Battle of the Park

[Piper of Rose]

There is a tune called "The Battle of the Park". The battle has also been called "The Battle of Inverness." Does anyone know the history of this battle. My internet searches keep bringing up Coloden but I do not think they are the same battle. The Rose's were supposed involved in this skirmish.

Thanks for any info.

[albe]

i am picking these information from "binneas is boreraig", edited by college of piping, page 67.

"Park is near Strathpeffer, above the river Connon and the battle was between the MacKenzies and the MacDonalds who were decisively beaten at this battle. The battle was about 1490."

[Piper of Rose]

Most thanks!!!

[John Dally]

A wonderful and rare book called THE HISTORY AND STRUCTURE OF CEOL MOR by A.J. Haddow, published in 1982 by his wife after his death, is one of the great sources for the histories of ceol mor tunes.
On page 128, Haddow begins his short article on the Park Piobaireachd #1 and #2 as follows.
"Not every piper who plays one or other of the Park Piobaireachd realises that these are among our earliest tunes, referring to a small battle which yet had profound effects on the history of the Highlands and which marked one of the important stages in the downfall of the Macdonalds of the Isles and the rise of the Mackenzies."
The MacDonalds were joined in their raid on Inverness and the MacKenzie country to the West of Inverness by the Camerons, Clan Chattan, and Hugh Rose of Kilravock. Kenneth MacKenzie routed Alexander of Lochalsh's MacDonald raiders at Park, two miles from Braile on the Conon. Apparently, when the MacDonalds broke and ran, they were chased into the river where many of them drowned. This was in 1490. Alexander tried again in 1497 to push back his neighbors, the MacKenzies and Munros, at the battle of Drumchatt. He was captured and put to death on Oronsay.
Haddow doesn't say whether this tune was made by a MacDonald or a MacKenzie, but it came down to me as a MacKenzie tune. You would want to play it like a battle or victory tune, rather than a dirge. Of course, being a Rose, you may want to play it like a lament.

[Piper of Rose]

The Rose's were a very passive clan. They avoided most conficts. They even chose no sides at Culloden. Although there were most likely Rose's there just not under the Cheif's order's.