Màiri Mhòr: Na h-orain'sa Beatha

From the collection of

Scotland’s national collection of moving image is based at the National Library at Kelvin Hall, Glasgow. The National Library of Scotland collects, preserves and promotes access to films capturing Scotland and her people, from the early days of film making to the present day, with over 48,000 items captured on film, videotape and digitally. Manuscript, printed material and memorabilia relating to the history of filmmaking and the cinema going business in Scotland since 1896 are also part of the collection. You can watch over 3,500 clips and full-length films on the Moving Image Archive catalogue or to explore even more of the collections visit Kelvin Hall.

Màiri Mhòr: Na h-orain'sa Beatha

National Library of Scotland
Kyle of Lochalsh/Caol Loch Ailse
1994
Sound

A powerful tribute to Skye's 19th century warrior poet Mary McPherson, 'Big Mary of the Songs'.

A drama-documentary, written by John McGrath, recounting the life story of songwriter Màiri Mhòr nan Òran (Mary MacPherson). After being wrongly imprisoned in 1820 for stealing, she took to composing some of the most evocative and enduring music in Gaelic.

Shot on Skye and featuring the unmistakeable voice of Catriona-Anna Nic a' Phi (Catherine-Ann MacPhee), the film documents Mairi Mhor's passionate resistance to the displacement of Scottish communities during the Highland Clearances through songs that remain resonant to this day. A commemorative flagstone to Màiri was unveiled at Makars' Court, Edinburgh in 2022.

John McGrath was a playwright and television director, producer and screenwriter. As a writer, his best-known work is The Cheviot, the Stag, and the Black Black Oil, a formally and politically bold account of the Highland Clearances. Originally produced for the stage by his 7:84 Theatre Company, it was adapted for television in 1974 as part of the BBC's Play for Today strand.

Gaelic Television

"Gaelic for everyone, wherever you are." Explore Scotland's Gaelic Television programmes, from news to soap opera, first broadcast in the 1990s.

This collection showcases the variety of television programmes in Gàidhlig preserved by the National Library of Scotland on videotape. From magazines and current affairs debating the important events of the day to regular news broadcasts and Hogmanay Hoolies - you'll get to see 1990s Britain from a different perspective. The collection is diverse and surprising: alongside language learning programmes you'll discover Country and Western music, historical drama, wildlife and religion! The main Gaelic speaking audiences in Scotland live in the Western Isles, Highlands and the big Scottish cities. Programmes were often transmitted with English subtitles so they could be enjoyed nationwide. Made by independent production companies as well as Grampian TV, Scottish TV and BBC Scotland, the sector is ambitious and creative. The Broadcasting Act (1990) kickstarted the creation of the Comataidh Telebhisein Gàidhlig (Gaelic Television Committee) that first funded and developed production. Today, MG Alba as it is now known delivers all BBC Alba content digitally in partnership with the BBC. BBC Alba is a free-to-air public broadcast television channel jointly owned by BBC and MG Alba (with similarities to S4C in Wales or TG4 in Ireland) Let's watch some Gaelic TV! Bi tapaidh!

14 videos in this collection

Cèilidh nan Gaidheal

Inverness
1993-12-31

Telefios na Seachdainn

Outer Hebrides
1994-03-26

Machair

Isle of Lewis/Eilean Leodhais
1993-06-01

Tuath Cheòl

Govan
1994

Isle of Skye

Isle of Skye
1993-01-09

An Giuthsach - Fo Sgail a'Ghiuthais Albannaich

Grampian Mountains
1997

Dealbhan Beò

Haymarket Sta
1994

Seirbheis bho Eaglais na h-Alba an t-ath Leathann an t-Eilean Sgitheanach

Isle of Skye
1993

Caraidean

Kelvinside
1995

Calum a' Charamel

Isle of Skye
1995