MacDonald of Clanranald (1914)

[figheadair]

The STR entry, which in itself is based on a combination of STA and TECA information, is pretty useless. Let's have a look at the claims.

From D.C. Dalgliesh. So, D.C. Dalgliesh has woven this, probably for Clanranald himself. So what?

Also appears in Peter MacDonald swatch files. I've woven it (as a sample for study). So what?

From MacKay's 1914 'The Romantic Story of Highland Garb'. This is the first and only reference to the tartan. I cannot recall what MacKay says about the tartan. I think that there was a reference to it being used, perhaps rewoven, for a Clanranald wedding.

Also named MacDonnell of Clan Ranald Ancient and said to be from Cockburn Collection 1815. It is not one of the samples in the Cockburn Collection. There is a sample of MacDonald of Sleat (no K line) in Cockburn which is named Lord MacDonald.

Note on modern sample also adds 'John MacDonald, High Commissioner Clan Donald' suggesting that either the sample or the information was from him. I'm not sure that this adds anything.

So, irrespective of what MacKay says of the tartan, it cannot be dated by evidence before his 1914 publication. The general similarity with the Sleat and Lord of the Isles Red tartans raises the possibility that MacKay, or someone he used as a source, mis-transcribed one of these setts and for some reason associated it with the Clanranald.