05/06/2026
Catherine Gillies will be speaking about โThe comparison of the three turreted brooches, the silver analysis and theories about the making of the broochesโ at the Brooch of Lorn study day. Catherine trained as an art historian with a particular focus on buildings and material culture, before diverting to a career as a journalist for press and BBC Radio for many years. A chance meeting with the noted social history collector Hope MacDougall in Oban reignited her passion for material culture and led to a 30 year association with the MacDougalls of Dunollie and their collections. She became a Trustee then project director of the Hope MacDougall Collection, and began to advise the Dunollie Preservation Trust, working initially on the Brooch of Lorn before expanding focus to the whole private collection. She was tasked with leading the opening of Dunollie Museum, castle and grounds to the public in 2011. She has also worked extensively as a heritage consultant specialising in independent museums and heritage sites throughout Scotland. She founded the Scottish Community Heritage Alliance in 2020. She retired from formal consultancy late last year, focussing instead on passion heritage projects and a squad of small grandchildren.
Book your place for the Brooch of Lorn study day at https://argyllestatesarchives.org/shop
