Dolina MacLennan

Dolina 'Doli' MacLennan (1 January 1938) is a Scottish traditional singer, actor, writer and Gaelic broadcaster. She was a mainstay of the Scottish folk music revival in the 1960s and 70s. She starred in the Gaelic TV series Machair and in the play The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil. Her memoir 'An Island Girl's Journey' was published in 2014. She was inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame in 2016.

Early life and education Dolina MacLennan was born in Marvig on the Isle of Lewis on 1 January 1938 (Ne'er Day in Scots). Her parents were Angus MacLennan and Mary Bell Mackenzie. She was one of seven children. Her brother, Murdo, became a precentor of the Free Church. She attended Planasker School, and later the Nicolson Institute on Stornaway. There she was introduced to Gaelic poems and stories as well as amateur dramatics. One of these sessions was recorded for the BBC Scotland TV show Hootenannie.

Career In 1962, MacLennan performed at the Edinburgh Festival, the first time folk music had featured in the festival. The concert, 'Plain Song and All That Jazz', included Rory and Alex McEwen, the Clancy Brothers, Al Fairweather, George Melly and others. It was televised and broadcast on BBC on 4 September 1962.

MacLennan was the first Gaelic speaker to present the radio programme 12 Noon on BBC Radio Scotland.

Her memoir, 'An Island Girl's Journey', was published in 2014 by Islands Book Trust.

In 2014, MacLennan delivered the Hamish Henderson Lecture at Edinburgh City Chambers, as part of the Carrying Stream Festival, a celebration of Henderson's life and legacy. Her lecture was entitled Hamish, My Big Pal.

She is part of the Metagama, An Atlantic Odyssey ensemble, a stage show premiered in 2023 and since touring around Scotland. It explores the migration of young people from the Isle of Lewis to Canada on board the SS Metagama in 1923, and the impact on those that left and those left behind. A soundtrack of the production was recorded in 2025.

Music 1961 - By Mormond Braes (EP), with Robin Gray, Topic Records TOP68

1963 - Gaelic Song, on Edinburgh Folk Festival Vol 1 (various artists), Decca. From the sleeve notes "This lovely slow air is sung by DOLINA MACLENNAN. Born in the island of Lewis, Dolina is a young singer of rare quality and power who has been singing in English and Gaelic in Edinburgh for several years."

1964 - Mouth Music, on Edinburgh Folk Festival Vol 2 (compilation), Decca

1976 - Freedom Come All Ye (with Andy Hunter), on Freedom Come All Ye - The Poems and Songs of Hamish Henderson (various artists), Claddagh Records

2006 - Fil U O Ru Hu O, Hug O Ran O Ru, Port A Beul, Bratach Bana (with Robin Gray), on Bonnie Lass Come O'er the Burn (various artists), Topic Records

2017 - featured on the album Gràdh is Gonadh – Guth ag aithris (Love and Loss – A Lone Voice) by Christine Primrose, Temple Records

2018 - Tha Mi Duilich, on Scotland's Voices (various artists)

2025 - The Letter, on Metagama - An Atlantic Odyssey (various artists).

Awards and recognition Saltire Society Fletcher of Saltoun Award (2012)

Services to Gaelic Award (2016)

Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame (2016)

Doctor honoris causa, University of Edinburgh (2016)

Later life MacLennan moved to Blair Atholl in highland Perthshire where she ran a guesthouse called Woodlands. She has also campaigned for Scottish independence.

Her 80th birthday was celebrated in 2018 at the Blas festival, organised by Fèisean nan Gàidheal, and featuring Pàdruig Morrison, Christine Primrose, and Seasaidh Lexy.