Alasdair Caimbeul (born 27 May 1941), also known as Alasdair a' Bhocsair or Alasdair Campbell, is a Scottish playwright, short story writer, and novelist from

Ness Ness or NESS may refer to: Places Australia * Ness, Wapengo, a heritage-listed natural coastal area in New South Wales United Kingdom * Ness, Cheshire, England, a village * Ness, Lewis, the most northerly area on Lewis, Scotland, UK * Cuspate ...

on the

Isle of Lewis The Isle of Lewis () or simply Lewis () is the northern part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island of the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides archipelago in Scotland. The two parts are frequently referred to as if they were separate islands. The t ...

. Renowned for writing many stories in his native tongue Gaelic, in addition to a few in English, he is a native of the Isle of Lewis.

Life

He was born on 27 May 1941 in Ness, Lewis.Alasdair Caimbeul (1990) ''Trì dealbhan-cluiche (three plays)'' lèite Clò Ostaig, còmhdach an leabhair His brother, Tormod Caimbeul (Tormod A' Bhocsair), was also a writer. Their father was Aonghas Caimbeul (Am Bocsair), and their uncle was another notable Scottish Gaelic writer,

Aonghas Caimbeul Aonghas Caimbeul (9 October 1903 – 28 January 1982), alias Am Puilean, was a Scottish Gaelic Bard, war poet, and memoirist. Early life Caimbeul was born on 9 October 1903 at Swainbost, Ness, Lewis, Ness, Isle of Lewis, where his family had liv ...

"Am Puilean", as is his niece, Catrìona Lexy Chaimbeul. He lived in Drochaid Chonain in

Ross-shire Ross-shire (; ), or the County of Ross, was a county in the Scottish Highlands. It bordered Sutherland to the north and Inverness-shire to the south, as well as having a complex border with Cromartyshire, a county consisting of numerous enc ...

in the 1990s, and was living in Ness as of 2001.

Literary work

He has written plays, short stories, and novels in

Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic (, ; Endonym and exonym, endonym: ), also known as Scots Gaelic or simply Gaelic, is a Celtic language native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a member of the Goidelic language, Goidelic branch of Celtic, Scottish Gaelic, alongs ...

and in English. He began to write in Gaelic in 1984. ''Bùth a' Bhaile'' ("the store of the town") was his first play.Alasdair Caimbeul (1990) ''Trì dealbhan-cluiche'' lèite Clò Ostaig, d.7 He was involved with theater companies, among them 'Na Nisich' in Lewis and Cluicheadairean Loch Aillse. From 1988 to 1990 he was a writer-in-residence at

Sabhal Mòr Ostaig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig (; ) is a public higher education college situated in the Sleat peninsula in the south of the Isle of Skye, Scotland with an associate campus at Bowmore on the island of Islay. Sabhal Mòr is an independent Academic Part ...

on the

Isle of Skye The Isle of Skye, or simply Skye, is the largest and northernmost of the major islands in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate from a mountainous hub dominated by the Cuillin, the rocky slopes of which provide some of ...

. He wrote the novels ''The Nessman'' and ''Visiting the Bard'' in English. He won the Stornoway Gazette Award for new play in 2009 at the

Royal National Mòd The Royal National Mòd () is an Eisteddfod-inspired international Celtic festival focusing upon Scottish Gaelic literature, traditional music, and culture which is held annually in Scotland. It is the largest of several major Scottish Mòd ...

. His novel '' Ro Fhada san t-Suidheachadh Seo'' won the first prize at the 2015

Donald Meek Awards The Donald Meek Award (Scottish Gaelic: ''Duais Dhòmhnaill Meek)'', named in honour of Scottish Gaelic writer and professor Donald Meek, were annual prizes for original literary works in Scottish Gaelic of any genre. The awards were given by The ...

Gaelic publications

* 1995. ''Cha Sgeul Ruin E: Taghadh De Sgeulachdan O Chaochladh ùghdaran'', Acair, * 1989. le Aonghas MacDhòmhnaill ''Murchadh agus Am Bradan'' Steòrnabhagh: Acair :* nobhail don òigridh * 1990. ''Trì dealbhan-cluiche'' Slèite, An t-Eilean Sgitheanach: Clò Ostaig :* Ro-ràdh (dha Magaidh Choineagan) :* Bùth a' Bhaile :* A' Home Brew :* Dol a dh'fhaicinn Nighean an Rìgh * 1992. ''Am Fear Meadhanach'' Conon Bridge: Druim Fraoich (nobhail) * 1999. ''Lìontan sgaoilte'' Slèite, n t-Eilean Sgitheanach Cànan * 2011. ''Cuid a' chorra-ghrithich'' Inbhir Nis: Clàr * 2011. ''Sia Dealbhan-cluiche'' Inbhir Nis: Clàr :* An staffroom :* Toiseach an earraich :* An sgrìobhaiche :* 'S e seo do bheatha :* Na craoladairean :* Am fear a chaidh dhan eilean. * 2015. ''Ro Fhada san t-Suidheachadh Seo.'' Winner of the first prize at the

Comhairle nan Leabhraichean: Duais Dhòmhnaill Meek 2015
/ref>

English publications

* 2000. ''The Nessman'', Edinburgh:Birlinn, * 2003. ''Visiting the Bard'', Edinburgh: Polygon,

References

External links

Interview with the BBC
Also a
Archive.org

Review
nbsp;of 'Cuid a' chorra-ghrithich' by R. Black. Published 1 October 2011. {{DEFAULTSORT:Caimbeul, Alasdair (writer) Scottish Gaelic writers Living people 1941 births 21st-century Scottish writers Scottish Gaelic dramatists and playwrights Sabhal Mòr Ostaig People from the Isle of Skye People from the Isle of Lewis People from Ross and Cromarty 20th-century Scottish dramatists and playwrights 21st-century Scottish dramatists and playwrights