The year of the Great Scottish Homecoming 2009 has been picked as the ideal one for Clan Chief Richard and his wife Patricia to run/walk or jog the half marathon at midnight in the city of Edinburgh on June 20th.

Although the Chief's family has fortunately not been directly affected by breast cancer other cancers have killed close family members and affected friends and a member of our small staff is currently fighting breast cancer. Equally we are aware that Carmichaels worldwide have been affected and that a cure is potentially not many years away! 

The Breast cancer charity www.walkthewalk.org expects "12000 women and a few brave men" to spend the night pounding the streets of the capital and hope that, as in 2008,  the castle and other Edinburgh city buildings will be floodlit in pink. The organisers have welcomed the only Clan chief to volunteer for the walk and have suggested we both wear Carmichael tartan bras. 

Although the bras are only at the design stage our training has already commenced and we expect to walk as a team and complete the challenging 20 km walk in 4-5 hours and hope to raise £500 between us. We are well on the way towards this target and online donations can be made at

www.justgiving.com/patriciacarmichaelofcarmichael

www.justgiving.com/chiefcarmichael

Offers

Book a Carmichael holiday cottage before the end of May 2009 and get a £5 Carmichael Estate Farm Meats voucher and a free hot drink at the Wishing Well tearoom at the Carmichael Visitor Centre. Both can only be used during your stay which can be anytime this year. Quote spring special when booking. 

GET TO KNOW CARMICHAEL VENISON STARTER PACK Following the BBC GOOD FOOD GUIDE recommendation for Carmichael venison haunch roast we have launched for a limited period only for FREE DELIVERY anywhere within the UK a VENISON STARTER PACK including 2 x 130g Venison sirloin steaks; 1 x 500g haunch roast; 1 x 280g pack of 4 venison burgers; 1 x 200g pack of 6 venison sausages and 1 x 300g diced venison shoulder for casserole together with cookery tips and recipe suggestions. All for only £28. To order go to the venison mail order secure site and write 'starter pack offer £28'. Additionally you can get FREE DELIVERY NEXT DAY WITHIN THE UK on all orders over £100.

52 week Availability charts have been added to cottage webpages. Check out the cottage webpages for links to our availability charts showing each cottage's availability and updated daily. There are also some late availability special offers on these pages. Quote "late availability offer"!

Carmichael Cyprus villas now available Lots of  flights from the UK to Ercan (North Cyprus) and Larnaca and Paphos (Greek Cyprus) now exist some with cut price deals making our door to door connection from Carmichael cottages in Scotland to Carmichael cottages Bellapais a comfortable nine hour trip. Flights with Cyprus Turkish Airways from  Manchester Birmingham London (Stansted) and Heathrow cost approximately £285 per person including taxes. The three villas can be rented as one resort sleeping 10-14 in 7 bedrooms with five bathrooms with a central swimming pool and lovely terraced gardens for £1000 per week. Summer 2009 is proving a busy one in Bellapais due to the exchange rate difference with the south side Eurozone. Book now for 2010.!!

Three week See the WHOLE of SCOTLAND OFFER Stay one week in any available Carmichael cottage at Carmichael, one week in the Carmichael Edinburgh apartment and one week in our Feshiebruach, Highland chalet in the Highlands for an amazing £895 fully inclusive. Non Smoking Two person only excludes Christmas/ New Year and July/August 2009

Carmichael gathering News

THE HOMECOMING SCOTLAND WEEKEND 2009.

July 24th 2009 The Clan Convention in The Scottish Parliament.

