The Highland charge was a devastating military tactic that scattered enemy forces on numerous occasions. The big question is, "Which specific clans actually executed the Highland charge?" Many people see Alasdair mac Colla MacDonnell as the author of this tactic and it was specifically the clans fighting under him that performed this feat of arms. Yet not all the those who had this experience were Highlanders! Join me as I examine which clans likely participated in this (this is in no way an exh...
Jan 25, 2024•59 min
One of the most dynamic and exciting aspects of seventeenth century Highland history was the Highland Charge. We'll go over what a Highland charge was and why it was so effective. In subsequent episodes we'll go over which battles it was used in and therefore which clans have engaged in this fearsome military tactic. Scottish Clans website: www.scottish-clans.com Scottish Clans YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVefgJWXdhFbq_MwPFTWe2w Sponsor: www.usakilts.com Online course on th...
Jan 09, 2024•27 min
Just to get to the battlefield, the Marquis of Montrose and his Royalist forces pulled off "one of the greatest exploits in the history of British arms." I take this episode from John L. Roberts' Clan, King, and Covenant: History of the Highland Clans from the Civil War to the Glencoe Massacre. Learn about the incredible march as well as the epic battle between Royalist and Covenanter forces. This is also available on: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5dIBeGaqEg2cbbS3uPXZqM?si=abb55a1246ce...
Jan 02, 2024•35 min
This is the last segment of my discussion with Mike Doyle of the Clans and Dynasties YouTube channel. Many thanks to him for sharing his knowledge with the Scottish Clans audience. In this episode, we discuss the relationship between the Irish and Scottish clans, using the MacSween/MacSweeneys as an illustration. Mike's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Clans_Dynasties You can find some of his work with Phillip here: https://www.youtube.com/@IrishMedievalHistory My YouTube channel! https...
Dec 23, 2023•39 min
This is a continuation of a discussion I had with Mike Doyle of the Clans and Dynasties youtube channel. In this episode, we discuss: The need to trace your ancestry to a specific location to know what clan you might tie into, and not just go off of the last name. The Northern Ireland element. Did all Scottish names in Ulster come from Scotland? Sources that we use for study, like named.publicprofiler.org, https://www.johngrenham.com/, and Wikipedia! Clans and Dynasties on YouTube: https://www.y...
Dec 15, 2023•21 min
This is a continuation of a discussion I had with Mike Doyle of the Clans and Dynasties YouTube channel. In this episode, we discuss: The Gall-Gaedheil. The Galloglass, their origins and cultural identities. Specific Galloglass clans, like MacDonald, MacDougall, MacKay (MacCoy), and MacCabe. Clans and Dynasties: https://www.youtube.com/@Clans_Dynasties Mike's content on Irish Medieval History: https://www.youtube.com/@IrishMedievalHistory My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thescottishc...
Dec 15, 2023•39 min
I hope you enjoy this continuation of my discussion with Mike Doyle, from the Clans and Dynasties YouTube channel. We discussed such topics as: The Ethnic foundations of the Scottish clans How much do the Scottish clans owe to Ireland vs other groups like the Picts, Britons, Angles, etc.? Where does Scotland derive its Gaelic language from? Was it brought from Ireland or is it organic? How far back does Scotland’s connection with Ireland go? Join us for a great discussion on the foundations of t...
Dec 03, 2023•26 min
I'm excited to share with you the first part of my discussion with Mike Doyle from the Clans and Dynasties YouTube channel! He brings a great value to the Scottish Clans audience. He has a solid understanding of the history of the Scottish clans but he also has a great depth of knowledge of the Irish clans. His YouTube content involves history regarding clans from both lands. Please join us for this conversation! We cover: The age of Irish clans vs Scottish clans What was a clan? Succession amon...
Nov 27, 2023•37 min
There are so many misconceptions, misunderstandings, and straight up myths regarding the Scottish clans. For this episode I'm taking comments from Scottish scholar, Prof. Murray Pittock, who teaches at the University of Glasgow. These comments come from an interview he did on the History Extra Podcast. Get ready to have some of your current understandings assaulted! Is this content valuable? You can contribute easily by pitching in the price of a drink at www.scottish-clans.com/team. Want to tak...
Nov 10, 2023•30 min
Through thick and thin, the MacRaes were there for the Mackenzies. In this episode I discuss what it might have meant that the MacRaes were "Mackenzie's Shirt of Mail." I share one example of this from the battle known as Blar na Pairce. Sources: https://archive.org/details/historyofclanmac00macr for a pdf download https://electricscotland.com/webclans/m/macrae2.html My website, where you can find links to: More resources My online course-Origin of the Scottish Clans 101 A place to contribute to...
