The Gael
Màiri Mhòr nan Òran — “Big Mary of the Songs” — was one of the most powerful Gaelic voices of the Highlands. Born on the Isle of Skye in 1821, she became a poet, singer and fierce advocate for crofters during a time of great hardship and injustice. Early in her life, she was wrongfully accused of theft and imprisoned — an experience that marked her deeply and sharpened her sense of injustice. When she returned home, she found her voice in song, becoming a leading figure in the crofters’ movement, using her words to rally communities and challenge the treatment of Highland people.
The MacGregor Story
Now this is a voice forged in hardship. Màiri Mhòr didn’t just witness injustice — she lived it. Wrongly imprisoned, shamed, and cast aside, she could have disappeared into silence. Instead, she came back stronger, turning anger into song and giving a voice to those who had none.
When crofters were being pushed from their land, when communities were under pressure, she didn’t stand back. She stood up. And she sang — songs that carried across Skye and beyond, fuelling a movement and lifting people who had been pushed down for too long.
It’s a story we recognise instantly. That refusal to be broken. That determination to stand your ground, no matter what’s thrown at you. It runs through Highland history, through the clans, through every story of resilience and defiance.
And that’s why her story belongs here. Because this isn’t just about music — it’s about truth. It’s about fighting back, standing with your people, and making sure your voice is heard. And in a place like this, where stories still matter, her spirit is right at home.