In a message dated 14/08/00 3:51:14 PM Central Daylight Time, mmrbm@ameritech.net writes: << I had never heard of the Black Isle until last week. Where is it? Might there have been any MacLeans there that would have a connection to Skye? Marion Markham >> The Black Isle is just across the water from Inverness and the area has a lot of MacLeans. It is in Ross and that is loaded with MacLeans. That is whwere my people are from, well Ross that is.and a few spent time in the Black Isle. The north of Skye is also loaded with Macleans to the point where you are tripping over the buggers with each step. Old Sorley MacLean spent many years up on Skye, where he is known as amongst the Greatest poets of Scotland. Once you get out of Inverness and start to head north you will meet tons of MacLeans all the way from Beuly up to Caithness where that nasty lot of Sutherlands hang out. Dave M.