Biography

Angus MacDonald, known as Aonghas a' Phost Oifis, was born in Tigharry on the 20th of December 1940. His father was Dòmhnall Iain Dhòmhnaill and his mother was Raghnaid a' Ghlìob and both were from Hougharry. He had three sisters, Sìneag, Agnes, and Kirsty, who died aged 13, and one brother, Donald, who died in March 2010.

Angus went to Tigharry Primary School and then to Paible School. Besides working in agriculture all his life, he worked in the post office before taking it over from his mother in 1981. The post office closed in July 2008 after being run by Angus's family for eighty years.

Angus has lived in North Uist all his life and has a great interest in the island and its poetry and songs, and especially in the poetry of Angus MacLellan, Aonghas Lachlainn, his mother's cousin. Angus wrote the tune for Eilean Uibhist mo Rùin, one of Angus Lachlainn's songs, which is still often sung by traditional singers in the area. Julie Fowlis is one of those singers, and Angus was among those from whom Julie learned her songs. He was a great encouragement when she was beginning her singing career.