John MacLeod Memorial Lecture In briefDate - 29 January 2026Venue - G.01 Davidson Lecture Theatre, Lister Learning and Teaching CentreSpeaker - Màiri CallanTitle - Slighe Fonn na Bàrdachd / The Musical Journey of VerseWatch the lecture afterwards on An Comunn Gàidhealach's YouTubeAbout the John MacLeod Memorial LectureHosted by An Comann Gàidhealach in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, the annual John MacLeod Memorial Lecture was established in 2019. Originally from Carloway in Lewis, John MacLeod was a champion of Gaelic language and culture all his life and was actively involved in Gaelic development in Edinburgh. He was a member of the Lothian and Carloway Gaelic Choirs, and was the President of An Comunn Gàidhealach for ten years. In 1996, MacLeod restarted the Edinburgh branch of the Royal National Mòd, and, in 2017, was given the award of "Sàr-Ghàidheal" (Outstanding Gael) at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Gaelic college on Skye.This year, the eighth iteration of the Memorial Lecture is part of a four-day cultural festival commemorating 30 years since the death of renowned Gaelic poet Sorley MacLean. The festival thus focuses on the past, present and future of Gaelic literature, song and creativity. It features events such as workshops, panel discussions, talks, and a traditional ceilidh. These events involve members of University staff and students, including Niall O'Gallagher (Gaelic Writer in Residence).The festival will commence with the annual John MacLeod Memorial Lecture on Thursday 29 January, delivered by Gaelic singer and musician Màiri Callan. Màiri's lecture is titled "Slighe Fonn na Bàrdachd / The Musical Journey of Verse", and will be given in Gaelic with simultaneous interpretation into English. Drawing on her research and creative practice, Màiri will explore how melody, voice and musical accompaniment can restore rhythm, emotion, and historical context to Gaelic poetry.Explore the other events in the John MacLeod Memorial FestivalPrevious lectures in the seriesSpeakerDateVenueTitleDuncan MacLeod30 January 202550 George SquareBeachd a’ Chànanaiche: Dè tha crìonadh cànain ag innse dhuinn mun Gàidhlig? / Thoughts of a Linguist: What does language decay tell us about Gaelic?Katie MacInnes1 February 202450 George SquareAon Chroit, Iomadh Chothrom / One Croft, Many OpportunitiesRuairidh Alastair MacLennan26 January 202350 George SquareA’ togail guth ann an saoghal chruinneil: Ciall-chànain ri linn a lingua franca / Raising a voice in a globalised world: The meaning of language in the age of the lingua francaIona Whyte27 January 2022Online via ZoomMealladh Uaine is Fionn-Sgeul an Lorg Carbon / Green Washing and the Carbon Footprint MythPàdruig Morrison28 January 2021Online via ZoomTìr nan Gàidheal? A’ beachdachadh air òigridh agus na h-eileanan anns an àm ri teachd / Land of the Gael? Considering young people and the islands in the futureDr Alasdair Whyte (University of Glasgow)30 January 202050 George SquareFèin-aithne is Fèin-mheas nan GàidhealKate Forbes MSP24 January 201950 George SquareDileab Thugainn, Dileab BhuainnAbout the speakerMàiri is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh and a double Gold Medalist at the Royal National Mòd, winning An Comunn Gàidhealach Gold Medal in Inverness in 2021 and the Traditional Gold Medal in Lochaber in 2025. How to attendThis event is free to attend and open to all. No registration is required. You can watch the event afterwards via the An Comunn Gàidhealach's YouTube channel.Watch the lecture on YouTubeAre you interested in Celtic and Scottish Studies?We offer three undergraduate degrees and a number of postgraduate programmes, both taught and research-led, drawing on excellent teaching and research and access to world-leading collections and archives.Find out more about Celtic and Scottish Studies at Edinburgh Tags Celtic and Scottish Studies Jan 29 2026 19.00 - 20.00 John MacLeod Memorial Lecture Join us for this year's annual John MacLeod Memorial Lecture by Màiri Callan entitled "Slighe Fonn na Bàrdachd / The Musical Journey of Verse". G.01 Davidson Lecture Theatre Lister Learning and Teaching Centre 5 Roxburgh Place University of Edinburgh EH8 9SU Find the venue: Lister Learning and Teaching Centre
