Catrìona NicGumaraid

Catriona NicGumaraid (22 March 1947 – 5 January 2024) was a Scottish Gaelic-language poet.

Biography

Catriona NicGumaraid (Montgomery) was born at Roag near Dunvegan. She was educated on Skye and at the University of Glasgow, where she studied Celtic and Scottish history. She then attended Jordan Hill College to qualify as a secondary teacher. She began to write poetry both in Gaelic and English in the 1970s, and published her first collection of poems in 1974.

Career

Teaching

After graduating, NicGumaraid taught Gaelic and Modern Studies at Penilee High School in Glasgow.

In 1973, she became the first scribe at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig in Sleight.

Writing

NicGumaraid first published her poetry in 1970, in the magazine Gairm.

Her poetry explored themes of love, family, religion, and land. She cited Somhairle McLean as one of her influences. In 2003, An Common Gàidhealach conferred on NicGumaraid the hundredth Bardic Crown.

Acting

In the late 1970s, she appeared in the show Can Seo. Through the 1980s, she also appeared in other Scottish Gaelic programs.

Personal life and death

NicGumaraid was married and had two children. She died on 5 January 2024, at the age of 75.

Selected poems

• 'Cearcall mun Ghealaich'
• 'Urnaigh na Ban-Tigrich'
• 'A' Chraobh'
• 'Gun Stiùir'

Publications

• A' Choille Chiar (1973) - còmhla ri a piuthar, Mòrag NicGumaraid
• An Aghaidh na Sìorraidheachd: Ochdnar Bhàrd Gàidhlig (1991) - co-chruinneachadh nua-bhàrdachd Ghàidhlig
• Rè na h-Oidhche (1994)

Editoral work

• NicGumaraid, Catrìona (deas.) 1980. Òrain Aonghais agus an Sgiobair: Òrain le Aonghas Fleidsear agus Iain MacNeacail (Dundéagh [Dùn Dè]: Catriona NicGumaraid)

External links

• Scottish Poetry Library: Catrìona NicGumaraid