In September, a small group of people from Okinawa, Japan, led by Mr Yoshikazu Hara, came to visit the Mary MacDonald monument and to learn more about her. The hymn ‘Morning Has Broken’ is sung regularly in their church, the United Church of Christ in Japan, and they discovered that the original hymn ‘Leanabh an àigh’ (Child in a Manger) was written by Mary MacDonald to the tune ‘Bunessan’.

It was a very successful visit, as they walked out to Shiaba where Mary and her family lived, led by Catherine MacGillivray, a direct descendant of Mary MacDonald. The visitors were also given a live performance of the original Gaelic hymn sung by Nigel Burgess, using a hymn book from St Ernan's Church. Interviews were recorded, and a documentary film will be available for us in December 2027.

Catherine MacGillivray has been very kind to send us the header image above and has supplied the caption as follows:

Mary MacDonald memorial – unveiling late 1950s - The MacGillivray family, direct descendants of Mary MacDonald, in front of the memorial.

Back row from left: Andrew MacFarlane behind his wife Bella MacFarlane (neé Munro, daughter of Sarah Munro), Sarah Munro (neé MacGillivray, great granddaughter of Mary MacDonald). Front row from left: Janet MacGillivray (wife of Neil MacGillivray), Linda MacGillivray (daughter of Neil and Janet MacGillivray, James McGillivray (son of Neil and Janet MacGillivray), Chrissie MacGillivray (great granddaughter of Mary MacDonald), Neil MacGillivray (nephew of Chrissie and great, great grandson of Mary MacDonald). Front row from left: Kenneth MacGillivray and Robert MacGillivray) sons of Neil and Janet MacGillivray).

Image below: Mr Hara and friends in the Ross of Mull Historical Centre