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Alastair Livingstone of Bachuil

Obituary of Alastair Livingstone; Chief of MacLea, Baron of the Bachuil, Coarb of St Moluag; born September 1, 1914; died February 29, 2008.

Alastair Livingstone of Bachuil, who has died aged 93, was chief of Clan MacLea, a charismatic promoter of clan affairs and holder of what was said to be the oldest title in the UK, with origins going back to the sixth-century St Moluag.

The Bachuil - as he is correctly termed - was hereditary abbot and holder of the Bachuil Mor of Moluag, the saint who preached on the island of Lismore in the Firth of Lorne. Julian Calder and Alastair Bruce of Crionaich in their book, The Oldest: A Fascinating List of Britain's Oldest Everything (2004), recorded Bachuil standing on the shore at Port Ramsay, Isle of Lismore, holding the Bachuil Mor staff. The title is so ancient that it is said to be held "by the grace of God".

The somewhat weathered Bachuil is the symbol of authority of St Moluag and in each generation is passed on to a designated successor, or coarb. St Moluag's Bachuil Mor is treated with veneration, for, like the rod of St Patrick of Armagh, the Bachull Isu, the staff of Moluag is said to possess miraculous powers.

Full story at The Herald.