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Kenneth Macleod Tradition Bearer of the Isle of Eigg, 1871-1955
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The Road to the Isles Centenary Edition - 2027 |
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This web page is in the very early stages of construction for the Centenary Edition of The Road to the Isles by the Rev Kenneth Macleod of Eigg. This remakable islander was a repository, collector and weaver of Hebridean culture, legends, history, poetry, songs, spiritual teaching stories. His book is to be re-published in facsimilie hardback, paperback and e-Book early in 2027 by Wild Goose Publications of the Iona Community, with a Foreword and scholarly Afterword by Professor Alastair McIntosh, Camille Dressler the Eigg historian, and Dr Iain MacKinnon a cultural scholar of the Isle of Skye. It will be formally launched at The Festival of Kenneth Macleod to be held on his native Isle of Eigg by the island's heritage group, Solas Eige, Thursday 29 April to Sunday 2 May 2027. The scale of what this will offer depends on funding. We hope to meld music, talks and interpretative walks into a 4-day ceilidh. We are chartering the Shearwater from Araisaig to Eigg on the afternoon of 29th, returning on the afternoon of 2nd, both connecting with the Glasgow train. Whilst open to all, we want this event to speak especially to younger folk, those in the first half of adult life, who might be engaged with the arts, scholarship or spiritual life of the West Highlands and Islands. To this end, we have exclusively booked the 22-bed Glebe Barn hostel, mainly younger folks on low incomes who intend to stay for all 3 nights. We hope to keep it below £30 a night, plus the event fee for which a concession rate may be available. There are also free camping options with excellent facilities on the pier, and there are a limited number of up-market accommodation choices on the Eigg website. Booking details, where to buy the book and resource materials related to will gradually appear linked here later in 2026. Our Afterword to the book will explore Kenneth's life, his contributions, his work with Marjory Kennedy-Fraser on the Songs of the Hebrides, a critical appraisal of the scholarly controversies around the 'Celtic Twilight' genre of writing, and the importance that Kenneth Macleod might have today in understanding what it can mean to be a tradition bearers - especially for those working in and opening up layers of meaning in their local communities. The short link for this web page is: tinyurl.com/KM-The-Road
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Kenneth Macleod memorial window featuring St Columba with what appears to be the cross of Brìghde (St Bride or Bridget)in the centre of his cross Iona Abbey, 1965 |
Kenneth Macleod memorial window featuring King David with Celtic cross and harp, Brìghde and her calf, St Colmba in his coracle and St Patrick with his snake as shepherds behold Mary and Jesus Parish Church of Gigha & Cara, 1958 |
