After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal Episode: Glencoe Massacre: Haunted Highlands
Release Date: February 20, 2025
Hosts: Anthony Delaney & Maddy Pelling
Guest: Dr. Alan Kennedy, Historian, University of Dundee

Introduction to the Glencoe Massacre

In this gripping episode, hosts Anthony Delaney and Maddy Pelling delve into one of Scotland’s darkest historical events: the Glencoe Massacre. Concluding a two-part series, the episode explores the harrowing details of the massacre, its complex causes, and its enduring legacy. Joining them is Dr. Alan Kennedy, a historian specializing in 17th-century Scotland, who provides expert insights into this tragic event.

The Night of the Massacre: Events Unfolded

Dr. Alan Kennedy paints a vivid picture of the massacre that transpired on February 13, 1692. The operation began at 5:00 AM when approximately 120 troops, led by Captain Glenlyon, were ordered to eliminate the MacDonald clan members in Glen Coe.

Dr. Alan Kennedy [04:43]: "At 5 o'clock, the troops under the command of Campbell of Glenlyon, there's about 120 of them, muster and then immediately fan out throughout the settlements through Glen Coe with the simple instruction to kill everybody that they can find."

Over the next few hours, the troops brutally attacked the MacDonald homes, employing various methods such as shootings, bludgeoning, and bayoneting. By midday, around 40 MacDonalds had perished, and the majority had fled the glen, leaving Glencoe desolate and smoldering.

Orders and Intent: Understanding the Motives

The massacre was not a spontaneous act of violence but the culmination of calculated orders aimed at suppressing Jacobite rebellion. Maddy Pelling references the chilling specificity of these orders:

Anthony Delaney [07:09]: "You are hereby ordered to fall upon the rebels, the MacDonalds of Glencoe, and put all to the sword under 70... This you are to put in execution at five o'clock precisely."

Dr. Kennedy explains that these orders were part of William of Orange’s strategy to reassert control over Scotland post the first Jacobite rising. The MacDonalds were singled out due to their perceived disloyalty and failure to promptly swear allegiance to King William.

Dr. Alan Kennedy [07:09]: "William issues orders in January of 1692 to treat the MacDonalds with the utmost severity... John Dalrymple, Master of Stair, is often held responsible for hardening these orders into the explicit instructions for massacre."

Responsibility and Blame: Who Orchestrated the Massacre?

The episode delves into the murky waters of responsibility, highlighting key figures who may have influenced the massacre. While King William set the tone for harsh measures against rebels, John Dalrymple, Master of Stair, is frequently identified as the principal architect behind the massacre's execution.

Dr. Alan Kennedy [10:12]: "The suggestion of most historians is that if there is somebody who is to blame, it's probably the Master of Stair for manipulating the situation to ensure that the massacre takes place."

Military Efficiency vs. Chaotic Brutality

A discussion ensues about whether the massacre was a coordinated military operation or a chaotic bloodbath. Dr. Kennedy acknowledges both perspectives:

Dr. Alan Kennedy [11:03]: "From one perspective, it is efficient in that there doesn't seem to be much evidence of resistance... But from another perspective, it's deeply inefficient because... the vast majority of the MacDonalds escape."

While the attack was swift and brutal, resulting in significant loss of life within hours, the overwhelming escape of the MacDonalds indicates a lack of comprehensive execution.

Highland Identity and Prejudice

The episode explores how the Highland identity of the MacDonalds played a crucial role in their targeting. Dr. Kennedy emphasizes the prevalent prejudices against Highlanders, making such an atrocity conceivable in the Highlands but unlikely against Lowland or English families.

Dr. Alan Kennedy [12:30]: "The stereotypes and prejudices mean that this sort of action is conceivable in the Highlands in a way that I don't think would be conceivable in London, Scotland, or in... civilized Europe."

Clan Campbell and Misattributed Feuds

A persistent myth is examined: the idea that clan feuds, particularly involving Clan Campbell, were primary drivers of the massacre. Dr. Kennedy dispels this notion, clarifying that while Campbells were involved as part of the troops, the massacre was a government-led initiative rather than a clan vendetta.