Oct 23, 2023•29 min
I read this story and had to share it with you. It's a story of a man's love for a woman, but it's not romantic. It's two brothers taking care of their sister in a heroic way. Having a sister myself, I love it! Contribute to the Cause! www.scottish-clans.com/team Sponsor: www.usakilts.com Podcast website with other resources: www.scottish-clans.com
Oct 06, 2023•25 min
This is the second part of my discussion with Prof. Ali Cathcart, of the University of Stirling. If you want to know more about the Scottish clans, then this is a must. Sponsor: www.usakilts.com My website: www.scottish-clans.com. You will find links to: my online course on the origins of the Scottish clans. Where you can contribute to the cause. free resources, like maps, historical documents, and a copy of my MA Thesis comparing Highland and Border Clans. Ali's bio on the University of Stirlin...
Sep 15, 2023•57 min
I'm excited to share with you my conversation with Ali Cathcart! We covered such topics as: The Highland/Lowland divide (did clans exist in the Lowlands?), Variety among the Highland clans, information on specific clans like the Mackintoshes, Gordons, MacPhersons, and more! Enjoy Prof. Cathcart's wealth of knowledge in helping us understand the Scottish clans better. Clan Conclave Dinner: https://clanconclave.eventbrite.com Podcast website where you can find links too free resources, my online c...
Sep 06, 2023•41 min
For the last episode in this mini-series, I take a look at a few more clans and their claim to have fought at Bannockburn. Did these clans even exist at the time? Is it plausible, if they weren't yet a clan, that their ancestors were still there, stomping the English alongside Robert the Bruce and his allies? This episode was inspired by a video by Clans and Dynasties on Youtube, which can be viewed at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMYFRhRuzoo. Check out the following link ...
Sep 01, 2023•27 min
This episode is part 2 of 3 as I go over additional claims of clans that claim to have fought at Bannockburn. Were they even in existence long enough for this claim to be true? Part 3 will be delayed as the next episode I publish will be my interview with Professor Ali Cathcart who teaches at the University of Stirling. I hope you enjoy this episode, which is also available on Apple Podcasts. Scottish Clans website: www.scottish-clans.com Want to contribute to the cause by contributing the cost ...
Aug 27, 2023•29 min
Many clans claim to have fought at the Battle of Bannockburn on 23-24 June, 1314. This battle happened at an interesting time for the clans as we would recognize them. Some of them had taken shape by this point and some hadn't. My goal here is not to proclaim whether they were definitively there or not. Rather, I look at scholarly sources and the accounts as given by the clans themselves or their origins to see whether they were even developed as clans by the this decisive battle or not. I sampl...
Aug 16, 2023•22 min
This second part of the MacNeil episodes is taken from a book called "Highlanders: A History of the Scottish Gaels," by John MacLeod. It focuses on the MacNeils of Barra and their piratical activities. I hope you enjoy! Check out the links below for more great content! Podcast website: www.scottish-clans.com New online course on the origins of the Scottish clans: www.scottish-clans.com/origins. Buy me a drink or a book! www.scottish-clans.com/team. Sponsor: www.usakilts.com Youtube channel: www....
Jul 26, 2023•16 min
This clan only has one chief: Macneil of Barra. Should there be another? This and more on the MacNeils in this episode. Make sure to check out the next episode, a part 2 on the MacNeils, which is already available. Check out the links below for more great content! Online course on the origins of the Scottish Clans: www.scottish-clans.com/origins. Podcast website: www.scottish-clans.com Would you like to buy me a drink? Or a book? www.scottish-clans.com/team. Sponsor: www.usakilts.com Youtube cha...
Jul 26, 2023•38 min
Highland clan origin legends were not intended to convey absolute truth to later generations about how the clan started. Well, then what were they intended for? For this episode, I share from a book by Michael Newton, The Everyday Life of the Clans of the Scottish Highlands. We start by learning about some of the purposes of these legends generally, then read the origin legends of two clans: the Macintyres and MacRaes. Check out my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVefgJWXdhFbq_...
Jun 29, 2023•24 min
In this episode, Ethan gets more specific with how the study of DNA helps us understand the history of specific clans, their origins (both in support and in denial of some legends), and their relationships to each other. Among the clans we discussed were Clan Sorley (MacDonalds, MacRorys, and MacDougals), Sìol Ailpein (Grants, MacGregors, MacKinnons, MacAulays, Madfies, Macnabs, MacQuarries), MacNeils, Robertsons, Dunbars, Bruces, Stewarts, MacBeans, MacPhersons, Buchanans, and MacLarens. I real...
