The MacFie Standing Stone, Colonsay

CARRAGH MHIC A PHI

In 1623 Malcolm, Last Chief of our Clan was murdered at this stone by a renegade MacDonald. Damaged over the centuries, it was repaired by Ulf MacFie Hagman of Sweden, Charles MacPhee of Australia and Duncan MacPhee of Scotland.

The plot of ground was given to the Clan MacFie by Lord Strathcona and fenced by gifts from clan folk. On 10th May 1977 Ulf MacFie Hagman and Dr. Earle MacPhee of Canada, a Clan Historian, dedicated the Memorial to our Clan.

Colonsay men Hugh McDougall, Angus Clark, Duncan McDougall, Peter MacAllister and Dion Alexander assisted in the project.

Our Name

The surname MacFie, derived from the Gaelic MacDubhsith, is a personal ancestor name and one of the oldest such names in existence. The origin of the name has been lost in antiquity. The Gaelic (Scottish pronunciation is "gallic") spelling of our name was derived from two Gaelic words 'Dubh' (roughly pronounced 'dew') meaning Black, and Sith (pronounced 'she') meaning peace. 'Mac' (pronounced "Mahk") means son of. The Sith were the peaceful 'Little People' who were supposed to have inhabited Colonsay. The literal translation of our name is, therefore 'Black (one) of Peace' or 'The Dark Featured Clan'. In spoken Gaelic, the syllables in the word caused the name to sound like Macduhe or Macduffie.

NOTE:

Throughout this website, the surname "MacFie" is used for simplicity. Please consider this to be interchangeable with "MacDubhsith" and all related surnames as listed in "Our Membership" section below.

Clan Symbols

MacFie Ancient Tartan

MacFie Modern Tartan

Clan Tartan

The red and green MacFie tartan is believed to have been originally designed at the request of Robert MacFie of Langhouse and/or Robert MacFie of Dreg horn. The tartan was first recorded in 1906 in Johnston's The Tartans of the Clans and Septs of Scotland, but it was not until 29th August 1991 that this tartan was formally recorded in the Books of the Court of the Lord Lyon as being the official Tartan of Clan MacFie.

Before 1860 fabrics were coloured using animal and vegetable dyes. This produced the softer colours typical of the Ancient tartans. Post 1860 chemical dyes replaced the natural animal and vegetable dyes and the Modern Tartans were born with their stronger and bolder colours. The soft greens and blues become bottle green and navy blue, orange-reds become scarlet.

Clan Badge and Motto

Clan Crest Badges usually contain the heraldic crest of the clan chief, encircled with a buckle containing the chief's motto. Clan MacFie's last Chief, Malcolm MacFie, was murdered in 1623. The Crest Badge we have today is derived from the coat of arms of MacFie of Dreghorn, who was one of the first MacFies to register a coat of arms in the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland: a demi lion rampant, proper.

The motto which encircles the crest is: PRO REGE, which translated from Latin means "for the king".

Dun Eibhinn

Wording on the Plaque:

The detached rocky knoll situated on the skyline directly in front of the viewer is the site of Dun Eibhinn (Dun Eivan). This dun, or fort, is believed to have been built by the High King Gillee Adamnan as a royal residence in the early 11th century. It was a seat of Viking power in the Western Isles and occupied by descendants of Gille Adamnan, including Somerled and his grandson Donald, progenitor of Clan Donald. The fort came into Clan MacFie possession in the early part of the 13th century.

The MacFie or MacDuffie Chiefs were Keepers of the Records for the Lords of the Isles and the Clan provided many of the Priors for the Priory on Oronsay. Malcolm, last Chief of Clan MacFie, moved from Dun Eibhinn in the early 17th century and the fort fell into disuse from that time.

Our Recent History

In 1968 Dr. Earle Douglas MacPhee of Vancouver, BC, Canada, initiated a worldwide movement to have Clan MacFie recognised once again as an active clan and to have a new Chief appointed. Dr. MacPhee at that time was engaged in writing a definitive history of the Clan and encouraging the formation of Clan MacFie Societies in all centres of major Clan population around the world.

The seed was planted in his mind when he was invited to spend some weeks at a friends' country house at Lochaline, Morvern, in autumn 1943, having just resigned as deputy chairman of Short Brothers when the company was nationalised by the wartime government. He had been responsible for overseeing wartime production of bombers and flying boats.

His friend had an extensive antiquarian's library in his country house, and Dr Earle availed himself of the opportunity to pore over the works of Skene, Grieve, Loder, Grant and many other sources of ancient clans' histories, while his wife Jean who had accompanied him, collected stories about the adjacent castle of Ardtornish where chiefs of Clan MacFie had been hereditary Keepers of the Records for the MacDonald Lords of the Isles. Being a highly disciplined and tenacious academic, he committed himself in principle to compiling a definitive history of our clan, and the first edition was eventually published between 1972 and 1974. *

Dr. MacPhee's efforts were highly successful, with Clan MacFie being formally recognised by the Lord Lyon as an active clan on 27th May 1981. Dr. MacPhee was appointed the Clan’s first Ceann-Cath, or Clan Commander, on 6th November 1981, but died on 25th September the following year. Every year the 27th May is celebrated by Clan members worldwide as CLAN MACFIE DAY.

* Source: "Footsteps" an autobiography by Earle Douglas MacPhee, Published by Versatile Publishing Co. Ltd Vancouver July 1978

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Our Membership

Membership in the MacFie Clan Society in Canada is open to all persons having the name MacDubhsith, however spelled, and all persons connected by marriage with or descended from or adopted by such persons. Membership is also open to non-MacFies who have established a "significant link" with the Society and wish to support its activities.

Below is a list of names that are now recognized as acceptable spellings for members of Clan MacDubhsith (the gaelic spelling, pronounced "Mac Du she"). This includes the variations in prefixes, spellings and links with other clans.

Note: The prefix 'Mac' and 'Mc' are considered interchangeable.