December 12th 1902 saw the birth of Nan Mackinnon or, to give her her Gaelic patronymic, Nan Eachainn Fhionnlaigh, at Kentangaval, Isle Of Barra.
Nan MacKinnon (Nan Eachainn Fhionnlaigh) was born in Kentangaval in Barra and the youngest of seven children. Her father, Hector (Eachann Fhionnlaigh),was descended from the MacKinnons of Strath on the Isle of Skye – the historic grazing constables to the MacNeils of Barra until the 19th century.
Nan’s mother Mary was from Mingulay, and had strong connections with the MacPhee family, who came to settle in Barra in the 14th century. After receiving her schooling on the island, Nan left home when she was seventeen and spent a number of years in service for a variety of people in Argyll.
One of her sisters died suddenly in 1940, leaving four young children and a husband who was away at sea for long periods. Nan returned home to Vatersay to raise the children and remained there for the rest of her life. She was discovered by Donald MacPherson of Barra.
Later on the University of Edinburgh’s School of Scottish Studies recorded her singing 600 songs, and relating over 1000 stories, anecdotes and proverbs she knew by heart. Her singing voice was very unusual, and debate continues to this day as to whether she simply had a unique personal style, or represented the last survivor of a now lost traditional style.
There’s a short clip of Nan here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RRLzlY91MA&feature=emb_imp_woyt
And more information her at the link below….
Nan MacKinnon (Nan Eachainn Fhionnlaigh) was a tradition-bearer from the island of Vatersay whose remarkable memory, enthusiasm, and love of












