YOUR CLAN HERITAGE

"Among the clans of the Western Highlands which appear to be able to claim actual descent from early celtic stock, Clan Lamont may be considered one of the most assured. There is some reason to believe that the Lamont Chiefs were originally a branch of the great house of O'Neil, kings of Ulster in early times. The hand sumounting the old Lamont ulster crest is pointed to as being undoubtedly the "Red hand of Ulster", and the Lamont motto "Nec parcas nec spernas," is also pointed to as indicating the close relationship, while the documents of early times which refer to the Chief as "The Great Lamont of Cowal".

The name Lamont appears to date from the middle of the thirteenth century. In a very early time the Lamonts appear to have possessed the greater part of Cowal, and the ruins of reveral of their strong holds still remain to attest their greatness."

The Lamonts established their chief seats at castles of Toward and Ascog, which they held till thier destruction by the Campbells in the 17th century.

The chiefs eventually took up residence at Ard Lamont, where the last chief to live in Cowal was born in 1845. in 1893, the last of the clan lands were sold and the chiefs later emigrated to Australia.

Include here are images of the Cowal Castle, the Clan Crest and a map of the region on the west coast of Scotland where they settled.

EXTRACT FROM "YOUR CLAN HERITAGE - CLAN LAMONT."