Over 1,000 Macleans gather to celebrate centenary

Published on 28/06/2012 10:25

KILTS are the dress code of choice

as more than 1,000 members of

the Maclean clan from across the

globe gather to mark the centenary

of Duart Castle, on the Isle of Mull,

being handed back to the family.

Sir Lachlan Maclean, who was

joined by his mother Elizabeth,

the Lady Maclean, welcomed the

clan members to Mull and said he

appreciated them travelling from all

over the world to be at Duart for the

occasion. It was the 100th gathering

since the castle was handed back to

Maclean ownership a century ago.

The castle, which stands on a crag

at the end of the peninsular jutting

out into the Sound of Mull, was

surrendered to the Duke of Argyll

in 1691 and was used as a garrison

for government troops until 1751.

It was then abandoned until 1910,

when it was purchased by Sir Fitzroy

Maclean, the 26th Chief. Following

extensive repairs over the following

century, the castle is now open to

the public, with visitors able to walk

through the dungeons and state

rooms and climb to the top of the

keep.