of Marshall MacDonald’s military career and his visit to Uist in 1825.

Following Mr Bouche’s address, Iain MacDonald gave the first public airing of a pipe tune, The MacDonalds of France, specially composed by him for the event.

Continuing from the ceremony at Howbeg, guests proceeded to Kildonan Museum to continue the celebrations with good food, wine, music entertainment and a number of speeches.

Regretfully Jean-Didier Hache and his wife Katie were absent from the proceedings due to Katie’s unexpected hospitalisation for major surgery earlier in the week. Many good wishes were expressed throughout the evening for Katie’s speedy and full recovery to good health following her operation.

Anyhow, just like the Marshall, Jean-Didier was able to muster up his troops from his control centre in Paris and we are pleased to report that his own plans and organisation resulted in what was an excellent event from beginning to end.

Alasdair MacEachen presented a paper on Jean-Didier’s behalf and there were other contributions from Susan Howard, an expert on Napoleonic history and Fr Ross Crichton on the history of the Scots College in Paris, where he trained for the priesthood and where the young Neil MacEachen also studied those many years ago when he first went to France.
John Randall, Chairman of the Islands Book Trust spoke about the new edition of Jean-Didier’s book, The French MacDonald, being launched that evening. Several copies of the new edition were sold on the night and the book is now available for purchase at all of the usual local outlets.

Musical entertainment was provided by Iain MacDonald and a group  of his music students, together with songs from Catriona Garbutt and Paul MacCallum.

The evening was brought to a close with concluding remarks from the French Consul General, Mr Bouche, and from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Convener, Mr MacDonald, who also presented the Consul General and his colleagues with parting gifts to mark this memorable and historic occasion.