Martin MacDonald - Obituary | |
06 February 2016 Shinty historian Hugh Dan MacLennan paid tribute to Martin MacDonald in the Press & Journal on Friday 5 February 2016. Martin MacDonald The passing this week of Martin MacDonald, a contributor to the Press and Journal for decades, has marked the end of an involvement in Highland and Gaelic reporting which spanned nearly 50 years. Martin, who had over the years contributed to a huge range of news outlets, locally and nationally, in both Gaelic and English, died at his home in Clachnaharry, Inverness earlier this week, aged 78. He was not just a news man, but was singularly effective in the fields of documentary work, historical research and contemporary affairs. He also had a hand in major works on the history and development of the Highlands and Islands, particularly with reference to issues such as crofting, industry and his own up-bringing on the island. Such were some of his more hidden talents that he even managed to win an award as an actor in an Iain Crichton Smith play in Glasgow in the 1960s. Born and brought up in Achachork near Portree, Martin went to Portree school where he first met many friends who were to feature prominently in his life through his chosen avenue of work, or through long-standing friendships. He eventually became one of the finest journalists of his generation, writing and broadcasting in Gaelic and in English and could hold his own in any professional company. He started his career as Skye correspondent for the ‘Inverness Courier’ and ‘Oban Times’ and went on to write a weekly Gaelic column for the local Free Press which he supported from its establishment in the 1970s. He was also well known for his Gaelic broadcasting work and was heavily involved in many of the ground-breaking current affairs programmes of the 1970s and 1980s on television, producing, presenting and reporting. His vast experience of news coverage in particular was also brought to bear on the establishment and development of BBC Radio nan Gàidheal in the 1980s. This was a period which also saw him assume a managerial role with the BBC in Inverness and whilst never entirely comfortable in the manager’s chair – he much preferred to be pounding the type-writer, testing the elasticity of deadlines and the patience of producers and editors – he proved to be an inspiration and guiding light to many young Gaelic broadcasters who went on to make significant names for themselves. Martin was an old-school journalist whose output was largely driven by his own awareness of what was going on round about him and an unparalleled set of contacts throughout the vast Highland and island community in which he travelled extensively. Keenly aware of his island roots – he must be amongst the most significant natives of the island of his generation – in 1992 he wrote ‘Skye Camanachd – A Century Remembered’, about shinty on Skye. He was never happier, perhaps, than the day the island team won the Camanachd Cup in Fort William. He had joined the BBC originally in 1965 and was appointed manager of BBC Highland in the 1980s, having previously worked in Aberdeen as the editor of current affairs programme Northbeat. He was also Scottish editor at Westminster during the pioneering parliament broadcasting experiment in 1975. From 1984-86 MacDonald worked as a freelance journalist broadcaster. His first love was always writing, particularly local Highland history. Up until very recently, he penned a weekly Gaelic column for the ‘Press and Journal’ researching Highland events from 100 years ago and was well-known for a Gaelic broadcast series using similar material. In 2004, his journalistic colleagues awarded him the only public accolade which he accepted, awarding him the prestigious Barron Trophy at the Highlands and Islands Press Ball where he was described as “a gifted descriptive storyteller, a pioneering broadcaster, easy company, a valued friend and adviser, a super ambassador for Skye, the Highlands and the Gaelic language and culture and the doyen of Gaelic journalism." That contribution to Gaelic was never more important than in his crafting of the report “Cor na Gàidhlig” (The position of Gaelic) along with a tightly-knit group of like-minded individuals in the mid-1980s. It was to provide the foundation on which much of Gaelic development in the following years was built. Always good company and a magnificent raconteur with a fabulous memory for detail, he would not have been an authentic Skye-man if he had not stood his ground and debated his positions robustly. His friendship with the likes of Russell Johnston, Dereck Cooper and Sorley Maclean meant that his mettle was often tested, rarely found wanting. History will offer a better perspective of the colossal contribution Martin MacDonald made to the Highlands and islands and Gaelic. For now, our thoughts are with his family and friends, some of whom are themselves not blessed with good health. Martin was pre-deceased by his wife, Catriona, who was from South Uist, in 1999. He is survived by a daughter, Seònaid, and son Niall Iain, who followed his father’s footsteps into Gaelic broadcasting. There are two grandchildren, Catriona aged 14, and Archie, nine. Hugh Dan MacLennan added, “No doubt Martin would have told me I was going over the top. Not a bit of it. I could have said so much more but you can only fit so much on the page.” |