22/07/2026
On 29 June this year, Alexander Irvine of Drum appointed Captain James M. Irvine, previously Seneschal of Drum, as an Honorary Chieftain of the Name & Arms of Irvine of Drum and named Sennachie to the House of Drum, in recognition of his scholarly work as family historian — author of “The Irwin Surname,” his history of the Irvines of Orkney, and his genealogy of Washington Irving, and a stalwart supporter of the Clan Irwin Association’s DNA Project. He now holds the right to wear two eagle feathers in his bonnet.
This poem marks that appointment.
Wirdleet in line order
fedders – feathers
Seneschal – Senior Steward
scrievin – writing
lairnin – learning
myndin – remembering
forrit – forward
lair-steens - headstones
tirrin – digging
foryet – forgot
vrote – wrote
struve – strove
joco – jovial
dowie – downcast
byordinar – extraordinary
kenspeckle – well known
chiel – fellow
een - eyes
fleer - floor
fash – trouble