John MacLeod Memorial Lecture In briefDate - 29 January 2026Venue - G.01 Davidson Lecture Theatre, Lister Learning and Teaching CentreSpeaker - Màiri CallanTitle - Slighe Fonn na Bàrdachd / The Musical Journey of VerseWatch the lecture afterwards on An Comunn Gàidhealach's YouTubeAbout the John MacLeod Memorial LectureHosted by An Comann Gàidhealach in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, the annual John MacLeod Memorial Lecture was established in 2019. Originally from Carloway in Lewis, John MacLeod was a champion of Gaelic language and culture all his life and was actively involved in Gaelic development in Edinburgh. He was a member of the Lothian and Carloway Gaelic Choirs, and was the President of An Comunn Gàidhealach for ten years. In 1996, MacLeod restarted the Edinburgh branch of the Royal National Mòd, and, in 2017, was given the award of "Sàr-Ghàidheal" (Outstanding Gael) at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Gaelic college on Skye.This year, the eighth iteration of the Memorial Lecture is part of a four-day cultural festival commemorating 30 years since the death of renowned Gaelic poet Sorley MacLean. The festival thus focuses on the past, present and future of Gaelic literature, song and creativity. It features events such as workshops, panel discussions, talks, and a traditional ceilidh. These events involve members of University staff and students, including Niall O'Gallagher (Gaelic Writer in Residence).The festival will commence with the annual John MacLeod Memorial Lecture on Thursday 29 January, delivered by Gaelic singer and musician Màiri Callan. Màiri's lecture is titled "Slighe Fonn na Bàrdachd / The Musical Journey of Verse", and will be given in Gaelic with simultaneous interpretation into English. Drawing on her research and creative practice, Màiri will explore how melody, voice and musical accompaniment can restore rhythm, emotion, and historical context to Gaelic poetry.Explore the other events in the John MacLeod Memorial FestivalPrevious lectures in the seriesSpeakerDateVenueTitleDuncan MacLeod30 January 202550 George SquareBeachd a’ Chànanaiche: Dè tha crìonadh cànain ag innse dhuinn mun Gàidhlig? / Thoughts of a Linguist: What does language decay tell us about Gaelic?Katie MacInnes1 February 202450 George SquareAon Chroit, Iomadh Chothrom / One Croft, Many OpportunitiesRuairidh Alastair MacLennan26 January 202350 George SquareA’ togail guth ann an saoghal chruinneil: Ciall-chànain ri linn a lingua franca / Raising a voice in a globalised world: The meaning of language in the age of the lingua francaIona Whyte27 January 2022Online via ZoomMealladh Uaine is Fionn-Sgeul an Lorg Carbon / Green Washing and the Carbon Footprint MythPàdruig Morrison28 January 2021Online via ZoomTìr nan Gàidheal? A’ beachdachadh air òigridh agus na h-eileanan anns an àm ri teachd / Land of the Gael? Considering young people and the islands in the futureDr Alasdair Whyte (University of Glasgow)30 January 202050 George SquareFèin-aithne is Fèin-mheas nan GàidhealKate Forbes MSP24 January 201950 George SquareDileab Thugainn, Dileab BhuainnAbout the speakerMàiri is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh and a double Gold Medalist at the Royal National Mòd, winning An Comunn Gàidhealach Gold Medal in Inverness in 2021 and the Traditional Gold Medal in Lochaber in 2025. How to attendThis event is free to attend and open to all. No registration is required. You can watch the event afterwards via the An Comunn Gàidhealach's YouTube channel.Watch the lecture on YouTubeAre you interested in Celtic and Scottish Studies?We offer three undergraduate degrees and a number of postgraduate programmes, both taught and research-led, drawing on excellent teaching and research and access to world-leading collections and archives.Find out more about Celtic and Scottish Studies at Edinburgh Tags Celtic and Scottish Studies Jan 29 2026 19.00 - 20.00 John MacLeod Memorial Lecture Join us for this year's annual John MacLeod Memorial Lecture by Màiri Callan entitled "Slighe Fonn na Bàrdachd / The Musical Journey of Verse". G.01 Davidson Lecture Theatre Lister Learning and Teaching Centre 5 Roxburgh Place University of Edinburgh EH8 9SU Find the venue: Lister Learning and Teaching Centre
Jan 29 2026 19.00 - 20.00 John MacLeod Memorial Lecture Join us for this year's annual John MacLeod Memorial Lecture by Màiri Callan entitled "Slighe Fonn na Bàrdachd / The Musical Journey of Verse".
