An Comunn Gàidhealach Publications > Gaidheal > Volume 49--51, January 1954--December 1956

A Thi dh’fhosgail an t-suil 6g,
Duin i an nochd an clo a’ bhais,
An clo a’ bhais.
Tha gair a’ chuain,
A nuall ’s a ghair,
Tha gair a’ chuain
An cluais mo ghr&idh,
An cluais mo ghraidh.
A Thi bheartaich an ur-long,
Stiixir i an nochd thar tonn a’ bhais,
Thar tonn a’ bhais.
(Coinneach Mac Ledid.)
Obituaries
Mr. Hector MacDougall
BY the death of Mr. Hector Macdougall on 27th
March, a notable personality* has been lost to
the Gaelic Movement. He and Mr. J . N. Macleod,
happily still with us and still plying a prolific pen,
were the last survivors of a quite remarkable group of
Gaelic writers who flourished from just before to after
the First World War. Angus Henderson, Lachlan
Macbean, John MacCormick, Donald Macphie,
Malcolm Macfarlane, and Angus Robertson were
among that group, all now gone from us.
It was not the possession of high academic qualifi¬
cations that marked out those men; indeed, most of
them had received no formal education beyond the
primary school. They had, however, received some¬
thing much more valuable for their life-work—
something, moreover, which will become rarer and
still rarer and therefore all the more precious—the
enriching and stimulating education of being brought
up in thoroughly Gaelic communities, where ancient
traditions and lore still lived and were cherished.
Hector Macdougall, born in his beloved Isle of Coll
in 1880, came early to Glasgow, and, like so many
other Highlanders, served in the city police force
retiring with the rank of Inspector some twenty-two 'I
years ago.
All his life, and especially in the past quarter- •
century. Hector gave himself with devotion to Gaelic |
writing. To the oral lore amassed in earlier years, he 1
added a considerable store by much reading in many |
fields of knowledge, and the riches of his knowledge I]
and experience he shared with others, turning out |
articles and essays, plays and poems, in steady 11
succession. He had a wonderful store of Gaelic idiom m
and a very considerable vocabulary. His prose style— IS
and he excelled as a prose-writer rather than as a bard -1
—was unmistakably his own.
Hector Macdougall was no recluse, content to sit |l
at home and write. He played an active part in many -1
good causes and served on many committees. The Coll 11
Association (which he founded), Ceilidh nan Gaidheal, i|
Glasgow Gaelic Society, The Gaelic Society of Invert |
ness, The Highland Development League, The Folklore |
Institute of Scotland—these were among the societies 'fl
which held his active interest to the end, while earlier ? :|j
other bodies, now non-existent, such as the Scottish j||
Gaelic Academy, commanded his support.
Of An Comunn Gaidhealach Hector was a strong ffl
supporter, long a member of the Executive Council, ij|
Convener of “ Clann an Fhraoich, ” and as “Athair” 1
of Comunn na h-Oigridh. A Crowned Bard of the fl
National Mod, many times a prize-winner, on three i
occasions the most distinguished competitor in the 1
literary competitions, Hector also did good work as a ;
mod adjudicator.
A severe critic at times, Hector was to those who fl
shared his friendship a kindly and genial man. One j 9
As glad to recall that last year the opportunity was i
taken of making known to him something of the 1
admiration and appreciation of many friends. He was 1
deeply moved by, and very appreciative of, the "I
tangible gifts given him then, and the words of appre- 1
ciation with which they were accompanied.
To his wife and daughters we express our deep J
sympathy.
The Duke of Montrose
THE sixth Duke of Montrose, who died in January, 9
was keenly interested in the Gaelic Movement, I
like his wife, The Duchess, and his son, the new i
Duke (whom we have heard singing in the Gold Medal ( 9
Finals at the National Mod under his name of ‘ ‘Angus ,1
Graham”). The late Duke served Scotland well, J
spoke for Scotland and worthily represented Scotland. 1
Colonel Ian M. Campbell of Airds
COLONEL CAMPBELL died in March. Member of I
a noted Highland family and a distinguished 9
soldier, he shared his wife’s keen and active 1
interest in An Comunn Gaidhealach and was a frequent 1
attender at the National Mods. Mrs. Campbell, of fl
course, was long a member of the Executive of An |
Comunn and Convener of the Art and Industry Com- I
mittee, and she continues as President of the Clarsach J
Society. She and her late husband gifted the ‘‘Lorn ||
Shield,” which is offered for competition by rural I
choirs at the Mod. I
We express our deep sympathy with Mrs. Campbell i|
and the family.
New Books
“ Baird A’ Chomuinn Comh-chruinneachadh de’n
Bhardachd a choisinn an Crun aig a’ Mhod Naiseanta
o’n bhliadhna 1923 gu 1951. Air a dheasachadh le
Lachlann MacFhionghuin. (This collection of winning
bardic compositions is an attractive little volume, and
the price is 7/6.)
“ Coisir A’ Mhoid,” Leabhran V, is now available.
Both books may be ordered from the Secretary.
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