Biography

Ewan MacLeod is from Scalpay, the fourth child of Sandra and Kenny MacLeod. He went to Scalpay Primary School and spent two years in the island's secondary school before going to Sir E. Scott School in Tarbert. He began participating in drama productions and singing at the Mòd while he was at school. He won first prize for traditional singing, age 16 to 18, at the Dunoon Mòd.

He then began fishing in Scalpay and Lewis and it was while among the fishermen that he began to take a renewed interest in his language and culture. Ewan began working for Strathclyde Police at the end of 2005 and was involved in family protection.

He met his wife Kathleen in 2003 and they married the following year. She is the daughter of William Campbell (Willie Teddy) [9570], who composed the song Gad Ionndrainn when his wife sadly passed away. Kathleen was only a young girl then. Ewan and Kathleen now live in Falkirk and have two young daughters, Johanna and Eilidh.

He has sung in Back Choir and, since moving to Falkirk, he has sang in the Cumbernauld Choir. He started the Falkirk Gaelic Forum to bring attention to Gaelic language and heritage among the local people. Ewan won the Gold Medal for traditional singing at the Caithness Mòd in 2010. Morag MacLeod [483], who used to work at the School of Scottish Studies, is related to him and helped him prepare for the competition. He also had help from Mary Anne Dunn of Harris, who teaches Gaelic in the choir.