It had been a great stay on Mull - Duart Castle (above), sea eagles, otters, and an afternoon of hot sun! Leaving the Fishnish ferry at Lochaline I almost drove off the road at the sight of a beautifully restored tower house. Correctly termed Kinlochaline, the locals call it 'Butter Castle'.
This was a MacInnes castle. It was said that one of the clan women Dubh-Chal (Lady of the Black Veil) paid the architect an amount of butter equal in size to the castle, hence the name, Caisteal an Ime, or Castle of Butter. A carving, thought to be Dubh-Chal, is above the fireplace.
In the 14th century, Chief MacInnes of Ardgour was foster father and counsellor to John, Lord of the Isles. MacInnes had advised John to divorce Amy MacRuari and marry Margaret Stewart, daughter of the future King Robert II of Scotland. Then Amy got her revenge by relating that MacInnes had complained, when he stayed at John's house, that ‘his quarters did not smell well because they were used as a dog's kennel’.
John was duly enraged and ordered Donald MacLean of Duart to kill MacInnes. This he did, also killing MacInnes’ five sons and so gaining possession of Ardgour.The Clan never recovered and has not had a chief since. In 1997, Sir Lachlan MacLean of Duart and Morvern offered an apology to Clan MacInnes President William MacInnis.
The castle, ruinous from 1644 until the 20th century, is now a family home.
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5 comments:
That was a very interesting story. And as always, I love the photos.
I'm glad you are amused bit I want more than, "oh, I'm sorry, I did not meat to murder you and your family while you slept as invited guest in my houst and for stealing your land". I want our Clan Chief back and our lands along with the heat of their clan chief!
That is but and mean! I will always dislike and not trust the Maclean's. The only good ones are the dead ones!
Give me the head of your Clan Chief!
Seems to always come to an " lm sorry " and that's all I need to do. Even if I'm not sorry at all. I've lived well from what I took from you. You really missed out. To bad you can't get it back.
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