Biography

Katie Morrison, Ceitidh Dhòmhnaill Dhonnchaidh, was born in Malacleit, North Uist, on the 26th of May 1946. Her mother was Kirsty Anna MacKinnon, Ciorstaidh Anna Aonghais Uilleim, from Malacleit. She attended Dunskellar Primary School, Bayhead School, and Inverness Royal Academy. After leaving school, she went to work at a branch of the Post Office in George Square in central Glasgow, working in accounts.

In 1967, Katie married Sam Morrison from Leverburgh, Harris, and they had three children — a daughter and two sons. When the children reached school age, Katie went to the University of Glasgow, where she studied English, Scottish History, Gaelic, Celtic Studies, Education, and Philosophy. After graduating, she attended Jordanhill College, where she gained teaching qualifications for both primary and secondary education in English and Gaelic. She got work as a primary-school teacher, and continued in that role, beginning in Shawlands, then spending a year in the Gorbals, and finally teaching for eighteen years in Drumoyne, working with senior primary pupils. In 2005, four years after retiring, they moved to Wanlockhead in South Lanarkshire in order to be close to their daughter.

For many years Katie was involved in radio and television programmes, particularly writing songs for children’s programmes. She would also write poetry and won the poetry prize at the Royal National Mòd in Lochaber in 1985. Along with Kenna Campbell [1830], she wrote Cadal Cuain, which was selected to represent Scotland in the new song competition at the Pan-Celtic Festival in Killarney. This is also the song that gave its name to Catriona Watt’s [9611] album. Her niece, Donna Murray [9759], daughter of her sister Chrissie, won the Gold Medal for traditional singing at the Mòd in 2001.

List of compositions

Cadal Cuain (translation)