Biographies of Pupils of Carnan Public
School 1900 – 1909
Contents
Angus Maclntyre (Aonghas Alein Bhig) ......................................................................................................... 4
Catherine MacDonald ................................................................................................................................... 7
Minnie MacLeod (Minnie Domhnaill mhic Choinnich) ................................................................................. 7
Roderick Campbell (Ruairidh lain Chlachair)................................................................................................. 7
Mary Flora MacLeod ..................................................................................................................................... 8
Marion MacLellan (Mor Shomhairle) ............................................................................................................ 8
Neil MacInnes (Naill mac Aonghais ‘ic Iain ‘ic Iain Bhain) ............................................................................. 9
Mary MacEachen (Mairi lain ‘ic lain ‘ic lain Oig) ........................................................................................... 9
Dolina Maclnnes (Dolina Catriona Seonaid) ............................................................................................... 10
John MacIntyre (lain Alein Bhig) ................................................................................................................. 11
Morag MacLeod (Morag Dhomhnaill mhic Choinnich)............................................................................... 11
Effie Johnston.............................................................................................................................................. 12
Mary Ann MacEachen ................................................................................................................................. 13
Mary Ann MacDonald ................................................................................................................................. 13
Mary Maclnnes (Mairi Catriona Seonaid) ................................................................................................... 13
Donald John Maclntyre (Domhnall lain Alein Bhig) .................................................................................... 13
Margaret Haggarty (Maggie Haggarty) ....................................................................................................... 15
Ann Campbell (Anna Aonghais ‘ic a Ruadh) ................................................................................................ 16
Catriona MacLeod (Catriona Domhnaill mhic Choinnich)........................................................................... 16
Ann Flora MacLellan (Anna Flori Shomhlairle) ........................................................................................... 16
Donald Archie Johnson (Dhomhnall Archie Thearlalch) ............................................................................. 17
Mary Campbell (Mairi Iain Chlachair) ......................................................................................................... 17
Allan Currie (Alein Currie) ........................................................................................................................... 17
Mary Ann MacLeod (Mairi An mhic Choinnich) .......................................................................................... 19
Mary MacEachen ........................................................................................................................................ 20
John Haggarty (lain mac lain Haggarty) ...................................................................................................... 20
Marion MacAulay (Mor Chailein)................................................................................................................ 22
Isabella Campbell (Bellag Mhic a Ruaidh) ................................................................................................... 23
Kate Sarah MacEachen (Ceit Sarah lain 'ic lain Oig).................................................................................... 24
Christina Maclntyre (Ciostaidh Alein Bhig) ................................................................................................. 26
Roderick Johnson (Ruairidh Thearlaich) ..................................................................................................... 26
Jessie MacEachen........................................................................................................................................ 27
Michael Haggarty (Micheil Iain Haggarty)................................................................................................... 27
Joan MacLeod (Seonag Nighean Dhomhnaill ‘ic Choinnlch) ....................................................................... 27
Marion Johnson (Morag Thearlaich)........................................................................................................... 28
John MacInnes ............................................................................................................................................ 28
Angus Maclntyre (Aonghas Alein Bhig)
Angus was the oldest child of Peggy MacEachen and Alan MacIntyre, he was born at Clachan,
Lochcarnan on 11 January 1900.
After he left school Angus went to sea. He married Ann Campbell of Lochcarnan in 1932. Their wedding
was marred by tragedy because Annie‘s brother, lain, who was to have been the best man, drowned in
front of his house just before the wedding day.
Angus and Annie bought the old MacDermaid thatched cottage above the Lochcarnan pier at Sandivaig
and did it up as a bungalow. Angus became the first pier master at Lochcarnan.
They had no children of their own but they adopted a son, Robert, and brought up several fostered
children, Helen Graham, Maria Morris, Jessie Fisher, Betty Sweeney and Archie Nichol.
Both Angus and Annie had looms and were good weavers. There was a clattering of looms working
every night at the Maclntyres’ house.
Angus died in the late eighties.
Alan MacIntyre (Angus’ father)
Peggy MacEachen MacIntyre (Angus’ mother)
Angus and Annie MacIntyre
Catherine MacDonald
Catherine’s parents were Donald MacDonald and Mary Ann MacIntyre of 1 Lochcarnan, she was born on
6 February 1900.
After leaving school Catriona went to live on the mainland.
