Boturich Castle is said to have been built by the last Duchess
of Albany and Countess of Lennox. (Isabelle, Countess of Lennox,
died c.1460).
The present mansion, known as Boturich Castle overlooking Loch
Lomond, was erected in 1830 and incorporates the remains of an
earlier building; the pre-1830 Boturich Castle consist of walls
4ft thick on the present ground level. A barrel vault extends
through the SE corner of the old building.
Boturich Castle
belonged to the Lennox and Buchanan families originally.
The tune was composed by Hugh McKay. Hugh MacKay (1801-1864) was
born in the Reay country. He was a piper in the 71st Highlanders
in 1830, and was Pipe Major from 1836-1851. After that, he went
to the Stirlingshire Militia, from 1852 to 1864. He was a great
march player who, with Angus MacKay, made the competition march
what it is today. He composed many marches, including: “The 71st
Quickstep” (made over from “The Ross and Cromarty Rangers’
Quickstep”), “The Stirlingshire Militia,” “The Craigs of
Stirling,” Angus Campbell’s Farewell to Stirling” and “Charles
Edward Hope de Vere.
Though not known as a great piobaireachd player, his prowess at
playing and composing 2/4 marches puts Hugh MacKay at the
forefront as one of the fathers of the modern competition march
and one of the great composers of bagpipe music.
His likeness can apparently be found in watercolours of the 71st
Highlanders painted in 1837 during the regiment’s time in
Ireland.
|