Catrìona NicGumaraid (; 22 March 1947 – 5 January 2024) was a Scottish Gaelic poet.
Biography Catrìona NicGumaraid was born at Roag near Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye. She was educated on Skye and at the University of Glasgow, where she studied Celtic and Scottish history. She then attended Jordanhill College to qualify as a secondary teacher.Catrìona NicGumaraid (Catriona Montgomery), Publishing Scotland. Retrieved 17 January 2026. She began to write poetry both in Gaelic and English in the 1970s, and published her first collection of poems in 1974.
Career
Teaching After graduating, NicGumaraid taught Gaelic and Modern Studies at Penilee Secondary School in Glasgow. Later in her career she taught in Dundee.
In 1973, she became the first writer in residence at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on Skye.
Writing NicGumaraid first published her poetry in 1970, in the magazine Gairm.
Her poetry explored themes of love, family, religion, and land. She cited Sorley MacLean as one of her influences. In 2003, An Comunn Gàidhealach awarded NicGumaraid the hundredth Bardic Crown.
Acting In the late 1970s, she appeared in the TV series Can Seo. Through the 1980s, she also appeared in other Scottish Gaelic programs.
Personal life and death NicGumaraid was married to Thomas McLaughlin and had two children. She died on 5 January 2024, at the age of 76.Catrìona (Montgomery) Nic Gumaraid
Selected poems 'Cearcall mun Ghealaich' 'Urnaigh na Ban-Tigrich' 'A' Chraobh' 'Gun Stiùir'
Publications A' Choille Chiar ( (1974) Glasgow: Clò-Beag – published with her sister, Mòrag NicGumaraidWhyte, Christopher ed (1991) An Aghaidh na Sìorraidheachd: Ochdnar Bhàrd Gàidhlig, pp. xiii–xv, 140–141. Edinburgh: Polygon. (Available online at Internet Archive. Retrieved 17 January 2026.) Rè na h-Oidhche () (1994) Edinburgh: Canongate Àilleagan am Measg nam Flùr () (2018) Glasgow: Comhairle nan LeabhraicheanNew Poems by Catriona Montgomery, AllSaints, Jordanhill, 31 March 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
Anthologies An Aghaidh na Sìorraidheachd: Ochdnar Bhàrd Gàidhlig () (1991) Edinburgh: Polygon – edited by Christopher Whyte An Tuil: Anthology of 20th Century Scottish Gaelic Verse (1999) Edinburgh: Polygon – edited by Ronald BlackLoughran A (2018) Modern poetry and song: the new poets and songmakers, Gaelic Literature of the Isle of Skye: an annotated bibliography. Sleat: Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
Editorial work Òrain Aonghais agus an Sgiobair () (1980) – the songs of Aonghas Fleidsear (1896–1983) and Iain MacNeacail (1903–1999). Dundee: Catrìona NicGumaraidLoughran A (2018) Traditional poets and songmakers: E – G, Gaelic Literature of the Isle of Skye: an annotated bibliography. Sleat: Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. Retrieved 17 January 2026.Loughran A (2018) Traditional poets and songmakers: MacM – MacN, Gaelic Literature of the Isle of Skye: an annotated bibliography. Sleat: Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
References
External links Scottish Poetry Library: Catrìona NicGumaraid