The "Mathieson" Castle: Eilean Donan and The Isle of Skye: Days 12 and 13

Castle at Eilean Donan

     While doing a school project on heritage in grade seven, Julia found a Mathieson connection to the castle at Eilean Donan, so that was a must stop on our Scottish itinerary.  Sure enough, when we got there, we found that a Matheson had been commissioned to build the castle in the 13th Century.  Legend has it that this Matheson could communicate with birds and the birds told him that his father should wait on him hand and foot.  The Matheson father reacted to that by kicking the Matheson son out of the home.  I know another Mathieson who claims he can communicate with birds.....and would  LIKE to be waited on hand and foot.

Tom, Overlooking the Family Home

The name Matheson comes up again in the 1500s when Dubh Matheson died trying to defend the castle from attack by the MacDonalds.

Modern Day Mathiesons at Eilean Donan

This castle is located where three lochs meet and was originally built as a defensive measure against the raiding Vikings.  It is one of the most recognized castles in Scotland and "probably appears on more shortbread tins and calendars than any other."  It has been used in many movies including Highlander and the James Bond movie, The World is not Enough.   Eilean Donan, Island of Donan, is currently owned by the McCrae clan.  Our own Canadian John McCrae, poet of "In Flanders Fields", is of the same clan and is recognized within the castle walls.

"In Flanders Fields" excerpt

     Eilean Donan is within view of the Isle of Skye where we spent two nights.  We hired a car with guide for an extensive tour of  Skye, which is one of the 35 inhabited islands of the Inner Hebrides.

Julia Mathieson on Skye

Sky on Skye

Castle Ruins on Skye

Tom Highlander on Skye

Short Hike on Skye

Afternoon Cuppa on Skye

Old Man of Storr , Skye

Near Storr, Skye

  

Kilt Rock, Skye

Portree, Skye

 

Road on Skye

Stone Bridge near Sligachan, Skye

    We stayed two nights in a "self-catering" Air B and B.  

Our Home on Skye

Your Basic Tartan Chair

  

The View from our House in Breakish

The Mortarless Stone Wall by the House

Family Boot-Dryer by the Backdoor

We were able to do some of our own cooking but we also frequented the local restaurant where we tried haggis, tatties and neeps.  It was good!  Julia compared it to Shepherd's Pie.

Haggis, Tatties and Neeps

........Until Next Time.....

Why Scotland and Why Now?

Why Scotland and Why Now?

     Tom’s father was born in Scotland making Tom a first generation Canadian.  He has talked of exploring his Scottish heritage for several years.  I gave him the Scotland GuideBook a couple of years ago for Christmas as a gentle nudge in the UK direction.  He did not really bite.  

Scotland

     However, when our daughter Julia announced she was doing a European tour and suggested we meet her in Scotland, Tom took the plunge and committed to the Scotland trip.  The time has come in our lives to stop talking about trips we would like to take, and Just Do It!

Indeed!

     Coincidentally, the motto for the clan Mathieson is Fac et Spera, which translates to "Do and Hope."  You might say that is Gaelic for Just Do It!!

Do and Hope

    Julia and Tom have done some Mathieson research and we will visit the Mathieson neighborhood in the vicinity of the Isle of Skye.  

Isle of Skye

     The Mathiesons tell me they had a castle.  “In 1539 Iain Dubh Matheson, chief of the Clan Matheson, died whilst defending the Castle on Eilean Donan island against the Clan MacDonald of Sleat on behalf of the Clan Macrae and Clan Mackenzie.” A visit to this site is on our itinerary.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluestardrop/3840896110/

Eilean Donan

   
     And the Mathiesons have tartans, of course.

Mathieson Dress Tartan

Mathieson Hunting Tartan

     I know, you all want to see Tom in a kilt.  Well, I wouldn't be one bit surprised.  I made this nice wool vest, had him model it, and sort of named it after him in hopes that he would buy it from me for $80.00, but he didn't.  But he'll probably buy a kilt.

The Pensive Scot

     The Fullertons also hail from Scotland so we will be visiting those roots in the Ayrshire area.   I've done a little research on the family name.  Couldn't find a motto, a castle, or a tartan.  I'm still
looking.

                                                                  Until Next Time....