ANSELAN O'KYAN - ANSELAN THE FAIR (progenitor of my Clan - Buchanan) 

     This interesting little story is about the first of the Clan Buchanan.  It is a tale which (not surprisingly) does not take place in Scotland, but over the sea in the ancient Kingdom of Ulster (Northern Ireland).  It is taken from a booklet about the Clan.

     Anselan O'Kyan, called the Fair, son of  O'Kyan, Ri of South Ulster, was the immediate ancestor, according to Irish & family annalists, of the race of Buchanan.  There may be little faith to be put in such accounts at this day, but these so far confirmed by the Gaelic name (MacAuselan), and, besides, where is the better authority to be found?"

     The following account of the feats of the first Buchanan who left Ireland, is certainly most suspiciously like the story of Pelopidas the Theban, but it may be true, nevertheless:

     Canute the Dane ruled & reigned in England, and also held part of Ireland, the time being the eleventh century.  To celebrate the Royal birthday, Turgesius, the Danish General, sent orders to all the Danish officers to repair to Limerick, being their principal garrison & his residence, to assist at the solemnity, fearing nothing that the Irish would or could do in such low circumstances.  The General at the same time sent ordrs to the Irish Nobility & Gentry to send to Limerick, against the King's birthday, a thousand, or as others say, two thousand of the most beautiful of their daughters, to dally with the Danish officers at that festival.  Of this the Irish Ri getting intelligence, resolved to send the desired number of the most clear complexioned youths that could be found, clothed in women's habit, with long Irish Skeins or daggers, below their clothes, with orders that as so soon as they went to bed with their several lovers, being generally drunk on such occasions, they should stab them with these concealed daggers, and afterwards seize their guard house, where their arms were laid by, and if the matter succeeded, to give a signal by kindling a large fire against the town wall; the Irish Ri, with a small party, being hidden in a nearby wood, in expectation of the event.  Anselan O'Kyan, the Ri's son, was the leader of this daring band.

     These Irish Viragoes executed their orders in the utmost, and, having given the concerted signal to the Ri, introduced him & his party to the town, who, without mercy or resistance, killed all the Danes in the garrison, being destitute of sense, officers, and arms, reserving their General, Turgesius, for further punishment, which was inflicted on him by drowning, which then, and as yet, is reputed the most ignomious death among the Irish.  Most of all the other Danes throughout the Kingdom were shortly afterwards vanquished.

     Now, Canute sent a strong force to punish all those concerned in this action, and thus, for his safety, the Prince & his attendants fled to Alba.  Now, at that time Malcolm II was Ard Righ in Alba & the Ulster Prince (other given versions of his name are Anselm or Absalon) was employed by him to act with his followers against the Norsemen of the Western coasts.  For his good services he was rewarded with lands of considerable value in the Levenax (better known as the Lennox), the tract of country watered by the river Leven, on which stream Loch Lomond forms, as it were a large & deep pool."