14/10/2026
A Sunday outing at the lovely Flowerdale walk
This coming Sunday 18th October, a small group of local pipers are rekindling the annual walk up to the memorial to Iain Dall at Flowerdale.
Anyone is welcome to come along and join the "Wednesday pipers" and make the procession from Flowerdale carpark up to the Iain Dall monument, a distance of about a mile. A small refreshment will be enjoyed before heading back to the carpark. The procession will begin at 1.30pm.
Iain Dall MacKay, the Blind Piper of Gairloch (1656-1754) was just 7 years old, when he lost his sight from having smallpox. Despite this, he studied Piping with the MacCrimmons on the Isle of Skye (his father Rory was also a talented piper, married to the daughter of a Chief of MacKay). Iain Dall lived in a MacKenzie property in Flowerdale and increased his income by piping and performing poetry, though only 6 of his poems have survived. He carried the composition of pibroch to a high level and at least eleven pibrochs can be attributed to him. Iain retired to Badachro to live with his daughter, the mother of the Gaelic poet, William Ross. He passed away there at the age of 98, and is buried in the old Gairloch churchyard.
A tradition evolved of celebrating his life and work with an annual event held locally. Established by the late Bridget and Alex MacKenzie (Dornoch), Alastair Pearson (The Old Inn), Stuart Letford and the late Roy Wentworth, after a few years, Iain Blake took on the coordination of events which included piping competitions, recitals, concerts, talks as well as a procession to the memorial.
The Wednesday Pipers hope to rekindle interest and support for this event and ensure the legacy of Iain Dall Mackay is remembered and celebrated annually.
