Anne Lorne Gillies
Encyclopedia
Anne Lorne Gillies is a Scottish
singer-songwriter, broadcaster, academic and writer. She was raised in Argyll
and began singing as a child and as a native Gaelic speaker she participated in the Mod
aged 17 where she won a gold medal for her singing talent.
She studied Celtic
and English
at the University of Edinburgh
. In 1971 she was recruited by the BBC
to do a regular Saturday slot, singing on television. It was at this time she adopted the middle name Lorne (after the Lorne, Argyll and Bute
area where she was raised) as there was already an Anne Gillies (wife of fellow Scottish singer Calum Kennedy
) on the books of the actors union Equity
at the time.
As well as her television career she has written a number of publications mainly focusing on Gaelic language and culture in Scotland. In 2006 she produced Songs of Gaelic Scotland, a 550-page anthology of 175 Gaelic songs, some dating back to the fifteenth century, others with even older provenance. She has also written a series of short novels for teenagers (Caite a bheil Seonaid Chaimbeul etc.), written in a contemporary Gaelic easy enough to be read by learners
She joined the Scottish National Party
in the 1970s, inheriting a belief in Scottish independence
from her grandfather (William Gillies
) and father. She actively campaigned for the regeneration of Gaelic culture
and the preservation of the language.
She stood for the SNP (unsuccessfully) for the Western Isles constituency
in the 1997 general election
and in the 1999 European Parliament election.
She wrote the script for drama, Aig an taigh, in Speaking our Language
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
singer-songwriter, broadcaster, academic and writer. She was raised in Argyll
Argyll
Argyll , archaically Argyle , is a region of western Scotland corresponding with most of the part of ancient Dál Riata that was located on the island of Great Britain, and in a historical context can be used to mean the entire western coast between the Mull of Kintyre and Cape Wrath...
and began singing as a child and as a native Gaelic speaker she participated in the Mod
Mod (Scotland)
A mod is a festival of Scottish Gaelic song, arts and culture. Historically, the Gaelic word mòd refers to any kind of assembly. There are both local mods, and an annual national mod, the Royal National Mod...
aged 17 where she won a gold medal for her singing talent.
She studied Celtic
Celtic languages
The Celtic languages are descended from Proto-Celtic, or "Common Celtic"; a branch of the greater Indo-European language family...
and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
. In 1971 she was recruited by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
to do a regular Saturday slot, singing on television. It was at this time she adopted the middle name Lorne (after the Lorne, Argyll and Bute
Lorne, Argyll and Bute
Lorne is an ancient district in the west of Scotland, now part of the Argyll and Bute council area. It is within the region once named Lorna which may have taken its name from Loarn mac Eirc. However the last cartographical reference to Lorna is in 1607 with that same area being referred to as...
area where she was raised) as there was already an Anne Gillies (wife of fellow Scottish singer Calum Kennedy
Calum Kennedy
Calum Kennedy was a Scottish singer.Kennedy won a gold medal at the Mod , singing in Scottish Gaelic...
) on the books of the actors union Equity
British Actors' Equity Association
Equity is the trade union for actors, stage managers and models in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1930 by a group of West End performers....
at the time.
As well as her television career she has written a number of publications mainly focusing on Gaelic language and culture in Scotland. In 2006 she produced Songs of Gaelic Scotland, a 550-page anthology of 175 Gaelic songs, some dating back to the fifteenth century, others with even older provenance. She has also written a series of short novels for teenagers (Caite a bheil Seonaid Chaimbeul etc.), written in a contemporary Gaelic easy enough to be read by learners
She joined the Scottish National Party
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
in the 1970s, inheriting a belief in Scottish independence
Scottish independence
Scottish independence is a political ambition of political parties, advocacy groups and individuals for Scotland to secede from the United Kingdom and become an independent sovereign state, separate from England, Wales and Northern Ireland....
from her grandfather (William Gillies
William Gillies
William Gillies was a Scottish patriot and a socialist. He helped to form the Scots National League which joined with in other bodies to form the National Party of Scotland which in turn evolved into the Scottish National Party ....
) and father. She actively campaigned for the regeneration of Gaelic culture
Gaels
The Gaels or Goidels are speakers of one of the Goidelic Celtic languages: Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Manx. Goidelic speech originated in Ireland and subsequently spread to western and northern Scotland and the Isle of Man....
and the preservation of the language.
She stood for the SNP (unsuccessfully) for the Western Isles constituency
Na h-Eileanan an Iar (UK Parliament constituency)
Na h-Eileanan an Iar is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, created in 1918. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- History :...
in the 1997 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
and in the 1999 European Parliament election.
She wrote the script for drama, Aig an taigh, in Speaking our Language
Speaking our Language
Speaking our Language was a Scottish Gaelic learners television programme that ran from 1993 to 1996. Running for 72 episodes through four series, the series was produced by Scottish Television and presented by Rhoda MacDonald, STV's then-head of Gaelic output...
.