The Clans
Clan MacNab
Clan MacNab are descended from Abaruadh, Abbot of Glendochart and Strathearn, who was the youngest son of King Kenneth of Scotland.
Abaruadh was known as the "red abbot" and the name MacNab means "child of the abbot".
The Clan MacNab made an enemy of the Clan MacNeish and their clan crest shows the severed head of the MacNeish Clan chieftan. Their clan motto is "Timor Omnis Abesto" which means "let fear be far from all".
Clan MacNeish
Loch Earn Castle was the seat of Clan MacNeish, to the south of the MacNab lands.
Less powerful than the MacNabs, they indulged in raiding and pilliging, before being driven back to their island stronghold.
The MacNabs all but extinguished the Clan MacNeish in 1612, following a daring surprise assault over mountain and water led by "smooth" Iain MacNab.
The opera, "The Nicht's the Nicht!" tells the true story of the feud between these two Perthshire clans, and weaves a fantastical narrative involving supernatural elements to create its musical tale.