John N. MacLeod | Iain N. MacLeòid (1880, Kilvaxter, Trotternish, Skye –1954) was a Gaelic author, editor, and teacher, originally from Skye who spent most of his life in Lewis.
His teacher in Trotternish was John MacNab | Iain Mac an Aba, a Gaelic scholar and writer who later also contributed to Erskine’s periodicals. He had a strong influence on MacLeod as a writer and a future teacher.
MacLeod edited the collection of Lewis poetry Bàrdachd Leòdhais (1916). His weekly letters to the Stornoway Gazette were published as Litrichean Alasdair Mhòir (1932).
His Rèiteach Mòraig [Morag’s Betrothal] (1911) is the first published original stand-alone Gaelic play. In 1910, it appeared in Erskine’s An Sgeulaiche. In 1916, it was followed by Pòsadh Mòraig [Morag’s Wedding].
Publications in Erskine’s Periodicals
- ‘Òrain Ghàidhlig’ [essay, GD], Volume IV, Issue 1 (Winter 1907)
- ‘Bàrdachd Iain Ghobha’ [essay, GD], Volume IV, Issue 2 (Spring 1907)
- ‘Seann Sgeul – “Lunnainn A Rìs!”’ [folktale, GD], Volume IV, Issue 3 (Summer 1907)
- ‘Seann Sgeul: Mar a Dh’àiticheadh Hiort’ [folktale, GD], Volume V, Issue 1 (Winter 1908)
- ‘Mac Crùislig’ [prose, GD], Volume V, Issue 4 (Autumn 1908)
- ‘Dòmhnall nan Òran (Am Bàrd Sgiathanach)’ [essay, GD], Volume XIV, Issue 4 (Winter 1917) – Volume XV, Issue 1 (Spring 1918)
- ‘Òrain Ghàidhlig’ [essay, GD], Volume XV, Issue 4 (Winter 1918) – Volume XVI, Issue 1 (Spring 1919)
- ‘Dòmhnall Gorm Dhunthuilm’ [prose, GD], Issue 1, Volume I (September 1909)
- ‘Coille Mhòr Stratharragaig’ [prose, GD], Issue 2, Volume II (Summer 1910)
- ‘Ruidhle’: ‘Rèiteach Mòraig’ [play, GD], Issue 3, Volume II (Autumn 1910)
- ‘Uisge Shamhraidh’ [prose, GD], Issue 3, Volume II (Autumn 1910)
- ‘Mòid na Cloinne’ [prose, GD], Volume III, Issue 1 (Spring 1911)
- ‘Dòmhnall Dòmhnallach, Bàrd Bharabhais’ [essay, GD], Issue 1 (8 February 1908)
- ‘Bàrd Leòdhasach: Alasdair M. MacNeacail, Lional, Leòdhas’ [essay, GD], Issue 4 (29 February 1908)
- ‘Suas leis a’ Ghàidhlig’ [essay, GD], Issue 5 (7 March 1908), Issue 7 (21 March 1908), Issue 12 (25 April 1908)
- ‘An Deise Ghàidhealach’ [essay, GD], Issue 10 (11 April 1908)
- ‘Murchadh Smith, Bàrd Liùirboist, Leòdhas’ [essay, GD], Issue 11 (18 April 1908)
- ‘Saobh-chràbhadh Gàidhealach’ [essay, GD], Issue 15 & 16 (16 & 23 May 1908)
- ‘Bàird agus Bàrdachd an Eilein Sgitheanaich’ [article, GD], Issue 23 (11 July 1908) – Issue 24 (18 July 1908)
- ‘Feallsanachd nan Seana Ghàidheal’ [essay, GD], Issue 49 (9 January 1909)
- ‘Uilleam Ros’ [essay, GD], Vol. II (1918)
- ‘“Muinntir a’ Bhaile Againn Fhèin”’ [prose, GD], Vol. IV (1930)
- ‘Ciod a Nì Mise Airson na Gàidhlig?’ [article, GD], Issue 1 (3 January 1920)
- ‘Coinneamh Fheumail’ [article, GD], Issue 2 (10 January 1920)
- ‘Gàidheil Ghlaschu’ [article, GD], Issue 3 (17 January 1920)
Resources
- Michelle MacLeod, Dràma na Gàidhlig: Ceud Bliadhna air an Àrd-Ùrlar | A Century of Gaelic Drama (Glasgow: Association for Scottish Literature, 2021), includes Rèiteach Mòraig in the Gaelic original with English translation and provides commentary on the play
- ‘Feadhainn mun Cuala Sinn: Iain N. MacLeòid,’ Gairm 10 (1954)
- T. M. Murchison, ‘Iain N. MacLeòid (“Alasdair Mòr”),’ Gairm 11 (1955)