Murdo MacFarlane

[close] Murdo MacFarlane (1901 - 1982) known as Bàrd Mhealboist (the Melbost Bard) was a published poet, songwriter and campaigner for Scottish Gaelic, especially during the 1970s, when the Ceartas movement was gaining strength.

Born and brought up in Melbost, Isle of Lewis, he was taught Latin, English and French but received no education in Gaelic, his mother tongue. He spent some time working for Lord Leverhulme on various schemes but eventually left to travel to North America in the 1920s and spent many years in Manitoba but did not like the place. In 1932 he returned to Scotland and went on to national service in World War II during the years 1942-1945. Following the end of the war he spent the rest of his life in Lewis. He campaigned against the enlargement of Stornoway Airport into a NATO base in the 1970s. He is the subject of a BBC documentary Murchadh MacPharlain; Bard Mhealaboist (2001).

In the 1970s, with the Gaelic Resurgence, MacFarlane wrote many poems, songs and pipe tunes for the cause, such as Cànan nan Gàidheal, Òran Cogaidh, Màl na Mara, and Mi le m' Uillin air Mo Ghlùin. In 1974, MacFarlane wrote the song Cànan nan Gàidheal ("Language of the Gaels") which criticized the tendency of Gaels to switch to English. The song has been recorded by Dick Gaughan, Catherine-Ann MacPhee, Karen Matheson, Tannas, Dan ar Braz, Gaelic Women, and Tide Lines. An Irish-language version, Teangaidh or Teanga na nGael, has been recorded by the Irish group Cór Thaobh a' Leithid, and by the singer/songwriter Gráinne Holland. An instrumental version was recorded by Scottish fiddler Duncan Chisholm.