The MacDonald Clan is inherently the key stakeholder in the Scottish Government's ongoing re-interpretation of the medieval history of Iona Abbey.

This site's primary purpose is to inform and engage with both :-

1. Historic Scotland in this interpretation process and make a major contribution to
the future Statements of Cultural Significance for Iona Abbey and St Oran's
cemetery with chapel [1200-1500]; and

2. The Iona Community, visitors, pilgrims, the large MacDomhnaill clan especially
and the many other people around the world who are drawn to Iona's aesthetic.

Specifically, to :-
                     A. 
 1.    Provide a factual basis for the proper interpretation of the MacDonald Clan's essential and continuous   role in the three century existence of medieval Iona abbey.
                     B. 
 1.      Show how the cult of saints, body part relics,  doctrines of purgatory and intercessory prayer  were to profoundly shape their lives, institutions and burial rites.
                    C.  
1.   Give a sound basis for the only identification of  a grave slab for the Abbey founder and his burial location. Reclaim the slab for Angus Og MacDonald, Lord of The Isles - savior of Robert The Bruce.
 2.   Give a fresh interpretation that Somerled's  Tempeull Odhrain is in meaning and effect the fourth Tomaire nan Righ, the Tumulus Regum Insularum.


 2.   Explore for the first time the “body politic” secondary burial rituals to protect and perpetuate the Kingship of The Isles as a continuous living institution (+ heart burial).
  2.   Identify, secure and protect the lineage of the pivotal Clan Donald MacAlasandair Abbot of Iona  (and Saddell Abbots). They are the first recognisable MacAllisters descended from Chief Alaxandair Og, k. 1299 {not uncle Alaster Mor}. 
  • MORE DETAIL  ON  'A. 1' BUTTON ABOVE       It is officially acknowledged that the “Lordship of Isles",  in the context of its impact on the abbey is "poorly understood" with "major gaps in understanding" and “a better knowledge of this period is crucial to our understanding of the medieval development of the abbey”.

Clan Donald International, the key stakeholder for the interpretation of the history of the medieval period for Iona Abbey 1200-1500, hopes the publication of our conference submission (2nd Ed.) and this website will greatly assist in providing much of that better knowledge and understanding for the research group.  [Togaidh an obair an fhianais.]

This site will show that the medieval Iona Abbey and Cathedral of the Isles, as you see them today (restored in the 20th century) are the legacy of the 15th century Clan Donald Lords of The Isles and their Clan Donald Abbots and Bishops. 

But a major problem with the how this historic site is currently interpreted is a perception that none of it, or very little, has anything to do with Clan Donald. 

A misplaced trust in treating with England started the great Royal Clan Donald's downfall. Divisions within its leadership resulted and the weakened Lordship of the Isles lost it all in 1493. Including its ecclesiastical history which was also “Reformed" and the much transformed country forgot Clan Donald was the whole reason for the very existence of medieval Iona Abbey and its Cathedral of the Isles.

There is in fact a flawed historical account of the Clan Donald's essential structural role in the medieval abbey's existence right from its inception in early 13th century caused by the 300 year later destruction of not only the Abbey's infrastructure but the whole institutionalised national machinery which sustained it.  This sudden, violent end of the era resulted in a partial ecclesiastical "memory loss". The Earls of Argyll at that time were Scotland's political masters, the instigators and benefactors of the tumultuous upheavals with massive shifts in the macroeconomic environment. Their descendant Earls and Dukes have not only enjoyed the "fruits" but also the resulting "Reformation" of the Abbey's history in their favour. 

When it comes to who is most associated with “Iona Abbey”, the lion’s share of attention is focused on the internationally famous, iconic St Columba, the early Christian era and Iona’s Hiberno-Scottish mission, and then fast-forwards to the recency of the regional celebrity of the “extraordinary” Renaissance Man, the 8th Duke of Argyll with the large marble effigies of himself and third wife Ina, so dominant in the cathedral. 