July 25th & July 26th 2009 Holyrood Park Edinburgh

CLAN CARMICHAEL will have a Clan tent daily

You can get lots more information and tickets at www.thegathering2009.com

Nan Morrison. Nanette Morrison (Kunstler) went to Moira House School Eastbourne Sussex England with Betty Burbidge (Newton Clare) in the 1930's and they aspired to be amongst the first female doctors in Britain.  They were much encouraged by Mona Swann the inspirational headmistress. Betty became a doctor and Nan a radiologist qualifying during world war two. Mona Swann was my Great Aunt on my direct Carmichael line having been born in India before 1900 and my mother Betty died in Cyprus in 1985. Nan lived despite her frailty following early cancer operations in the 1970's until March 2007 and died quite suddenly following a fall but was a keen and enthusiastic Carmichael clan supporter throughout the last twenty years of her life. She attended most of the recent gatherings with her husband Jock Morrison. Her funeral was in Kingston Crematorium on Friday March 9th 2007 and her ashes were scattered at Carmichael on Tuesday May 1st 2007. She will be sadly missed at Carmichael and our thoughts are with Jock in this, his 95th year. He has moved to Largs in Ayrshire so visits Carmichael regularly and even came to Bellapais Cyprus with us in early October 2008.   

The summer weather in 2009 is looking good especially when compared to 2008. Last year only the 250 acres of  willow planted  for biomas production seemed to be growing happily in the swampy fields. Apparently in the years 1153 and 1154 there were catastrophic wet summers in the British Isles that nearly wiped out all the farmers of the day economically. Coupled with the current credit crunch financial crisis and recession it is difficult to stay focused on primary production. It is certainly easier when the Scottish sun is shining. They now forecast a BBQ summer for Scotland this year so no better way to enjoy that than with Carmichael meats outside your Carmichael country cottage !

BROKEN SPEAR NEWSLETTER Number 42 DECEMBER 2008. The 42nd edition of  Chief Richard's newsletter was produced in December and was circulated to all paid up clan members before Christmas. It has 16  pages and included reports on the proposed 9th  international gathering and tour to be held in June/ July 2010  and as usual  some newly researched Carmichael historical stories. Contact clan office if you would like a copy.

FARMERS MARKETS ARE STILL BOOMING For some years we have proudly stated that Carmichael Estate Farm Meats are the longest established single family owned and operated farming business in Scotland (est. 1292). We effectively are sourced from the origins of our name in the Eleventh century. To get the message across that single Estate meats products are unique we stand up and sell from street stalls within 50 miles of us in Scotland the finest Carmichael range of Venison, Beef and Lamb. The interest and demand for the welfare and quality guaranteed meats is strong. Every animal is born, reared, fattened, slaughtered, butchered, packaged and processed on the Estate itself. You can find Carmichael meats at the following Farmers Markets between 9am or 10am and 2pm or 3pm. Arrive early for the best range as we often sell out.

Edinburgh Castle Terrace markets are now held every Saturday but we go on the first and third and fifth Saturdays.  Hamilton Townhead Street is the third Saturday each month. Glasgow Mansefield Park (off Byers Road Partick) is the second and fourth Saturday each month. Peebles East Station Car park second Saturday each month.  Clarkston is the 4th Saturday. All times 10am-2pm approx.

CARMICHAEL TOP ONE HUNDRED NOW AT 20 This is our regular report on our ROOF FUND CAPITAL CONTRIBUTORS. We are hopeful that we will soon have such a large number of contributors seeking plaques on the proposed Donar Wall within the central tower that we will be HEADING UP TOWARDS THE MAGIC 100 MARK. Seeking 100 generous donars gifting £1000 or $1500 to put back the Carmichael Castle roof was never going to be easy but grateful thanks are due to TWENTY CARMICHAELS WHO HAVE STARTED THE FUND ROLLING including Claudia Lemoine, Arthur C.Carmichael, B Wayne Carmichael, Alana & Mark Nigro, Don E. & Mary J. Carmichael, Ruth Lewis, John D "Mickey" Carmichael; Mr & Mrs Charles E Carmichael, Douglas Carmichael, Robert L & Virginia Carmichael, Lynne Carmichael, Alan & Patricia Bickell, Anne & Jack Carmichael, Jock & Nan Morrison, John & Margo Carmichael, Philip S.Carmichael. George Ross & Jean Goldie Carmichael. Claude & Vernon Carmichael Cole. In memory of C.Erskine & Gertrude Cole, In memory of Delma Cole.

