Fon Choill

Author, poet, playwright, journalist - Calum L MacLeòid deploys his many talents to champion Gaelic language and culture. His book Fon Choill: The Megantic Outlaw is a gripping tale by any measure – exploring the story surrounding Donald Morrison, the Gael who became Canada’s most wanted man, out on the country’s wild frontiers in the 1880s.

Tell us about Donald Morrison

I had never heard of Donald Morrison before going to Canada in 2016. My wife was studying there for a PhD and I wanted to try writing a historical novel.

I thought there must be stories about the Gaels in Quebec and near Montreal. After about 10 minutes of Googling, a hit on the story of Donald Morrison, the Megantic Outlaw, and I thought, “OK we've hit the jackpot here”.

It’s such an interesting story. Donald's father lost the house and farm, signing dodgy mortgages and loans he didn't understand. Donald tried for years to fight this in the courts but eventually took matters into his own hands, and things escalated quickly.

He almost certainly burned down the barn. The house burned down a few days later and he was blamed.

Donald went on the run in the hills for the whole of 1888 and 1889 and it seems the local Gaelic-speaking community protected him – he was one of their own and they didn’t see he had done much wrong.

Troops, detectives and police were poured in. He became Canada’s most wanted man with $4,000 on his head – the total damage from the fires was around $100. It came close to martial law being declared. Finally he was captured, sentenced to 18 years of hard labour, but died of disease in jail.

Tell us a little about the book

I wanted to tell a story about that Gaelic-speaking community – which numbered in thousands. The novel moves through different styles, and as it ramps up it becomes more of a thriller.

But even at the most exciting “Hollywood” bits, I wanted to focus on the family and wider community, and what it means when you're struggling to eke out a living in a very, very inhospitable part of the world.

They were high up at the end of the Appalachian Mountains, higher than most of Quebec, so even colder. It was entirely forested. And most people were coming from Lewis, which isn't known for forestry. These people had a hard time surviving without police knocking their heads together and trying to get them to grass up their cousin.

Why did you only write in Gaelic and not do an English translation?

I do work in English, but my two novels and poetry collections are exclusively in Gaelic. That's an important part of who I am, and I want to add to our literary canon and support our culture.

And sadly, Gaels haven't had, historically, the opportunity to get an education in their own language. Most are more comfortable reading in English than in Gaelic. So if I was to release a Gaelic and an English version of my novels, I think people might read it in English and. I'm keen to avoid that.

Also, I've always been drawn to writing in Gaelic, and I find it a better vehicle for what I'm trying to express.

You also wrote a play about Donald Morrison, is it different from the book?

They are different. When I was writing the book I thought “I know this wants to be a Western, but don't let yourself just write a Western”. Then I decided to write a play – Stornoway, Quebec and thought, “now you’re allowed to write a Western – a Gaelic Western for the stage”. So I had a lot of fun with that.

Can you recommend some Gaelic page-turners?

Fo Sgail a’ Swastika - Fo Sgàil a Swastika - Gaelic Books Council

Sulabhan - Suileabhan - Gaelic Books Council

Tuath air a’ Bhealaich - Tuath air a' Bhealach - Gaelic Books Council

Far na Slighe - Far na Slighe - Gaelic Books Council

An Creannaiche - An Creanaiche - Gaelic Books Council

How about some Gaels whose life stories could be told on the page, stage or screen?

Màiri nighean Alasdair Ruaidh
16th-century female poet whose work survives. Very controversial in her lifetime, legend has it she was buried facedown as punishment for offending with her work. She was also said to have been barred from performing indoors or outdoors so she would stand on thresholds and sing her work. Màiri nighean Alasdair Ruaidh - Wikipedia
Alasdair MacMhaighstir Alasdair 
One of the greatest Gaelic bards ever, wrote the first dictionary in the language and was Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Gaelic tutor. Alasdair mac Mhaighstir Alasdair - Wikipedia
Màiri Mhòr nan Òran
Gaelic songwriter and campaigner during the Crofters’ War. Màiri Mhòr nan Òran - Wikipedia
Calum MacIllEathain
Brother of the more famous Sorley MacLean, important folklore collector working in Scotland and Ireland in the early days of the School of Scottish Studies. Calum Maclean (folklorist) - Wikipedia
Eachan nan Cath/Hector MacDonald
Gaelic-speaking son of a crofter who rose through the ranks of the 19th-century British Army to become a general. Controversial for a number of reasons. Hector MacDonald - Wikipedia