Niall Iain McDonald
Encyclopedia
Niall Iain MacDonald is a Scottish Gaelic language radio and television producer for BBC Scotland
, and presenter of the popular rock
and indie music program, Rapal
, for BBC Radio nan Gàidheal
.
He was the 2005 winner of the Radio Personality of the Year at the Celtic Film and Television Festival.
MacDonald, 36, was involved in a missing persons search when he left Stornoway
on May 17 2007, and was reported missing by his family and colleagues after failing to turn up for work. He returned safe and well at the beginning of June the same year.
To raise awareness of mental health issues, MacDonald undertook a solo row
of the Minch
between Stornoway and Ullapool
on July 16 2008 and completed the row in 26 hours. He is planning a solo row from New York to Stornoway in 2012, taking three months to complete the 3400 mile (5472km or 2953 UK nm) journey across the Atlantic. If he is successful, he will be the first person to row this unique route.
MacDonald was also a shinty
player and was signed for Lewis Camanachd
in Lewis
. He is now retired but retains an interest in the sport, presenting the trophy at the Hebridean Celtic Festival
Cup in 2009.
BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland is a constituent part of the British Broadcasting Corporation, the publicly-funded broadcaster of the United Kingdom. It is, in effect, the national broadcaster for Scotland, having a considerable amount of autonomy from the BBC's London headquarters, and is run by the BBC Trust, who...
, and presenter of the popular rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
and indie music program, Rapal
Rapal
Rapal is a BBC Alba music television programme and radio show on BBC Radio nan Gàidheal. Rapal broadcast its first programme on the radio on the 28th of May, 2001, presented by Niall Iain McDonald. Rapal expanded to TV in 2007, and added Anndra Robasdan and Michelle NicDhomhnaill to the presenting...
, for BBC Radio nan Gàidheal
BBC Radio nan Gàidheal
BBC Radio nan Gàidheal is a British radio station, broadcasting in Scottish Gaelic. It is operated by the BBC as part of its portfolio of television and radio services broadcasting to Scotland....
.
He was the 2005 winner of the Radio Personality of the Year at the Celtic Film and Television Festival.
MacDonald, 36, was involved in a missing persons search when he left Stornoway
Stornoway
Stornoway is a burgh on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.The town's population is around 9,000, making it the largest settlement in the Western Isles and the third largest town in the Scottish Highlands after Inverness and Fort William...
on May 17 2007, and was reported missing by his family and colleagues after failing to turn up for work. He returned safe and well at the beginning of June the same year.
To raise awareness of mental health issues, MacDonald undertook a solo row
Ocean rowing
Ocean rowing is the sport of rowing across oceans. The sport is as much a psychological as it is a physical challenge. Rowers often have to endure long periods at sea without help often many days if not weeks away. The challenge is especially acute for solo rowers who are held in especially high...
of the Minch
The Minch
The Minch , also called The North Minch, is a strait in north-west Scotland, separating the north-west Highlands, and the northern Inner Hebrides, from Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides...
between Stornoway and Ullapool
Ullapool
Ullapool is a small town of around 1,300 inhabitants in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland. Despite its small size, it is the largest settlement for many miles around, and is a major tourist destination of Scotland. The North Atlantic Drift passes by Ullapool, bringing moderate temperatures...
on July 16 2008 and completed the row in 26 hours. He is planning a solo row from New York to Stornoway in 2012, taking three months to complete the 3400 mile (5472km or 2953 UK nm) journey across the Atlantic. If he is successful, he will be the first person to row this unique route.
MacDonald was also a shinty
Shinty
Shinty is a team game played with sticks and a ball. Shinty is now played mainly in the Scottish Highlands, and amongst Highland migrants to the big cities of Scotland, but it was formerly more widespread, being once competitively played on a widespread basis in England and other areas in the...
player and was signed for Lewis Camanachd
Lewis Camanachd
Lewis Camanachd AKA Comann Camanachd Leòdhais in Scots Gaelic, is the senior shinty team from the Isle of Lewis, Scotland. The club entered North Division Three for the first time in 2011. This was the first time a team from the Western Isles was allowed to compete in league shinty...
in Lewis
Lewis
Lewis is the northern part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island of the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The total area of Lewis is ....
. He is now retired but retains an interest in the sport, presenting the trophy at the Hebridean Celtic Festival
Hebridean Celtic Festival
The Hebridean Celtic Festival is an international Celtic music festival, which takes place annually in Stornoway on Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The biggest headliners to date have been Runrig, The Waterboys, Proclaimers and Van Morrison...
Cup in 2009.
External links
- Fresh plea in search for producer
- Rapal
- Broadcaster found safe and well Midlothian Today, 3 June 2007
- Niall Iain rows the Minch.