Six new recipients of Sàr Ghàidheal Award
Six new recipients of the Sàr Ghàidheal Fellowship have been honoured for their outstanding contribution to the Gaelic language and its culture at a special event at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
The six new members of the Sàr Ghàidheal Fellowship are: the late Lachie Gillies and Cathy MacDonald who were named Sàr Ghàidheal in 2020; Donalda MacKinnon and Duncan Ferguson (2021); and Julie Fowlis and Kenneth MacIver (2022).
This year, six people were awarded the Sàr Ghàidheal honour, established in 2008, after the event was postponed for the last three years due to Covid.
The Chair of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig’s Board of Directors, Angus MacLeod, said:
“Sabhal Mòr Ostaig is honoured to be able to recognise the contributions of these six ‘Sàr Ghàidheil’ who have done so much for the language and its culture. We were especially pleased that we could gather in person once more to present the awards.
“Each of the recipients have been exemplary advocates and ambassadors for the language and none more so than the late Lachie Gillies, and we were most grateful that Lachie’s family could be with us to receive his award. Lachie was at the heart of the Gaelic community in Staffin and he is greatly missed by all who knew him.
“Three of those who received the Sàr Ghàidheal award have made outstanding contributions to Gaelic through highly successful careers in broadcasting, which is most appropriate this year as the BBC commemorates 100 years of Gaelic broadcasting. Indeed, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig itself is marking its 50th anniversary and what more fitting way to celebrate it than by recognising the achievements of six champions of the language.”
About our 2020–2022 Sàr Ghàidheil:
Lachie Gillies
Sàr Ghàidheal 2020
Lachie Gillies, from Staffin in the north of Skye, passed away in 2022. Lachie is greatly missed by family and friends and all those who knew him. He frequently appeared on Gaelic radio and television programmes sharing his breadth of knowledge on a range of subjects. He was at the heart of his Gaelic-speaking community of Staffin, as a member of the local church, a crofter and a fisherman, and he had a life-long passion for Gaelic and its culture.
Cathy MacDonald
Sàr Ghàidheal 2020
Cathy MacDonald, originally from Uig in Lewis, is a well-known broadcaster and producer, having worked on a wide variety of Gaelic and English radio and television programmes. Cathy began her career at the BBC’s Gaelic department and now works freelance to produce and present a range of programming. Her latest collaborations include working with Caledonia TV, MacTV, and BBC Gàidhlig and presenting programmes such as Sàr Sgeòil, the Royal National Mòd and BBC ALBA’s New Year Ceilidh. In recent years, Cathy has also presented “Sunday Morning with” on BBC Radio Scotland.
Donalda MacKinnon
Sàr Ghàidheal 2021
Donalda MacKinnon, originally from Harris, has worked in a number of high-profile managerial roles at BBC Scotland and was the Director of BBC Scotland between 2016 and 2020. During her time as Director, she oversaw the successful launch of the new BBC Scotland television channel in 2019, which created over 250 new posts. Donalda also oversaw the successful launch of BBC ALBA in 2008, creating many new jobs and opportunities for the development of the language. She was also Head of Gaelic Broadcasting at BBC Scotland between 1996-2002.
Duncan Ferguson
Sàr Ghàidheal 2021
Duncan Ferguson is from Islay originally, but now stays in Lochalsh where he was the Headteacher at Plockton High School for many years. Duncan has been involved in many Gaelic organisations and initiatives over the years, both at local and national level. He was the Vice-President of the Comunn Gàidhealach and the Vice-Chair of Comunn na Gàidhlig. He was also the first Chair of Bòrd na Gàidhlig, the national Gaelic development body and he was a founding member of Clì, the Gaelic learners’ organisation.
Julie Fowlis
Sàr Ghàidheal 2022
Julie Fowlis, a Sabhal Mòr Ostaig alumna, is one of the best-known traditional singers from Scotland and as a Gaelic singer and musician has been a prominent ambassador for the language. Julie is originally from North Uist and has won international acclaim and several awards for her music. She was named ‘Folk Singer of the Year’ at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2008, and was Scotland’s inaugural ‘Tosgaire na Gàidhlig’ (National Gaelic Ambassador), an honour bestowed on her by the Scottish Government. She has brought Gaelic song to audiences across the globe, singing in places such as Carnegie Hall in New York, the Mozart Concert Hall in Vienna, The Philharmonie de Paris, Shakespeare’s Globe in London and the World Festival of Sacred Music in Fez, Morocco.
Kenneth MacIver
Sàr Ghàidheal 2022
Kenneth MacIver, or Coinneach Mòr as he is best known, is a household name across Gaelic-speaking communities having presented his popular topical radio programme ‘Prògram Choinnich’ for 29 years on BBC Radio nan Gàidheal. Kenneth, from Lewis, began working in broadcasting in the 1970s. He has also taken an active role in his local community and has been a great supporter of Gaelic. He is a former Chair of the Stornoway Trust and Comunn na Gàidhlig, and he was also a Councillor at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.
Below you can watch BBC An Là’s report from the event.