Minnie MacLeod (Minnie Domhnaill mhic Choinnich)
Minnie‘s parents were Donald MacLeod and Morag MacDonald, she was born in Locheport in North Uist
in 1900 and brought up in Lochcarnan where her parents had a shop. Minnie emigrated to Canada and
died in Winnipeg in May 1924 at the age of 24.
Roderick Campbell (Ruairidh lain Chlachair)
Roderick was the fourth son of lain Clachair and Mary Campbell of 7 Lochcarnan, he was born on 25
December 1900. He was always known as Roideag.
Roideag was the last of the Campbell children to attend Carnan Public School before the family moved
to South Lochboisdale in early 1908.
Like his three brothers before him, Roideag would have been fishing and helping on the croft. He went
to sea and when the Second World War broke out he served in the Merchant Navy. He was home on
leave in February 1941 when the famous cargo ship '88 Politician’ was wrecked off the south coast of
South Uist. Roideag gave a good hand in plundering the wreck for the whisky, which was the main cargo
on board. He is reputed to have assisted in the liberation of dozens and dozens of cases of whisky from
the Polly, with the result that he was nicknamed ‘The Case’. However he was one of the unlucky ones
caught up by the Customs and Excise people and consequently he spent some time in lnverness Gaol.
Roideag was a great composer of songs, like his father, his uncle Seonaidh and his grandfather before
him. He wrote ’Pheigi a’ Ghraidh' in honour of Peggy MacLean from Rhudhgashernish and many others,
including a song about the Polly. He died at the age of 47 in 1947.
Mary Flora MacLeod
Mary Flora’s parents were Chirsty Johnstone and Angus MacInnes who lived at Baile na Birlinn on the
north shore of Loch Skipport before emigrating to Canada. Mary Flora was born on 7 May 1901.
Tragically Mary Flora and her sister Mary had measles when the boat was due to leave for Canada with
the emigrants and they were not allowed to travel. They were left behind to be brought up by their
mother’s family in Rhudhgashernish and never did go to Canada.
Marion MacLellan (Mor Shomhairle)
http://trees.ancestry.co.uk/tree/46598725/person/25327723151
Marion was a daughter of Samuel MacLellan and Joanna Nicholson, she was born at Sandivaig on 23 July
1901.
Mor, as she was known, married Malcolm MacLeod from Loch Skipport, he had a grocery business as
well as being a fisherman and haulage contractor. They brought up a family of two girls and five boys.
Mor died in 1942.
MacLellan brothers and sister John, Marion, Donald and James
Neil MacInnes (Naill mac Aonghais ‘ic Iain ‘ic Iain Bhain)
http://trees.ancestry.co.uk/tree/46598725/person/25327446196
Neil MacInnes born in Calternish on 10 February 1902 to Margaret MacLean and Angus MacInnes.
Niall Ruadh, as he was known, was young when the family moved to Rubha Caolas Luirsay. He left home
in his teens to go to sea where he worked until his death in the early sixties. Neil was married but had
no family. He and his wife had their home in Glasgow.
Mary MacEachen (Mairi lain ‘ic lain ‘ic lain Oig)
http://trees.ancestry.co.uk/tree/46598725/person/25327394849
Mary MacEachen was born in Rhudhgashernish on 19 February 1902 to Ann MacLeod and John
MacEachen.
Soon after leaving school she went into domestic service in Glasgow and she married John MacGibbon
of lslay in St Peter’s, Partick in 1937. Mary and John lived in Glasgow and raised a family of three
children. Two of their children, lain and lsobel, were evacuated to Rhudhgashernish during the Second
World War and they attended Carnan School. Mary died in Glasgow when she was quite old.
Mary MacEachen
Dolina Maclnnes (Dolina Catriona Seonaid)
Dolina was a daughter of Catherine Maclnnes of Lochcaman, she was baptised at Ardkenneth Church on
23 March 1902. Dolly left South Uist to live on the mainland.
John MacIntyre (lain Alein Bhig)
John Maclntyre was born at Clachan, Lochcarnan on 24 March 1902, the second son of Alan MacIntyre
and Peggy MacEachen.
lain spent his entire life crofting and fishing, living in the family home at Clachan until he died in 1985.
Iain MacIntyre and his brother Angus
Morag MacLeod (Morag Dhomhnaill mhic Choinnich)
Morag was born in 1902 in Locheport, North Uist, the third child of Donald MacLean and Morag
MacDonald. The family moved to Lochcarnan when her parent’s bought the old Ladies’ School and
started a merchants business.
