Biography

Mary Johnston (née MacNeil), or 'Nì' as she was known to her family, was born in Barra in 1871 and was the daughter of Michael MacNeil of Castlebay and Anne Steele of Boisdale, South Uist.

At the age of around four her mother passed away and she was taken to Uist to live with her mother's sisters, whilst her father worked at sea.

Following her grandfather's death, her father was given an ultimatum: return home to the family croft on Berneray (Barra Head) or it would be handed over to someone else. Michael returned, promptly re-married, and Nì was sent back to live with him and her new stepmother.

Nì met Ronald Johnston from Eriskay who was working in a shop in Castlebay and soon after they eloped to Glasgow. They settled in Eriskay at Haun, where they had eight children together – four girls and four boys – two of whom were killed in the Great War. Recordings of her daughter, Flora MacInnes, are also available on TAD.

The German aristocrat and photographer Werner Kissling took two marvellous photos of Nì during his famous filming trip to Eriskay in 1934.

Nì passed away at her home in Chapel Road, Eriskay, on the 9th of January 1961 aged 89, and is remembered as a kind and friendly woman.