Dr. Alan Kennedy [16:31]: "It's not credible to see this as part of an ongoing feud between the MacDonalds and the Campbells. It's much more useful to see it within the context of a Scottish government which has a long track record of being suspicious of Highlanders."

Romanticization and the Noble Savage Narrative

The hosts discuss how the Glencoe Massacre was later romanticized, especially in the 19th century, contributing to the "noble savage" trope associated with Highlanders. This narrative shift was significantly influenced by literary figures like Walter Scott, who reimagined the Highlands as areas of noble but oppressed people.

Dr. Alan Kennedy [18:57]: "Walter Scott comes along and he kind of really beefs up this narrative... it provides some very useful raw material which can go into that retrofitting of Highlanders reputation."

Oral Histories: Personal Narratives from Glencoe

The episode features poignant oral histories passed down through generations of the MacDonald clan. Lucy Dugan shares stories from her great-great-grandmother, illustrating both acts of resistance and compassion amidst the brutality.

One such narrative recounts a soldier's attempt to warn the MacDonalds:

Lucy Dugan [22:02]: "The first story that she told was about a soldier who gave a warning to a stone in the glen, hoping to be overheard... Hearing this, the MacDonald knew that he was being given a warning, and with his family, he escaped."

Another tale describes a soldier's moral dilemma leading him to spare a woman and her child by killing her dog instead:

Lucy Dugan [22:02]: "The soldier can't bring himself to kill this poor woman and child. So instead he takes the sword and he sticks it into the dog... the woman and her child have been saved."

Supernatural Echoes and Cultural Memory

The intertwining of the massacre with Gaelic folklore adds a supernatural dimension to its memory. Lucy Dugan shares legends of ominous apparitions and eerie phenomena linked to the massacre, blending historical trauma with myth.

Lucy Dugan [30:13]: "Ben Nia is the washerwoman in Gaelic culture... If you see the Benia, it's an omen of death."

Such stories serve as cultural mechanisms to process and remember the collective trauma of the massacre.

Legacy: Political and Cultural Repercussions

Dr. Kennedy discusses the immediate and long-term legacy of the Glencoe Massacre. Politically, it damaged King William's reputation in Scotland, contributing to his unpopularity and the eventual parliamentary inquiry that condemned the massacre as illegal.

Dr. Alan Kennedy [34:55]: "The massacre undermines William's kingship in the long run... By the time William dies in 1702, he's probably the most unpopular king Scotland has ever had."

Culturally, the massacre became a foundational myth in the romanticization of the Highlands, influencing perceptions and policies towards Highlanders in subsequent centuries.

Emotional Resonance and Storytelling

The episode concludes by reflecting on the emotional impact of the massacre and its storytelling. Dr. Kennedy acknowledges the deep personal connections historians can feel when engaging with such traumatic histories.

Dr. Alan Kennedy [38:55]: "Historians are people. We are human beings with human emotions... you invest a landscape from your perspective with significance and you respond to that."

Conclusion

Glencoe Massacre: Haunted Highlands masterfully interweaves historical analysis with personal narratives and cultural lore to present a comprehensive and emotionally resonant account of the tragedy. Through expert discussions and heartfelt stories, the episode not only sheds light on the brutal realities of the massacre but also explores its lasting impact on Scottish history and memory.

Notable Quotes:

• Dr. Alan Kennedy [07:09]: "The suggestion of most historians is that if there is somebody who is to blame, it's probably the Master of Stair for manipulating the situation to ensure that the massacre takes place."

• Lucy Dugan [22:02]: "The soldier can't bring himself to kill this poor woman and child. So instead he takes the sword and he sticks it into the dog... the woman and her child have been saved."

• Dr. Alan Kennedy [12:30]: "The stereotypes and prejudices mean that this sort of action is conceivable in the Highlands in a way that I don't think would be conceivable in London, Scotland, or in... civilized Europe."

This detailed exploration of the Glencoe Massacre offers listeners a nuanced understanding of the event's complexities, its profound human cost, and its enduring place in Scotland's historical and cultural landscape.