13th December 2024
BBC ALBA on Balnagown
Balnagown was delighted to welcome Caledonia TV for BBC ALBA onto the estate earlier this summer as they explored the story of the person President Roosevelt described as the ‘most influential cattleman in America’, Ross-shire man Murdo Mackenzie.
The documentary for Scotland’s Gaelic language channel, BBC Alba, focuses on 19th-century America and the Scottish influence on the cowboy culture of the time.
Presented by TV personality and crofter Donald ‘Sweeny’ MacSween the program follows the stories of Scots who swapped their ‘heilan’ coos’ for American Longhorns and irrevocably help to shape a nation.
One of the main characters of the time was Murdo Mackenzie, head of the American Matador Land and Cattle Company; who managed what is thought to have been one of the largest cattle ranches in the world. Mackenzie was born on the estate near Edderton and worked in the local bank until he was persuaded to join the team at Balnagown as the Assistant Factor (estate manager). It was here at Balnagown that his journey with cattle really began.
Caledonia TV had their run of the estate filming outside the castle, the fine and rather stoic Steadings, Rhives Farm with its outstanding views, and of course, the ruined farmstead of Rhamore at Rheguile, Edderton where he was born and where the Mackenzie’s had lived for many years.
The programme will air on the 30th December at 9pm. While BBC Alba is a Gaelic language channel subtitles are available for those interested in the subject matter but perhaps not fluent in the ‘old’ language.
Although we at Balnagown had no say in the editing, we do hope that some shots of the beautiful estate will avoid the cutting room floor and make it onto the screen. For Mackenzies, Rosses and friends of the estate, this is a ‘must see’.
Caledonia TV are a home-grown production company started in 1992 making quality factual productions in a wide range of genres for television and multi-media platforms.
