Maggie MacDonald
I WAS one of many people in Glasgow last week who heard with profound sadness of the passing of Maggie MacDonald, a fine Gaelic singer and winner of the An Comunn Gaidhealach Mòd Gold Medal in 1994.
The unique richness and warmth of Maggie’s voice reflected her character.
She was, as is evident from the tributes to her flooding in on Facebook, a deeply warm and affectionate person whose smile would infect any company.
Maggie was born in Glasgow, but belonged to the famous Campbells of Greepe – with whom she recorded two albums and contributed to the biography Fonn.
She was a member of the Glasgow Skye Association and had recently sung at its 150th anniversary tour of Skye in April.
At the age of 17, she sang in Glasgow Islay Gaelic Choir. So, although living in Inverness, she was a treasured part of the Glasgow community.
I never managed to spend a great deal of time in Maggie’s company, but she was someone whom one felt one knew very well after only the briefest of blethers.
In any discourse I ever had with her, at mòds or at cèilidhs, I always found her to be friendly and good craic with a matchless zest for life.
When I was a youngster, one of my most listened to albums was by Cliar, the band in which Maggie sang alongside Arthur Cormack, Ingrid Henderson, Bruce MacGregor, Blair Douglas, Chaz Stewart and her cousin Mary Ann Kennedy.
On this album, Maggie’s rendition of Gràdh an Tig Thu is stunning.
My thoughts are with her husband John, her children Shona and Fraser and her grandchildren.
With Maggie MacDonald’s passing, the Gàidhealtachd has lost one of its most talented performers and loveliest people.