Catherine MacLeod

Catherine MacLeod (4 September 1914 – 7 May 2000), also known as Kitty MacLeod, and in Gaelic as Kitty NicLeòid, was a Scottish Gaelic singer and school teacher.

Biography MacLeod was born to Scottish parents in Kasuali, India, 4 September 1914. Her mother, Anna MacLeod, was a school teacher, and her father, Kenneth MacLeod was a British soldier serving with the Seaforth Highlanders during the First World War. After Catherine MacLeod was born, her father went "missing in action" and Anna MacLeod moved with her daughter back to the Isle Of Lewis in Scotland, where the young Catherine began her education at the Lionel School. Kenneth MacLeod reappeared two years afterwards, and recovered his faculties when he was brought back to Scotland and reunited with his daughter. Catherine MacLeod learnt Gaelic from her mother, but also from participating in local ceilidh gatherings in which people shared regional folklore. Her community at that time was largely monolingual. She was known for her recordings of An Aitearachd Àrd ("The high swelling of the sea") and Òran Chaluim Sgàire, which she also composed. She also appeared in The Western Isles, the first Scottish color documentary, and with her sister in the film Rob Roy, the Highland Rogue.