Elizabeth Catherine Carmichael Watson | Ealasaid NicGilleMhìcheil NicBhatair (9 August 1870, Lismore – 30 November 1928, Edinburgh), known as Ella, was a Gaelic scholar and editor. She was involved in the foundation of the Celtic Union and of the Women Students’ Celtic Society. In 1904–1916, she served as editor of the Celtic Review. Her father was the folklore collector Alexander Carmichael (1832–1912), whom she assisted with editing and transcribing material for Carmina Gadelica. Her husband was William John Watson (1865–1948), Professor of Celtic at Edinburgh, and their son James Carmichael Watson (1910–1942) later took on the same post.
Although the initials ‘E. C. Carmichael’ could also indicate Eoghan Kenneth Carmichael (Eoghan Coinneach MacGilleMhìcheil), Ella Carmichael’s brother who was himself involved in Gaelic activities, Erskine makes it clear that the paper on ‘Fèis Connacht’ is the work of ‘Miss Carmichael.’ An edition of Jaffrennou‘s poems, Les Poèmes de Taldir (Paris, 1903), which includes the two translations previously featured in Am Bàrd, mentions ‘Ella C. Carmichael’ as the translator.
Publications in Erskine’s Periodicals
- ‘Fèis Connacht’ [article, ENG], Volume I, Issue IV (October 1901)
- ‘Eadar-theangachadh’: ‘Guthan na h-Oidhche’, ‘An Calman’ [translations of poems by François Jaffrennou] [poetry, GD], Volume I, Issue V (November 1901)
- ‘A Breton Village’ [article, ENG], Volume II, Issue I (June? 1902). Later republished in The Celtic Review VII (1911-12).
Resources
- ‘Portrait of Ella Carmichael,’ The Carmichael Watson Project (13 March 2011)