Hugh Dan MacLennan (

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 ...

: ''Ùisdean MacIllFhinnein'') is a Scottish broadcaster, author and sporting academic with specific interest in the sport of

shinty Shinty () is a team sport played with sticks and a ball. It is played mainly in the Scottish Highlands and among Highland migrants to the major cities of Scotland. The sport was formerly more widespread in Scotland and even played in Northern ...

. A fluent Gaelic speaker from

Lochaber Lochaber ( ; ) is a name applied to a part of the Scottish Highlands. Historically, it was a provincial lordship consisting of the parishes of Kilmallie and Kilmonivaig. Lochaber once extended from the Northern shore of Loch Leven, a distric ...

, he attended the

University of Glasgow The University of Glasgow (abbreviated as ''Glas.'' in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals; ) is a Public university, public research university in Glasgow, Scotland. Founded by papal bull in , it is the List of oldest universities in continuous ...

before going on to teach Gaelic in Millburn Academy,

Inverness Inverness (; ; from the , meaning "Mouth of the River Ness") is a city in the Scottish Highlands, having been granted city status in 2000. It is the administrative centre for The Highland Council and is regarded as the capital of the Highland ...

(later becoming Principal Teacher) and then going to work with BBC Radio nan Gaidheal. He has been Secretary of the Gaelic Society of Inverness and both director and vice president of the

Camanachd Association The Camanachd Association (in Scottish Gaelic, ''Comann na Camanachd'') is the world Sport governing body, governing body of the Scotland, Scottish sport of shinty. The body is based in Inverness, Highland (council area), Highland, and is in ...

and was director of communications for Caledonian MacBrayne. In 1998 was awarded a

PhD A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, DPhil; or ) is a terminal degree that usually denotes the highest level of academic achievement in a given discipline and is awarded following a course of graduate study and original research. The name of the deg ...

by the

University of Aberdeen The University of Aberdeen (abbreviated ''Aberd.'' in List of post-nominal letters (United Kingdom), post-nominals; ) is a public university, public research university in Aberdeen, Scotland. It was founded in 1495 when William Elphinstone, Bis ...

. McLennan is chief presenter and co-hosts the quiz show on Aibisidh on BBC Alba with Mary Anne McDonald. MacLennan has made several guest appearances on BBC Scotland programmes on life in the Scotland. He has written several books and papers on the subject of shinty. He also played the game himself, appearing for Fort William and the Glasgow University Shinty Club.

Commentary

MacLennan also commentates on Pro14 rugby matches on

BBC Alba BBC Alba is a Scottish Gaelic-language free-to-air public broadcast television channel jointly owned by the BBC and MG Alba. The channel was launched on 19 September 2008 and is on-air for up to seven hours a day. The name ' is the Scottish Gae ...

and many non-Gaelic speakers often comment on his near legendary performances such is the excitement and passion he brings to the sport, particularly when commenting on the play of

Glasgow Warriors The Glasgow Warriors are a professional rugby union side from Scotland. The team plays in the United Rugby Championship league and in the European Professional Club Rugby tournaments. In the 2014–15 season they won the Pro12 title and beca ...

Fijian Scrum Half Niko Matawalu. Since 2012 MacLennan has presented ''Aibisidh'', a quiz show on

Bibliography

*''Not an Orchid'' *''Shinty!''

References

External links

Scottish Parliament receives first Gaelic Dictionary of Terms
Shinty players Scottish sportswriters Alumni of the University of Glasgow Scottish non-fiction writers British radio presenters Scottish scholars and academics Living people BBC Scotland newsreaders and journalists People educated at Lochaber High School Year of birth missing (living people) {{Scotland-sport-bio-stub