AWARD-WINNING Gaelic poet and songwriter Aonghas MacNeacail has died aged 80.
MacNeacail, who was also known as Aonghas Dubh or Black Angus, was a leading voice in Gaelic poetry, helping to promote and preserve the language for future generations.
Born in Uig on the Isle of Skye in 1942, he lived in the Scottish Borders for many years with his wife, the actor and singer Gerda Stevenson.
He was introduced to contemporary Gaelic and English poetry by a Langside College teacher in the 1960s.
Many have paid tribute to the poet on social media, including the Saltire Society – an organisation which aims to promote the understanding of Scotland’s culture and heritage.
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A post on Twitter read: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of outstanding Gaelic poet Aonghas Dubh MacNeacail.
“Our thoughts and condolences are with Gerda, the family and Aonghas’ many friends. A true loss to Scottish culture.”
He often held poetry readings at literary festivals across the world with his work being widely translated to appear in magazines and anthologies both in the UK and abroad.
MacNeacail won the prestigious Scottish Writer of the Year Stakis Prize with his third collection, Oideachadh Ceart (A Proper Schooling and other poems) in 1997.
Scottish Poetry Libraries also posted on Twitter. “With great sadness, we hear of the passing of the great Gaelic poet Aonghas Dubh MacNeacail.
With great sadness we hear of the passing of the great Gaelic poet Aonghas Dubh MacNeacail. Our thoughts and condolences go out to Gerda and the family. As a founder of the SPL, and a bright light on Scotland's poetry scene for decades, he'll be hugely missed. RIP pic.twitter.com/w6U83vJvMZ
— Scottish Poetry Library (@ByLeavesWeLive) December 20, 2022
“Our thoughts and condolences go out to Gerda and the family. As a founder of the SPL and a bright light on Scotland’s poetry scene for decades, he’ll be hugely missed. RIP.”
Author and National columnist Lesley Riddoch posted: “Just heard that Aonghas ‘Dubh’ MacNeacail – poet, writer and life companion – died peacefully yesterday.
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“Aonghas was modest, fun and unexpectedly impish for a serious man. He saw Scotland vividly and loved this crazy place. Those gifts of poetry remain.”
As an established songwriter, MacNeacail also collaborated in both folk and classical idioms with some of Scotland’s top composers and visual artists including Phil Cunningham and Ronald Stevenson.
Keen to inspire a love for Gaelic in future generations, he regularly ran writers’ workshops for pupils in schools, colleges and universities.
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