Biography

Eilidh MacKenzie was born in Golspie in 1967, and her family moved to Lewis when she was four years old.

Her father, Ruairidh MacKenzie, better known as Rod, mac Dhòmhnaill a' Phuist, was from Clashnessie in Stoer, near Lochinver. Her mother, Kitty Alice MacKenzie, was from Culkein in Stoer.

Eilidh attended Back School and the Nicolson Institute in Stornoway before going on to Glasgow University. She graduated in 1989 with honours in Celtic Studies and Music and then received a scholarship to study for a year at St Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia. After returning from Canada, she spent a further year studying Gaelic Music at Glasgow University.

Eilidh began singing as a child. Her father often sang to her and her sisters, especially in the car. Eilidh learned many songs from him but she was also strongly influenced by her uncle Kenny, his wife Marlene, and Marlene's sister Joan, who lived in Lochinver and whom they would often visit. There was always a ceilidh, and all three were fine singers, especially in harmony, performing both Gaelic and American songs.

Eilidh won the Gold Medal at the Stirling Mòd in 1987 and, throughout her life, she has sung in choirs, including Back Youth Choir, North Lochs Choir, Back Choir, and the Glasgow Gaelic Choir.

For many years she ran song workshops for children and adults and in 2005 produced and co-wrote the first Gaelic musical, Taigh Màiri Anndra. She has led YMI classes and song groups throughout her career, the Fèis na h-Òige teenage group Canntaireachd and Highland Council's region-wide group for secondary pupils, Còisir G, among them

Eilidh currently works as the Fèisgoil Manager at Fèisean nan Gàidheal, with responsibility for the formal education arm of the organisation throughout Scotland.