Catrìona NicGumaraid

Catrìona NicGumaraid was a Scottish Gaelic poet.

Biography

Catrìona NicGumaraid was born at Roag near Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye. She was educated on Skye and at the University of Glasgow, where she studied Celtic and Scottish history. She then attended Jordanhill College to qualify as a secondary teacher. She began to write poetry both in Gaelic and English in the 1970s, and published her first collection of poems in 1974.

Career

Teaching

After graduating, NicGumaraid taught Gaelic and Modern Studies at Penilee Secondary School in Glasgow. Later in her career she taught in Dundee.
In 1973, she became the first writer in residence at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on Skye.

Writing

NicGumaraid first published her poetry in 1970, in the magazine Gairm.
Her poetry explored themes of love, family, religion, and land. She cited Sorley MacLean as one of her influences. In 2003, An Comunn Gàidhealach awarded NicGumaraid the hundredth Bardic Crown.

Acting

In the late 1970s, she appeared in the TV series Can Seo. Through the 1980s, she also appeared in other Scottish Gaelic programs.

Personal life and death

NicGumaraid was married to Thomas McLaughlin and had two children. She died on 5 January 2024, at the age of 76.

Selected poems

Publications

A' Choille Chiar Glasgow: Clò-Beag – published with her sister, Mòrag NicGumaraidRè na h-Oidhche Edinburgh: CanongateÀilleagan am Measg nam Flùr Glasgow: Comhairle nan Leabhraichean
;AnthologiesAn Aghaidh na Sìorraidheachd: Ochdnar Bhàrd Gàidhlig Edinburgh: Polygon – edited by Christopher WhyteAn Tuil: Anthology of 20th Century Scottish Gaelic Verse Edinburgh: Polygon – edited by Ronald Black
;Editorial workÒrain Aonghais agus an Sgiobair – the songs of Aonghas Fleidsear and Iain MacNeacail. Dundee: Catrìona NicGumaraid