Ranald MacDonald of Smerby [SEP] mother
Ranald MacDonald of Smerby
Ranald MacDonald of Smerby, also known as Ranald MacJames () was a son of James MacDonald, 6th of Dunnyveg and Agnes Campbell, daughter of Colin Campbell, 3rd Earl of Argyll. He was granted Smerby Castle from his father. He was a hostage for the good behaviour of his family together with his nephew James held by Sir Lachlan Mor Maclean. He was in charge of the garrison of troops within Loch Gorm Castle and surrendered the castle to Sir John Campbell of Cawdor on 28 January 1615
islands and, following the 1399 marriage of Irish heiress Margery Byset into the family, in County Antrim, north-eastern Ireland. Alasdair's mother Mary, according to some traditions, was a daughter of Campbell of Auchinbreck, but has also been suggested to be one of the O'Cahans of Dunseverick, a daughter of Macdonald of Sanda, a daughter of Macneil of Barra, or a daughter of Ranald MacDonald of Smerby, the latter being the tradition favoured on Colonsay.
Mac Colla was born into a period in which the