Biography

Alexander MacDonald, born in 1823, was the eldest son of the famous poet Allan the Ridge MacDonald and Catriona MacPherson. When he was around twenty-four years old, he left Mabou to live in South River, Antigonish in Nova Scotia.

He composed many songs in praise of his homeland. Chì Mi Bhuam was composed while looking from Cape George across the Northumberland strait to his old home in Mabou:

'S e na thug mi dhith de m' rùn
Rinn mo dhùsgadh gu dàn,
'S gu bheil m' fharmad ris gach gnùis
Tha mu bhruaichibh a' tàmh.

Gu bheil togradh ann am inntinn
Bhith leibh mar a bha,
Ged tha fios agam 's cinnt
Ribh nach till mi gu bràth.

In the book of Allan the Ridge's poetry, As a' Bhràighe (University of Cape Breton Press, 2004), edited by Effie Rankin [2465], it is said that his son Alexander was a man of many talents. He was a carpenter, but he was also a poet, singer and fiddler.

His father passed much of his knowledge on to him, and he often wrote to local papers such as MacTalla and the Casket. He also sent information to Keith Norman MacDonald which he used in his two books The Gesto Collection (1895) and The MacDonald Bards (1900).

List of compositions

Moladh Mhàbou