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Marcas Mac an Tuairneir

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Contact: marcasmac@hotmail.com
Local authority: Edinburgh City
Languages: English, Gaelic
Marcas Mac an Tuairneir's headshot

I am currently The Balmoral Hotel’s poet-in-residence, working in Gaelic, English and Polari. My poetry has been shortlisted for the Wigtown Gaelic Poetry Prize four times, winning in 2017, and I have won awards at the Virtual Mòd, Scottish Association of Writers, The Baker Prize and The Highland Literary Salon. I have published three collections of poetry and a co-authored pamphlet, the most recent being Dùileach (Evertype, 2021).

Translation is at the heart of what I do, working between languages and with collaborators – most notably speakers of Scots, Irish and Manx.

As a singer-songwriter, I have collaborated with some of Gaeldom’s favourite singers and have released a number of singles myself, pioneering pop music in the Gaelic language.

With a track-record in education, both Gaelic-medium with youngsters and with adult learners in tertiary and community settings, I am well placed to deliver either or a performance or a creative development experience.

Diversity is at the heart of what I do – whether it’s Gaelic, LGBTQ or the urban experience. I have run creative workshops for a number of groups, including the Highland LGBTQ Writers’ Group, Moniack Mhòr and Historic Environment Scotland.

(Photo credit: The Balmoral Rocco Forte Hotel)

Local authorities can visit

Aberdeen City; Aberdeenshire; Angus; Argyll and Bute; Clackmannanshire; Dumfries and Galloway; Dundee; East Ayrshire; East Dunbartonshire; East Lothian; East Renfrewshire; Edinburgh City; Falkirk; Fife; Glasgow City; Highland; ; Inverclyde; Midlothian; Moray; Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles); North Ayrshire; North Lanarkshire; Orkney Islands; Perth and Kinross; Renfrewshire; Scottish Borders; Shetland; South Ayrshire; South Lanarkshire; Stirling; West Dunbartonshire; West Lothian

Events can deliver

Bilingual event; Mentoring; Multilingual event; Panel event; Performance; Reading; Residency; Talk; Workshop; Chairing events

Audience can work with

Adult learners

Topics of work

Activism & protest; Contemporary fiction; Discrimination & prejudice; Drug addiction, alcoholism & substance abuse; Emigration & immigration; Fairy tales, folklore & mythology; Friendship; Gender equality; Health including mental health & wellbeing; History; LGBTQIA+ characters; Music; Politics; Religion & beliefs; Rhyming books for younger readers; Translation; Urban communities

Age groups published for

Children; Teens; Adults

Age groups can work with

9-11; 12-14; 15-18; 18+

Audience size

0-10; 11-30; 31-100; 100-500; 500+