Biography

Evan Maccoll, known also as the Bard of Loch Fyne, or Clarsair nam Beann, was born in Kenmore, a small village about five miles from Inverary, in 1808. His father, Dougall Maccoll was from Appin, and was a bard, while his mother, Mary Cameron from Garbh-Choire in Cowall, was known for her knowledge of stories and songs. His family emigrated to Canada in 1831, but he never left with them because he wanted to see his first song book published. When he was about 30 years old, he went to Liverpool where he worked as a clerk at the town’s customs house for 11 years.

Most of his love songs were composed for Jean Campbell, but they never married. She married another man and he himself was married twice. But he did not only compose love songs; he also composed satirical and praise songs and laments. Although his poetry was well-liked, it is said that the people of Inverary had little respect for him or his work. He mocked them in the poem Aoir Slochd a' Chùbair. He spent the second half of his life in Canada. He worked for many years in the customs service in the town of Kingston and died in Toronto at the age of 90 in 1898.

Some of Evan's songs, such as Taobh Abhainn Aora, Mo Rùn-sa Màili Bhòidheach, Fòghnan na h-Alba and A' Chaileag Shuaineartach are still quite often heard. There is a memorial cairn for him in Kenmore which bears the words:

Mairidh ainm 's a dhuan
Cho fad 's is buan ar ceòl.

List of compositions

Fòghnan Na h-Alba
Nighean Donn na Mala Crom
Ròsan an Leth-bhaile