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In Memoriam
Ian Malcolm Grant MacIntyre,
17th Chieftain of Camus-na-h-Erie.
17 July 1940 - 26 September 2019
Rosemary and I
want to express our deepest sympathy to Camus-na-h-Erie’s children, Duncan
Ban, Annabelle and Abigail and his beloved partner, Billie, Countess of
Dunmore and his brother, Peter. We are sorry we could not attend the
services in person to honor his life.
It was not until
after my father’s passing that I began a twenty-year correspondence with
Camus-na-h-Erie and developed a deep friendship first as the Lieutenant to
Glenoe and later as a clan historian. We gradually gained each other’s
trust, confidence, goodwill, mutual respect and finally a warm personal
friendship. This led to meetings in 2006 and 2007 that culminated in Ian
representing Clan MacIntyre at the First World Gathering in 2008. At that
momentous event, Ian provided those attending with everything they could
have wished for in a Highland Chieftain: a commanding figure with a robust
appearance and gracious manner accompanied by a sonorous voice and
extemporaneous presentation. On the last day of the Gathering, at Glen Noe,
Ian witnessed the document to form the Clan MacIntyre Trust.
We furthered our
friendship at the 2009 World Clan Gathering in Edinburgh, where he once
again nobly represented Clan MacIntyre. He provided many items for the
second edition of the History of Clan MacIntyre and attended meetings of the
Council of Scottish Chiefs. Thankfully, he did a reprise as Chieftain at the
2nd World Clan MacIntyre Gathering in 2018.
As a Clan
MacIntyre historian, I would be remiss not to mention my parent’s long
relationship with Ian, starting with a meeting in 1983 when Ian, as the 17th
Camus-na-h-Erie, was the only MacIntyre recognized by the Lyon Court. Their
meeting was cordial despite my father’s lifelong quest to have Donald
MacIntyre in the United States to be recognized by the Lyon Court as Glenoe,
Chief of Clan MacIntyre. In 1983, it was quite possible for Ian to be
recognized as the Chief, so it must have been with some misgivings but from
a sense of duty, that he shared with my parents the Glenoe Secretary with
its treasure of correspondence between his Camus-na-h-Eire ancestors in
Scotland and their cousins in the very young United States.
Sadly, I will now
have to record his passing in the next edition of the History of Clan
MacIntyre and start a new paragraph for the advent of Duncan Ban, as the 18th
Camus-na-h-Erie Chieftain.
'A chuid de Phàrras
dha!' (May he share in the joys of Paradise).
Rosemary and Martin MacIntyre
San Francisco, California
Dear Martin and Rosemary,
I attach an image of the
front cover of Ian's memorial service at Canongate Kirk, Edinburgh, on
Wednesday last. A piper played the celebrants into the historic church which
was well filled, with a heart-warming display of Macintyre tartans on both
sexes. We had clanspeople who had made the long flight across the Atlantic
to honour their chieftain. It was remarked with regret that you and Rosemary
could not be there. There were hymns, readings (Biblical and secular) and
Ian's son Duncan gave a witty and endearing account of his father's very
active and varied life - in restaurants, in international trade, in acting
and, of course, in his deep commitment to the clan.
The reception was held at the elegant and historic New Club on Princes
Street, which many celebrants attended from the church. The hospitality was
generous, with wine and a wide selection of sandwiches and cakes. There was
no opportunity to read your eloquent tribute to Ian because of the press of
people and the multiple conversations taking place. But you must post your
tribute on the Macintyre website.
With Love to you both,
Lorn |
