STRATHNAVER MUSEUM, BETTYHILL, SUTHERLAND
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"Just a short walk from the white sandy beach at Farr Bay you will find a hidden gem of a Museum housed in the former parish church of St Columba."
Strathnaver Museum is situated on the north coast of Scotland. It is based in the former Parish Church of Columba in Bettyhill and opened as a museum in 1976. Its main theme is the tragic story of the Highland Clearances and the story of crofting life as it once was. Upstairs, there is a room dedicated to the Clan Mackay. The ancient Pictish Farr Stone is situated nearby.
At present, the museum is undergoing a major refurbishment. As part of this plan, the Mackay Room will become the Mackay Centre. It will have a focus on telling the story of Clan Mackay and its folk. With a welcoming and homely feel, this will become an area for Mackays to come and share their stories. The Centre will also include an introductory video introducing the clan system and Clan Mackay They have started to collect these from Mackay Country. To read some of these Country Stories, click here.
​How can you help?
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The museum would be delighted to have Clan Mackay input and support into gathering content for these displays and would welcome any other ideas. The museum is currently working on a project exploring the Clearances and they want to gather stories from descendants about their families experiences. A key part of the Plan is on co-curation, which will encompass community input to include everything from gathering of oral histories, family stories to the creation of replica objects which can be added to the collection. If you can help or have a story or information to share please contact the museum.
The Mackay Centre will be linked to the upper floor in the east of the building with a bridge link and off this will be the research room. This will house our book collection and research materials (including family trees donated to the archive) and will give the public access to both.
The Museum has launched a crowd funder for the refurbishment project and they would appreciate any donations to their work.