Morag left South Uist and married and settled in Coll. Her daughter disappeared tragically, she went out
one day to fetch the cattle in and never returned. Morag died in Perth.
Effie Johnston
http://trees.ancestry.co.uk/tree/46598725/person/6948270802
Effie's parents were Colin Johnston and Marion MacPhee of Holmar, she was born on 21 April 1903.
When Marion went into labour, Colin hurried to fetch Seonaid Maclnnes to act as midwife at the birth.
By 1903 Seonaid was fairly old and she couldn't walk very quickly so, in his desperation, Colin carried her
on his back. Effie later became a nurse herself and did private nursing as far away as London. But she
contracted an incurable illness from which she sadly died at the age of 33 years.
Effie Johnston in the garden of a nursing home in London
Mary Ann MacEachen
http://trees.ancestry.co.uk/tree/46598725/person/25327394902
Mary Ann was a daughter of Anne MacLeod and John MacEachen of Rhudhgashernish, she was baptized
in Ardkenneth Church on 14 November 1903.
Mary Ann stayed at home for several years to look after her mother.
After her mother died Mary Ann went to work in domestic service on the mainland. She didn’t marry.
Mary Ann MacDonald
Mary Ann’s parents were Ann MacIntyre and Donald MacDonald of 1 Lochcarnan, she was born on 19
February 1904.
Mary Maclnnes (Mairi Catriona Seonaid)
Mary was born on 1 March 1904, her mother was Catriona Seonaid of Lochcarnan who later married
Angus Campbell of Lochcarnan.
Donald John Maclntyre (Domhnall lain Alein Bhig)
Donald John was the third son of Peggy MacEachen and Alan MacIntyre of Clachan, Lochcarnan. He was
born on 26 August 1904.
Donald John was a postman in Lochcarnan for some time, he also had a van and a lorry and did quite a
bit of hiring as well as running a small merchant's business. In 1949 he provided the first school
transport for the children attending Carnan School. He died in Lochcarnan in 1987.
Donald John & John MacIntyre haymaking at Clachan
Margaret Haggarty (Maggie Haggarty)
Margaret Haggarty was born at Holmar on 3 October 1904, a daughter of John Haggarty and Ann
Johnston.
Soon after leaving school Margaret went to the mainland to work in domestic service. There she met
and married John MacKinnon from Barra. They returned to live in Barra where they brought up a family
of four children, including Roddy Haggarty who later taught weaving at Carnan School and other schools
in Uist. Margaret died in Barra.
Margaret Haggarty
Ann Campbell (Anna Aonghais ‘ic a Ruadh)
Annie's parents, Angus Campbell and Mary MacDonald, lived in the family home at 7 Lochcarnan along
with Angus‘s sister, Mary and her husband and children and Angus‘s mother, Ann. Annie was born on 5
October 1904.
Annie lived in Lochcarnan all her life, moving to Sandivaig when she married Angus MacIntyre. The
wedding, in the spring of 1932, was marred by the tragic death in a drowning accident of Annie's brother
lain who was to have been the best man.
Both Annie and Angus were good weavers and they worked two looms. Annie was also well known for
her skills in dying wool and waulking tweed. She had no children of her own but she adopted a son
Robert and also brought up a number of boarded out children Jessie Fisher Archie Nichol, Maria Morris,
Betty Sweeney and Helen Graham all of whom attended Carnan School. She also took in lodgers. She
was a truly homely woman. She sadly died in 1973 and was much missed from her home in Sandivaig.
Catriona MacLeod (Catriona Domhnaill mhic Choinnich)
Katie MacLeod was born in 1904 in Locheport, North Uist, her parents were Donald MacLeod and Morag
MacDonald.
Katie and the family moved to Lochcarnan when her parents bought the old Sgoil na Leadais and started
a shop there in the old school room. When this building burned down the MacLeods moved to another
house further east along the shore of Lochcarnan, another Tigh a’ Mharsanta, and carried on trading.
Like her mother and brother Donald Archie, Katie died of TB. She was in the sanatorium in Invergarry,
the date was October 1927 and she was 23 years old.
Ann Flora MacLellan (Anna Flori Shomhlairle)
Annie Flora was the youngest daughter of Samuel MacLellan and Joanna Nicholson, she was born at
Sandivaig on 28 August 1905.
