Blair Collection > Celtic monthly > Volume 5, 1897

fB.E CELTIC MONTHLV.
85-
THOMAS MACKAY, LARGS
Vice-Presiden'[', Ci.an JIackav Society,
Ipj^jHE recent election of
^^ Mr. Thoiuas Mackay
'^^ to the office of Vice-
President of this popular
Society, was in every way
deserved. Mr. ^NFackay's
interest has been of a
jn-actieal as well as a senti-
mental nature, a fact to
■\\liich its bursary and other funds bear ample
_ testunuuy.
The history of Mr. Mackay 's family is rather
a romantic one. His forebears hailed from
Diithaich Mhic Aoidh (the Mackay country) in
the far north, where in the early years of the
present century his grandfather was a victim
of the notorious Sutherland Clearances. Like
many others of his clansmen he decided to
emigrate to other lands, but the ship in which
he took his passage was wrecked on the coast
of the Isle of Man, near IJamsay, where he gut
safely ashore. At that time the honourable
profession of smuggling was considered a
lucrative and gentlemanly one, and Mackay
soon entered into the business with energy and
considerable success. A plentiful supply of
wine, silk, tobacco and other contraband goods
was easily procured on the French coast, and a
ready mai'ket was as readily found along the
west coast of Scotland, and even at Glasgow
itself. He also entered into business as a
tobacconist in Douglas. Li 1S13 he married a
native of the Isle of Man, of French extraction,
and a few years later died, leaving a family of
two sons and a daughter.
Thomas, his second son, seems to have alsu
engaged in contraband expeditious, one cargo
being landed on the Holy Isle at Lamlash,
Arran. In 1828, along with his mother, he
came to reside in Glasgow, where he served his
apprenticeship as a baker and confectioner.
Ten years later he married Elizabeth Bruce, a
native of Luss, Loch Lomond, and commeuced
business on his own account, the Largs establish-
ment being opened in 18i0, followed later on
by a flourishing branch in Greenock. His son,
Thomas, the present genial head of the firm,
in due course succeeded to the business, and
by his ability and industry has earned f'lr
himself a reputation second to none in his trade.
Mr. Mackay is deeply interested in the work
of the Clan Society, especially in its educational
and benevolent schemes, his desire being that
every young ]\Iackay should have opportuuies
afforded him of receiving a good education, and
becoming master of a profession or trade.
EnlTOl!.
HIGHLAND HEATHER
Bonnie grows tlie rosu in the garden sae fair.
And the lily blooms sweet in the vale ;
The sun-flower flaunts'proodly its braw gowden
crest,
'Mang the hollyhocks sturdy and hale.
Oor ain Scottish thistle is dear to my heart,
And the blue bells I weel loe tae see ;
But tliere's ane I loe better by far than them a','
The sweet mountain heather for me.
C/(on(.s-— Then \ here's tae the heather,
The sweet purple heatlier ;
That grows on oor mountains,
Sae bonnie and free ;
Of a' flowers the f.airest.
The sweetest, the dearest ;
The pride o' the Highlands,
The heather for me.
In tlie days o" lang syne uor bold Highland chiefs.
Wore its flowers in their bonnets o' blue ;*
On Bannockburn's held, and Drummossie's dark
muir,
It was borne by the gallant and true ;
Fu' bravely they fought for their freedom and
hame,
Their King and their country tae save ;
Noo they peacefully sleep 'neath auld Scotia's
soil,
And the heather blooms fresh ower their grave.
Clionis — Then ! here's tae the heather, etc.
It minds me o' days, when a oallant sae blythe,
I hae roamed over mountain and glen ;
When life was a' bliss, and I had ne'er a thocht,
0' the troubles that noo I weel ken ;
It murmurs o' luve, and it whispers o' hame, ■
Tae oor brithers far oot ower the sea ;
And gars ilka heart wi' emotion tae thrill.
When the heather's sweet blossoms we see.-
Cliiiyn.s — Then 1 here's tae the heather, etc.
W. Dki.mmonii-Norie.
* All branches of the Clan Donald, and many of the
other Highland clans, wear the heather as a
badge.
As this song will shortly be put to nuisic by Mr. R.
Buchanan, Jr. , all rights are reserved by the author.
The Annual Dinner of the Uaelic Societv
of Inverness was held in the Caledonian Hotel,
and was perhaps the most successful ever held
under the auspices of this flourishing Society.
Cluny Macpherson of Cluny presided, and was
supported by many of the most eminent of our
Celtic scholars. Toasts were proposed or responded
to by the chairman, Sir Henry C. MacAndrew,
Provost Macpherson, Kingussie, Alexander Mac-
bain, Alexander Mackenzie, Thomas A. Mackay,
and others. A new volume of TramKtcfions is in
the press.