Atholl Highlanders, Atholl, Blair Castle, McConaghy coat of arms

Looking for McConaghy folk. For anybody with an interest in names, try www.houseofnames.com, but check the results elsewhere as well. Geneologies must be lucrative these days. For us, recreation: McConaghy - Scotland's west coast, and Hebrides. Find what is fun, and believe it, or not.

The name may be spelled various ways - including "McConaghey" - here the "e" added by Maurice McConaghey, his brother retaining the McConaghy, both in the military, and Lt. Maurice McConaghey in the Royal Scots Fusiliers, buried from WWI at Arras, France, see France Road Ways, Somme WWI Royal Scots Fusiliers.

The McConaghy Clan is an ancient clan - among the Dalriadan clans. Known also as Clan Donnachaidh, from Gaelic "Donnachadh Reamhar", or - here is a good one, Duncan the Stout. Sometime, all these to be looked up for black sheep.

Duncan the Stout was one of the Celtic Earls of Atholl, and here is Blair Castle in Atholl, home of the Atholl Highlanders, and near Queen Victoria's favorite little town, Pitlochry, see //www.scotland-calling.com/forts/blair. Begun in 1269, its appearance now is largely from 18th century remodelings,. Bonnie Prince Charlie stayed here, as did Queen Victoria who bestowed on them formal regimental colors, to that they are the only private army in Europe. Mostly bodyguards now. Grounds are some 145,000 acres. The Duke of Atholl - Dukes were second only to the King.

1777-1783- During this period, the Atholl Highlanders, the 77th Highlanders, or the 77th Regiment of Foot, were established, then sent to Ireland, then involved in a mutiny against going to the Indies, then disbanded, and reorganized later. See ://www.coghlan.co.uk/athole.htm. Here is the military tartan, part of the Murray, Murray of Atholl - //www.regiments.org/tradition/tartans/murray-a.htm

1839-Present - Queen Victoria's award of Regimental Colors.

See them and listen at //www.usahpd.com/tunes.htm. Do an images search for them On Parade yet.

World War I: Fought in South Africa, then to France at Delville Wood, and the Somme, Ypres, Arras, in particular, see http://www.jocks.co.za/history.htm. For an excellent photgraph and history book on the Somme, see "The Somme, Then and Now - A Visual History<" by Duncan Youel and David Edgell, Dorling Kindersley 2006. This is a commemorative volume, with histories of regiments that fought there from different parts of the world.