Jun 15, 2023•1 hr 41 min
I'm excited to share with you all a milestone in this podcast's history. Ethan Hunt joins us to teach us how the DNA helps us understand the history of the Scottish clans. This is the first interview that I have run (USA Kilts ran the only other interview I've done for this)! Expect to see more of these in the future. In this Part 1 episode, Ethan gives us a foundation in genetics. Don't worry, we weaved in the topic of the clans throughout, so it's not JUST a discussion on DNA. I hope you enjoy...
Jun 14, 2023•52 min
Between last episode, setting the foundation, and this episode, this is the first time we've been to the Northern Isles (in this case Orkney) since I started this podcast! It's always fun to try new things. You know what's not fun, Sinclairs fighting Sinclairs and a mother accidentally killing her son. In these respects, the Battle of Summerdale was truly a tragic event. Source for this story: http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/summerdale.htm Check out the website: www.scottish-clans.com Buy me a ...
May 20, 2023•20 min
Let's get to know a little bit about the Sinclairs and lay the foundation for the story of the Battle of Summerdale. The Sinclairs are a really interesting clan that controlled a large territory in the far north of Scotland as the Earls of Caithness. They had other branches of the family. How did these branches interact with each other? Were they a cohesive unit, who all acknowledged the same chief? My website: www.scottish-clans.com Contribute to the cause: www.scottish-clans.com/team Sponsor: ...
May 11, 2023•26 min
This is the unbelievable backstory to a strong theory about why the MacLeod of Harris and Dunvegan and the MacDonalds of Sleat switched sides from being Jacobites in 1715 to raising troops for the British Government in 1745. My website: www.scottish-clans.com Do you want to contribute to the cause? Go here: www.scottish-clans.com/team My sponsor: www.usakilts.com
Apr 19, 2023•35 min
Last time we looked at the Frasers of Lovat and examined their reasons for fighting on different sides during the Jacobite Risings of 1715 and 1745. That made me curious about other clans that switched sides in the same conflicts. Here I list eleven clans that found themselves on one side during the 1715 Rising and another during the 1745 Rising. Not meant to be exhaustive or deep, rather, this episode is only starting the conversation. What clans did I leave out? What do you know that you could...
Mar 30, 2023•31 min
The Clan Fraser of Lovat sided with the Hanoverians in the 1715 Jacobite Rising but then sided with the Stewarts in 1745. In this episode I explore why I believe they switched. If you like these podcasts and would like to contribute to the effort, go to www.scottish-clans.com/team. My website: www.scottish-clans.com My sponsor: www.usakilts.com
Mar 09, 2023•32 min
A few episodes ago I shared some history on the professional kindreds. Robert Currie, Commander of the Name and Arms of Currie, reached out to me with a small booklet about the MacMhuirich kindred, who were sponsored by the Lords of the Isles as bards. Here's a few things I learned. Thanks, Robert! Scottish Clans website - http://www.scottish-clans.com If you like what I'm doing and want to contribute to the cause - http://www.scottish-clans.com/team Sponsor - www.usakilts.com The YouTube channe...
Feb 22, 2023•34 min
It's alway nice when you can get the words of the Gaels themselves to describe their own culture. Here, I use an excerpt from The Everyday Life of the Clans of the Scottish Highlands, by Michael Newton, where a MacLeod of Raasay woman composed a lament for her brother in 1671. In it, she describes what he wore, which is enlightening but not what you'd expect. For a video about Michael Newton's book - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4w__yMXJnBc&t=192s To contribute to the cause! - www.scottis...
Feb 01, 2023•21 min
Was there a branch of Clan Cameron is Atholl? Not according to Wikipedia;). Here's some cool details on something Cameron found in his research. My apologies to Cameron Moser, who was running the tent for Clan Cameron at the Scots on the Rocks festival in Moab, UT in October. This is my interview with him.https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVefgJWXdhFbq_MwPFTWe2w scottish-clans.com scottish-clans.com/team scottish-clans.com/somerled usakilts.com
Jan 12, 2023•20 min
Here's an episode on a few things I find interesting about the Munros, some of which get us into conversations about broader questions about Scottish clans. How does DNA evidence connect with their traditional origins? Why did they choose the sides they did during the Scottish Civil War and the Jacobite Rebellions? My Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x0f6dwjE00 www.scottish-clans.com/somerled for the pdf of Somerled's descendants. If you want to contribute to the cause - www.sco...
Jan 05, 2023•30 min