The 8th Duke was proud of ‘owning’ Iona not because of the medieval Abbey, but because of his love for the island’s nature and particularly its association with one man, St Columba. He  gives the distinct impression that he would have been quite satisfied if the medieval abbey had never existed.  NB: The established Church of Scotland (orientation Calvinist) traces its origins beyond the Reformation and sees itself in continuity with the church established by St. Ninian, St. Columba, St. Kentigern and other Celtic saints. [1] To the 8th Duke, the Catholic-Benedictine-Clan Donald phase of 1200-1500 on Iona is just an inconvenient interlude between the Paruchia Colum Cille and the Protestant Reformation.  To him, and others, this period, albeit just a short 300 years, inconveniently interferes with and interrupts the "continuity" just mentioned {"St Columba teaching the grand system of Calvanistic theology!"; as incredulously said 1934} and is something best denigrated and relegated to unworthiness and insignificance - trivialised. 

All of the above negativities coalesce, with the more recent colouring the distant past, and leaves the Clan Donald Lords of the Isles forfeit of any due recognition, outside of the minimalist role of being called (mere) benefactors or patrons.  This is a gross understatement of their fundamental contribution to this infrastructure, the resulting economics of the region and the truly extraordinary three centuries long existence of the late medieval Iona Abbey and its Cathedral of the Isles which is entirely due to this one "Royal" family.

The MacDonald's financing and building is paramount in providing the sole witness to Iona's extant architecture...... “probably the completest and most interesting group of ancient ecclesiastical structures in Scotland"; - 1897. [2]

Yet, in many respects the MacDonalds are sidelined, what's more anonymously [with no individual monument attributions] to St Oran’s Chapel.  It is all substantively misleading in terms of a proper interpretation of the history of the site’s extant architecture.

This website will put an end to the clouding of facts which :-

(A)       Gives no or very little credit to the early Clan Donald  for the very existence and continued growth, enhancement and maintenance of the medieval Abbey for three centuries and raising of the Cathedral of the Isles; 

(B)       Portrays little of the responsibility for the then Earls of Argyll playing a significant, leading part in its 16th and 17th centuries destruction and exactly how the abbey’s wealth and property “came into the hands of” their family;

(C)    However sees the Argyll Earls/Dukes enjoying a disproportionate amount of the accolades for “returning” and “restoring” the Abbey, when very little of it or the exact opposite is the truth. [3]  This throws a deep and long slanted shadow over the whole medieval history.

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[1]  However, see this opinion :- The Topographical Statistical and Historical Gazetteer of Scotland, Volume 2; p.47 (col. 2). 1854.   "The Culdees, ‘servants of God,’ as the fraternity of Iona and the communities connected with them were called, seem to have had no connexion whatever with the corrupt, pompous, usurping, and multitudinous sect which, from an early period in the 4th century, claimed the alliance of the state, arrogated to itself the title of ‘the Catholic church,’ and was already far advanced, all indeed but completely matured, in the foul innovations of Romanism.  .........  An Episcopalian, a Presbyterian, and an Independent, if keener to gather laurels for his party than to obtain an impartial view of facts, will each, and not without plausibility, but under decided mistake, claim the Culdees, as brethren in creed.”

[2] MacGibbon, David & Ross, Thomas; “The Ecclesiastical Architecture of Scotland, VOL III; pps 48, 49.  ;  1897.    NB: contrast this praise to the 8th Duke’s condemnation: “all these buildings before us are the monuments of the dull and often the corrupt monotony of medieval Romanism” - this is about what the building's represented but he also never said anything in praise of the structures themselves.   

Nothing remained of the early Christian monastery. The only monument from that period that endured and was left standing was St Martin’s 8th century cross.  Only the very foundations of a 9th century “shrine” later built for St Columba remained.  The three ancient tombs of the kings are totally gone and the early Christian smaller gravestones, cross fragments would also have all but disappeared, stolen or mainly buried from view and memory without the central gravitas, attraction and therefore protection of what is currently, in the main, an early Clan Donald medieval site in terms of surviving architecture and a majority of the medieval monuments (Clan Donald’s alone, plus the vassal clans of its Lordship).

[3] 1979 : (NY Times, Apr 2001.)  “Heavy estate taxes led the 12th Duke of Argyll  to sell the island of Iona. The Hugh Fraser Foundation buys Iona for the nation; ownership transferred to the National Trust for Scotland.”