Biography

Donald MacDonald, Dòmhnall mac Dhòmhnaill Ruaidh, was from South Boisdale in South Uist. He had land where number 363 is today, but he moved to Bornish to do the kelp work. Donald was married to Margaret, a daughter of Ewan Morrison, Eòghainn Tàilleir, and they lived and raised a family at number 13 Bornish.

In the song Òran na h-Ìmprig, Donald expresses his unhappiness with the move to Bornish.

Man tog mi mo thaighean suas
Air cnocan fuar am Bòrnais;
Man tog mi m' àtha 's sabhal ma cheann
'S mas buain mi ann a' mhòine.


Even the dog was unhappy:

Nuair a chunnaic e 'n t-àite bh' ann
Nach robh na taighean air cheann
Thug e osna air gu teann
'S gun mhall e air an Ròdha.


Donald wrote the song Fàgail Bhòrnais in 1923, when a great number of people left South Uist to go to Alberta. Among them were Alan MacDonald and Donald 'Mòr' MacPherson from Bornish. He wrote the song from Alan Johnson's perspective, and a piece of land in Bornish is still known as Alan Johnson's croft.

Alasdair MacDonald, Dallas, son of Donald 'Ruadh', wrote the song Machair Bhòrnais.

We're grateful to Ritchie, son of Iagan Dhòmhnaill 'ic Dhòmhnaill Ruaidh for this information.

List of compositions

Fàgail Bhòrnais