Flora MacNeil, born on October 6, 1928, in Ledag, Castlebay, Barra, Scotland, was a traditional Scottish Gaelic singer. Raised in a Gaelic-speaking family, she absorbed hundreds of songs from an early age through local ceilidhs and her mother’s extensive repertoire. She gained wider prominence in the early 1950s after meeting Alan Lomax and Hamish Henderson, who helped bring her music to a broader audience. In 1951, MacNeil performed at the Edinburgh People’s Festival Ceilidh, singing "Mo rùn geal òg" and other notable Gaelic songs. Her debut album, Craobh Nan Ubhal, was released in 1976. She continued to perform and record throughout her life, including the 2000 album Orain Floraidh. MacNeil passed away on May 15, 2015.
