Fionn MacColla

Who is Fionn MacColla?

Fionn MacColla was a Scottish novelist closely connected to the Scottish Renaissance. Although he wrote in English, he was very interested in Scottish Gaelic language and culture and campaigned for it to return to, what he perceived to be, its rightful place in the Scottish mainstream. He was a good personal friend of Hugh MacDiarmid and Helen Cruickshank.

MacColla was born in Montrose to Donald and Jessie Macdonald. His father was a native Gaelic speaker, and it is from his father that MacColla was made aware of the language as a young boy. As a child, Mac Colla's family were Plymouth Brethren, although he converted to Roman Catholicism in later life.

After graduating first in the country for his teaching exams, MacColla was appointed headmaster of Laide Public school in Wester Ross at the age of 19. The following year he left for Palestine to teach history for a school run by the United Free Church. He remained in Palestine for 3 years, before returning to Scotland permanently in 1929.

His best known novels are The Albannach and And the Cock Crew. And the Cock Crew takes its title from the gospel story of Peter the disciple who ended up denying and thus betraying Jesus. The protagonist is a minister in a Highland parish, Sachari, whose congregation is being cleared. The Albannach has a modern setting, and makes wry comments on contemporary Gaelic, and general Scottish attitudes. Fionn MacColla is commemorated in Makars' Court, outside The Writers' Museum, Lawnmarket, Edinburgh.