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Clan MacKay - An Interview with Sandra MacKay
This month we are celebrating Clan MacKay and as part of our celebrations we were lucky enough to have a chat with the President of the Clan MacKay Society, Sandra MacKay. She tells us how she first became involved in the society, what her responsibilities include and her most memorable moments have been.
What is the background to the Clan Mackay Society?
The Mackay Society was initially founded as far back as 1808 in Glasgow and thereafter revived in 1888 as The Clan Mackay Society (CMS). Originally established as a benevolent and funeral society, the Clan Mackay Society is the oldest clan society now in existence. With origins in the far north of Scotland, it is claimed that Clan Mackay was descended from the Royal House of Moray. Aeneas Simon Mackay, the 15th Lord Reay is the current Chief of the Clan Mackay.
What are the aims of the CMS?
Like other clan societies, the CMS provides a sense of shared identity and ancestry to its members. With a rich and proud history, our vision is to be a modern clan society which aims to:
• Preserve the Mackay heritage for future generations
• Create a community to bring together those with the Mackay name
• Cultivate a sense of pride in belonging to Clan Mackay
Can you tell us something about your members?
Although our members are predominantly from the UK, we have members scattered throughout all corners of the globe. In addition to other European countries such as Holland, France, Sweden and Switzerland, we also have members as far afield as the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. We also happen to have members in Chile! This probably reflects an interest that our members overseas have in discovering more about their ancestral roots and cultural heritage. The Mackay’s truly are a global family!
Why do people join the CMS?
There are probably a wide variety of reasons why our members have decided to join the Clan Mackay Society. The most common reason for members who are located outside Scotland include a desire to get in touch with their Scottish routes.
Other people become members because they want to connect with like-minded people; explore more about their family routes; and learn more about the history and heritage of the clan. As a social and friendly society we also hold regular social events to allow members to get together, make connections and share stories about their Mackay background.
What does your role as President of the CMS involve?
I took on the role of President almost 3 years ago after 3 senior and very knowledgeable members passed away after long illnesses. It has been (and still is) a steep learning curve.
My responsibilities are varied. For example, I am responsible for providing strategic leadership for the CMS by working with Council members to establish the long-term vision and strategic priorities for the society. This also involves developing and implementing an annual plan for the activities of the Society and providing our members with the services and support they require. As a senior member of the CMS, I also represent the interests of the Society to a range of external bodies and communities. Never a dull moment as they say!
How did you get involved with the CMS?
When my husband and I initially moved to Edinburgh 35 years ago, one of our family members who was involved with the Society at that time suggested that we get involved to make contact with like-minded people who shared a common history. Ever since then, we have attended a multitude of CMS events, dinners and in the process made lots of new friends and contacts.
What is the best thing about being involved with the CMS?
Being the President of the CMS provides me with a great opportunity to meet a diverse range of people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures. For example, I was honoured to represent the CMS at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in North Carolina, USA. This annual event which celebrates the history and culture of the Scots in North Carolina is held over 3 days with over 30,000 people attending. Following a packed agenda of social engagements, dinners, spectating and attending the Clan Mackay Society USA annual general meeting, I was exhausted but inspired by the effort made in organising Americas largest games in the spectacular surroundings of Grandfather Mountain.
How do I get involved with the CMS?
We encourage new members with a Mackay heritage to join the CMS. Please visit our website for further details on how to join. Please also contact me, if you are interested in joining our Council and contributing to the services we provide to our members.
What is your favourite Mackay tartan?
I really like the Ancient Mackay tartan because it so iconic and recognisable.
I remember once being on holiday in Turkey and bumping into a group of local school girls in a market wearing the Ancient Mackay tartan! What a delight it was to be reminded of my heritage in the street markets of Izmir.
We hope you enjoyed our interview with Sandra, if you have any of your own Clan MacKay stories we would love to hear from you, so either message us on Facebook or send us an email.
