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    1. [SCT-INV-L] Re: St. Mary's Roman Catholic Cemetry, Mingarry Ardnamurchan, Inverness-shire
    2. Peter, Certainly there is the cemetery at Eilean Fhianain (St. Finnian's Island) in Loch Shiel -- at the end of the track from the main road (A861) by Dalelea just north and east of Mingarry. It is said to be the oldest cemetery in the British Isles still in use. The Chapel alter still has a cup on it secured with a small chain that's been there as long as anyone can recall. I visited the Island for a couple of hours in 1997 when a kind foreman at the salmon fisheries site by Dalelea had a guy give me a ride out on his powerboat. There are a lot of MacDonalds but I don't recall any MacIsaacs among the headstones -- but that was my first few days on my first trip into the Highlands and the Mingarry-Moidart-Arisaig area. Worth another visit if someone doesn't already have a list. I'm retired US Air Force (not a pilot). While I was out there on the Island, two jet fighters flew over at about 100-200 feet. I turned and shouted to the empty island: "That's a salute from the present to any relatives and friends of theirs who may be buried here!" A local guy in Mingarry (current area by the church) said he'd take me to the old Mingarry and several other deserted villages on his motorcycle next time I go over. He didn't say anything about a cemetery, but that would be an exciting find if there are extant headstones. If you don't already have it, perhaps your bookstore has (or you can order) the Arisaig & Lochaber map #50 in the Bartholomew map series. [John Bartholomew & Son LTD, Duncan St., Edinburgh EH9 1TA Scotland.] This is quite a detailed map and shows all of the MacDonald lands from Loch Shiel to Morar, including the Isles of Eigg and Muck, plus the entire Ardnamurchan Peninsula in the south and Glenelg in the north. Dick MacLeod

    10/03/2000 09:52:21