Annie Flora spent some time in domestic service then married John MacDonald, a gamekeeper from
Stilligarry, South Uist. She lived in Stilligarry on the shore of Loch Druidibeg for the rest of her life and for
many years she worked at Grogarry Lodge. She had a family of two boys and a girl. Annie Flora died
when she was 86 years old.
John MacDonald, Samuel and Jean, Annie Flora MacLellan MacDonald
Donald Archie Johnson (Dhomhnall Archie Thearlalch)
Donald Archie was the oldest son of Charles Johnson and Mary MacMillan and he was born at Sandivaig
on 29 September 1905.
Donald Archie served in the Poyal Navy during the Second World War. After the end of hostilities he
returned to South Uist and spent the rest of his life on the croft in Sandivaig as well as fishing.
Mary Campbell (Mairi Iain Chlachair)
Mary was born at 7 Lochcarnan on 6 December 1905, a daughter of Iain Campbell and Mary Campbell.
The family moved to South Lochboisdale when Mary was still a young child.
Allan Currie (Alein Currie)
Alan was born at Rhudhgashernish on 2 August 1906, he was the only son of Anthony Currie and Kate
MacKay.
Allan spent most of his life on the croft in Rhudhgashernish, which he won prizes for. He had a great
knowledge of sheep as well as piping and he was a well known story teller and local historian. He was
married to Rachel MacLean who was also from Rhudhgashernish and, although they didn't have any
children of their own, Rachel and Alan adopted Andrew and fostered two brothers, Patrick and Danny
MacLellan.
For the last fifteen years of his life Alan lived at Heatherdale in Lochcarnan, he died in 1993 at the age of
86.
Alan Currie and family – Standing back Rachael Currie (MacLean), Alan Currie, Mary Ann Frazer. Andrew Currie,
Anthony Currie (Alan’s father) with Patrick and Danny MacLellan.
Kate MacKay Currie, Alan’s mother
Mary Ann MacLeod (Mairi An mhic Choinnich)
Mary Ann was the fifth child of Donald MacLeod and Marion MacDonald. She was born in Locheport,
North Uist in 1906 but moved to Lochcarnan when her parents bought the old Ladies’ School and set up
a shop there.
After her mother died of TB in 1920 the family moved to Balivanich to live with Mary Ann's elder
brother, Kenny who was the head master at Balivanich School. By this time Mary Ann was fourteen
years old and had just left school. She went to live on the mainland and married in Glasgow.
Mary MacEachen
Mary was born on 27 November 1906, a daughter of Charles MacEachen and Ann Nicholson of
Rhudhgashernish.
John Haggarty (lain mac lain Haggarty)
John Haggarty's parents were John Haggarty and Ann Johnstone who lived at Holmar. John was born on
5 December 1906.
After leaving school John went to sea. He later married a Barra girl and settled in Brevlg in Barra where
he had a haulage business.
A group of Haggarty children taken outside Iochdar school : Peter, Margaret and Michael
Marion MacAulay (Mor Chailein)
Mor was the oldest daughter of Colin MacAulay and Ann MacDonald, she was born on 15 December
1906 at Ardmore. The family moved to Holmar and Mar and her brothers and sister attended Carnan
School.
After leaving school Mor trained as a nurse and midwife. She returned to South Uist and spent much of
her working life on the island, she was well loved and respected for her skills.
Mor married Donald John MacDonald and went to live in West Gerinish. She had one son, John
(Seonaidh Ban).
MacAulay brothers and sister : Angus John, Morag and Donald John outside Carnan Public School
Isabella Campbell (Bellag Mhic a Ruaidh)
Bella was born at 7 Lochcarnan on 20 January 1907, she was the youngest daughter of Angus Campbell
and Mary Ann MacDonald.
Bella left home when she was young and later trained as a district nurse. She spent most of her working
life in Fort William. She never married.
Bella Campbell
Kate Sarah MacEachen (Ceit Sarah lain 'ic lain Oig)
Kate Sarah was born in Rhudhgashernish on 23 April 1907, a daughter of John MacEachen and Ann
MacLeod.
It is recorded in a minute of the meeting of the Bursary and Reports Committee, held at 11 High Street
lnverness on Wednesday 28th July 1920 at 11.30 am that Kate S MacEachen of Carnan School was
awarded a bursary of £30—Os-Od to attend Daliburgh School.
