The first Urchudan, by that name, was a Norman adventurer named William de Urchard. By his staunch support of Robert the Bruce in the “Scottish War of Independence”, he earned the right to found clan one hundred and forty-six years ago. He was a descendent of Conachar Mor of the Royal House of Ulster.

I was born in Loch Ness, Scotland in the year of our Lord 1623. My Father was Conachar Urchurdan and my Mother was Kathryn MacKay. I was the first born of three boys and two girls. We were a happy Family that had the good fortune to live in fairly peaceful circumstances in the shadow of the “monster”. It never came out of the water and as long as we never went into the water, all went well. “Nessie” added a deeper element of anxiety and fun, to our learnin to sail. We made bets on whether we could reach another spot on the shore before she “caught” us. We endured many complaints from our scolding Mothers about this game, but none of them really died younger than ought because of it. I comforted my Mam by sharing my secret with her. Nessie was a “spinach breath”…she only ate seaweed. When I saw into her maw, not a speck of flesh did I see! Of course, even if it was there, I woulda na seen it…I was screamin so big.

At the age of sixteen, the call of new adventure reached me. With my Father’s blessings and my Mothers tears I left my mysterious home and walked south to Oban. From there I signed on a trading boat and left it in warring Ireland. Much more dangerous than ol Nessie, I’ll tell you. If the plague didn’t get you, a fuedin sword would. After one wee raid on Dublin, I was ready to leave this kind of thing behind. It was back to the sea for me and I was lucky to fall in with an Irish group that was leavin with Captain Ortega. I signed on to help with the sailin and ended up here at North Island. On the long journey I became friends with Joseph and Father Donovan. Though I really wasn’t much of a warrior, I still hungered for adventure and enjoyed stories of it. Father Donovan had wonderful stories of the Bible and good tales of the Saints. This made the grueling voyage tolerable. I made it here to North Island in fairly good condition. It is a fresh land that vibrates with fresh adventure.

I mean well, speak well and do well. Getting thought to “paprus” and keepin a sailin vessel trim are ancient Urchurdan clan arts that entered me at birth. If I can do both till I die, I will have considered my life well lived. I am honored to be the voice of Father Donovan.

Shane Urchurdan