Biography

Alasdair MacDonald (Alasdair Mòr Chatrìona Ailein Chòcaire) was born in Stoneybridge on 7 August 1929. His mother's family had long been cooks for Clan Ranald of Ormaclete. Alasdair attended school in Stoneybridge and later in Iochdar after the family moved there.

After finishing school, he worked for a short time as a herdsman on the Iochdar machair before being drafted for National Service. In certain circumstances, crofters could obtain a permit to avoid service, and Alasdair Mòr's name was on the list. However, Alasdair had already left for the Service two days before the permit arrived in Uist. When told he had been granted exemption, he said he was content enough to continue.

He spent a few years working in the aluminium factory in Kinlochleven. In 1943, he married Màiri Ailig Aonghais Chuirigh from Ardnamonie, and they had two daughters, Morag and Alina. After marrying, Alasdair worked for many years as a foreman with Mitchells, a company that laid underground water pipes in villages throughout North and South Uist. After a long day on the water scheme, the men who worked with him would tease him with a familiar verse:

Sin sibh fhearaibh, sìos na pìoban,
Biodh iad cam no biodh iad dìreach;
Ma bhios leak annt' a bhios cinnteach,
Cuiridh mi fhìn air dòigh iad!

When the Uist water scheme came to an end, the company wanted him to move to Mull to work on a similar project, but his wife Mary did not want to leave Uist. He then worked for a time in MacDonald's Woollen Mill in Iochdar, as many local men did. While others enjoyed the work, Alasdair knew it wasn't for him. He gave up weaving and worked for the Army, first as a guardsman and later in charge of transport. He remained in this line of work until his retirement.

Alasdair had a lifelong love of song. At home he sang constantly, and his family often heard him singing long after he had gone to bed. Despite this, he was a little shy on stage, though he performed often around Uist. He played the chanter, accordion, and mouth‑organ, and was a member of the Ardkenneth Church Choir.

Alasdair passed away on 4 January 1999.