After she left school Kate Sarah went to Glasgow to live and work. When she was in her forties she
married Angus MacKay from the Ardnamurchan area. They had no children and she died about 1970.
Kate Sarah MacEachen
Christina Maclntyre (Ciostaidh Alein Bhig)
Kirsty was born at Clachan, Lochcarnan on 17 June 1907, the oldest daughter of Allan MacIntyre and
Margaret MacEachen.
After leaving school Kirsty spent some time in domestic service and in 1941 she married Angus
MacDonald from Carnan. The wedding celebrations took place at Carnan School. The couple went to live
in Tweed Cottage in lochdar but sadly Angus died within the year. Kirsty returned home to Clachan to
live with her mother and two brothers and she stayed there until she died in the eighties.
Christina MacIntyre with dog in the family house in Clachan
Roderick Johnson (Ruairidh Thearlaich)
Roddy was a son of Charles Johnson and Mary MacMillan, he was born at Sandivaig on 1 September
1907.
Roddy spent his life fishing and working on the family croft. He was a well-known local historian and he
knew many old songs. Roddy died in the eighties.
Roddy and Donald Archie Johnson
Jessie MacEachen
Jessie was born on 1 April 1908, her parents were Charles MacEachen and Ann Nicholson of
Rhudhgashernish.
Michael Haggarty (Micheil Iain Haggarty)
Michael was a son of John Haggarty and Ann Johnson and he was born at Holmar on 20 May 1908.
After he left Carnan School Michael went to the mainland and did some mental nursing. At the
outbreak of the Second World War he joined the Cameron Highlanders and attained the rank of Pipe
Major.
Joan MacLeod (Seonag Nighean Dhomhnaill ‘ic Choinnlch)
Joan MacLeod, Seonag Nighean Dhomhnaill ‘ic Choinnlch, was born in Locheport, North Uist on 24th
May 1908. Her parents were Donald MacLeod from Skye and Marion MacDonald from Locheport. The
family moved to Lochcarnan when Donald and Marion bought the old Ladies’ School and converted it
into a shop which became known as Taigh a Mharsanta.
Joan lived in Lochcarnan until she was about 12 years old, firstly at the old Ladies’ School and, after it
burned down, at a second Taigh a’ Mharsanta at Clachan, Lochcarnan.
After her mothers death from TB in 1920 the family moved to Baiivanich and lived in the school house
with Joan's eldest brother, Kenneth, who was the head teacher.
A few years later Joan moved to the mainland and worked in a hospital for a number of years. On
returning to Benbecula saw was housekeeper for her brother Kenny at Balivanich School.
In November 1932 Joan married James MacDonald from Clachan Beac, Griminish, Benbecula; her son
Kenny lives there now.
Joan’s later years were spent at Trianaid Home, North Uist.
On 16th July 1991 she died at lnverness Airport while travelling to Raigmore Hospital. Her remains were
conveyed to Benbecula and laid to rest at Nunton Cemetery.
Joan regarded Lochcarnan as home and had a great respect for it’s people.
Donald MacAulay (Domhnall Chailein 'ic Domhnaill Rhuaidh)
Donald was the eldest son of Colin MacAulay and Ann MacDonald, he was born at Ardmore on 1
February 1909 and brought up in Holmar. The family later moved to Ardmore, where Angus and Liz
MacMillan live today, where they had a shop.
After he left Carnan School Donald worked with his father in the shop for a while then he left home to
work in Lochgilphead. He was an attendant at the Argyll and Bute Mental Hospital for quite a few years.
In the late thirties Donald's father, Colin, built Burnside, a house and shop close to Carnan School in
Lochcarnan, and asked Donald to come home and manage it for him. Donald lived alone at Burnside for
some time before he married Katy Mary MacInnes of Lochcarnan on 27 November 1940. The religious
ceremony took place in Ardkenneth Church and the wedding celebrations were held in Carnan School.
Katy Mary and Donald had twelve children, all of whom attended Carnan School. Donald lived for the
rest of his life at Burnside; he died in 1956.
Marion Johnson (Morag Thearlaich)
Morag was born at Sandivaig on 20 July 1909, daughter of Charles Johnson and Mary MacMillan.
Morag left South Uist after finishing school and went into domestic service on the mainland. She
married and had a family of one son and one daughter.
John MacInnes
John was born on 22 September 1909, his parents were Donald MacInnes and Jessie MacDonald.