THE HISTORY OF CARMICHAEL FURTHER DELAYED 

Regretfully  the author's free time is still so limited that Chief's history book is delayed again. Originally estimated for December 2000 estimated completion is now beyond 2010. A limited print run of 1000 numbered and signed limited edition copies of this proposed 276x219mm Hardback coffee table 320 page book with colour illustrations. To be published by Craig Publication Services. Author Baron Richard Carmichael of Carmichael, 30th chief. This 20 chapter unique complete family history book never previously attempted will be sold only to pre-registered enquirers. Reserve your copy now!! Email bookorders@carmichael.co.uk with name and address detail. No deposit required. Chief Richard offers sincere apologies for the delays in producing this essential book however since no one else has attempted the feat in a thousand years he believes your patience will eventually be rewarded. All contributions from Carmichaels anywhere with a story to tell will be appreciated. 

HISTORY SNIPPET Carmichael history through the ages...The story so far No.1 "source of the Name"; No.2 "Broken Spear crest";No.3 "Sept or Clan"; No.4 "Founder of the Family"; No.5 "Early Family Properties"; No.6 "Early Carmichaels"; No.7 "Stewart Connections"; No.8 "A Cardinal's killer"; No.9 "Clan Chief Elections?"; No 10 "Why Carmichael of Carmichael?"; No.11 "Armstrong- our Hereditary enemies";No.12 "The Most Expert Borderer"; No.13 "Peers of the Realm" No 14 "Birth of the modern clan";No.15 "Important Carmichael battles". No 16 "Carmichael Migrations to create global clan"; No.17 "Ancient sites at Carmichael Scotland"; No.18 "Carmichael Millennium awards" No.19 "The Great Earl of Hyndford"; No.20 "Queen Mary's Favourite Siblings" No.21 "The modern clan revival" No.22 "Carmichael's Civil War"; No.23 "How and why did you become the Chief?"; No.24 "Carmichael Barony"; No.25 "The Original Carmichael Church"; No.26 Carmichael castles through the ages; No.27 "Carmichael balad collections". No.28 "Carmichael Anstruther connections" No.29 "Carmichael Scots-Irish"

No.29 The Carmichael Scots-Irish  Twenty families of Carmichaels from Lanarkshire in Scotland ( in the immediate vicinity of Carmichael itself and thus likely to be original descendants of the first families who took the name here between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries) migrated from Scotland to Ulster in the late 1600's to find religious freedom and fertile farmland. These were mostly Presbyterians who through their energetic work ethic and dogged determination, transformed the commercial, industrial, educational and cultural face of Ulster. After a series of crop failures in the early 1700's compounded by conflicts with both their Irish-Catholic neighbours and their English rulers many of these families emigrated to the New World disembarking at often-unwelcoming British Colonial ports, they eventually moved into the Appalachian frontier, creating tiny communities beginning in 1718. By the 1740,s almost every issue of the Belfast News Letter featured advertisements from the owners of many different emigrant sailing ships.The passage from the Ulster ports of Belfast,  Carrickfergus, Larne,  Portrush and Londonderry took at least six weeks (one took seventeen weeks) to Boston, Philadelphia or Charleston. These Presbyterian Carmichael Scots-Irish became the kings of the Appalachian frontier and pioneered trails westwards to Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri. They and their families contributed greatly to the Americas indeed so many Ulster settlers were involved in the American War of Independence that an English general said "This is not a revolutionary war, it's a Scotch-Irish Presbyterian rebellion". Amongst other achievements they were the first to distill whiskey in Bourbon County Kentucky and were at the Alamo in San Antonio Texas in 1836. So many of them were called William, after King William of Orange's army of soldiers in the Irish war of 1690 that the popularity of the names Bill, Will, Billy and Willy led to the whole descendants of this Ulster-Scots settlement being referred to collectively as "hillbillies" characterized as bourbon, the Bible and bluegrass. "their devilish music".

  Carmichael of Carmichael family News

Andrew & Terri Carmichael now live at Bowhouse Carmichael Scotland and are expecting their first child mid August 2009.

Marama and Taka Carmichael Kishimoto married at Carmichael Church Scotland in September 2008 and live in Tokashima southern Japan. They are expecting their first child in mid October 2009. 

Sarah Jane married Randy Smith in a registry office in Steamboat Springs Colorado USA January 6th 2009. They hope to have a wedding blessing in Scotland September 2009.

Richard Carmichael of Carmichael    5th May 2009