Death of “The Skye Poetess”: Mairi MacPherson (1821-98), and Some Reminiscences, November 1898

On page seven of The Glasgow Herald, on Wednesday the 9th of November, 1898, is the obituary of Màiri (Mary) MacPherson (1821-98), “popularly known as ‘The Skye Poetess’,” who died at Portree, Skye, on Monday the 7th. She was a Gaelic poet, whose work focused on the Highland Clearances and the land struggle. As well as covering her remarkable achievements, the paper included:

 

“Mrs MacPherson frequently appeared on the platform at functions of Highland societies in Glasgow and elsewhere, and contributed songs of her own composition at their gatherings.”

 

Some of the aforementioned Highland societies, and their social events, are covered elsewhere on this site.