Description
Join us online via Zoom on Friday 13 March 2026 at 19:30 UK time to hear a presentation about the famous Brooch of Lorn by Jamie MacGregor, Heritage Engagement & Access Officer for the MacDougall of Dunollie Preservation Trust.
This talk examines the history and cultural significance of the Brooch of Lorn, one of Scotland’s most symbolically powerful medieval artefacts. Traditionally believed to have been seized from Robert the Bruce by the MacDougalls in battle, the brooch became a potent symbol of clan identity, power, and memory, remaining in MacDougall hands for centuries. During the upheaval of the mid-seventeenth century, it was lost in the sacking of Gylen Castle on Kerrera and believed to have disappeared forever.
In 1824, the brooch made a dramatic and highly symbolic return to the MacDougall clan, restoring both the object and its meaning within clan tradition and heritage. This talk traces the brooch’s journey through conflict, loss, and recovery, and follows its story into the modern period, exploring how tradition, belief, and historical narrative have shaped its enduring significance. By situating the brooch within both its historical context and its symbolic landscape, the talk highlights how material objects can function as carriers of identity, memory, and continuity across generations.
Speaker Biography
Jamie MacGregor is the Heritage Engagement and Access Officer at Dunollie Museum, Castle and Grounds, a role he has held for the past five years. He leads a team of volunteers and works across public engagement, learning, exhibitions, and access, with a strong focus on the sites history. Since joining Dunollie, he has become deeply engaged with the history of the site and the MacDougalls of Lorn, sharing that passion through delivering guided tours, while also training new guides and contributing to the development of exhibitions and interpretation. His work centres on making history accessible, engaging, and meaningful for a wide range of audiences.
He studied History at the University of Stirling, graduating with a BA (Hons), and spent his third year abroad at the University of Northern Iowa. From 2022 to 2024, he served as a committee member of the Lorn Archaeological and Historical Society. Alongside his heritage work, Jamie is also a piper, having played the bagpipes for seventeen years. He played with the Oban High School Pipe Band throughout his school years and now performs independently at events across the region.
Key Info
Please add the event to your basket and checkout to receive the Zoom joining link.
This event is FREE* for members of the Friends.
*Please note: Friends must be logged in to their web account to receive their discount!
Tickets for non-members are £10. Find out more about becoming a Friend here: Become a Friend of Argyll Estates Archives – Friends of Argyll Estates Archives
