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MHG56839 - Reverend John Macdonald memorial cairn - Balnabeen, Reay

Summary

A memorial cairn marking the birthplace of the Reverend John Macdonald, the 'Apostle of the North', at Balnabeen, Reay.

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Protected Status

Full Description

The site was visited and photographed by D Glass in May 2014. He described the site as:
"A cairn or pillar marking the birthplace of the Reverend John Macdonald, the ‘Apostle of the North’.
The cairn is situated at the former settlement of Balnabeinn (Balnabeen).
The cairn is 1.5 metres high and carries a plaque with the following inscription:
HERE AT BALNABEEN WAS BORN THE REV. JOHN MACDONALD, 1779 – 1849, MINISTER OF FERINTOSH, ROSS-SHIRE, 1813 – 1849.
A NOTED GAELIC POET, AND THE SUPREME GAELIC PREACHER OF HIS TIME, HIS ZEAL IN PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL THROUGHOUT THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS EARNED HIM THE TITLE: ‘’THE APOSTLE OF THE NORTH’’.
‘’BHA THU SAOTHRACH FAD DO SHAOGHAIL
A-MEASG CHLANN DAOIN’ A LETH T’FHIR – SAORAIDH .
A’NOCHDADH MACH DHAIBH SEOL NA SAORS’
‘S AN GAOL THUG GIN IS FAS DA.’’
ERECTED BY THE GAELIC SOCIETY OF INVERNESS 1986" <1>

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Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred ND 0631 5609 (9m by 8m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	ND05NE
Civil Parish	REAY
Geographical Area	CAITHNESS

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