ACG Board
John Macleod (President)
John is a native Gaelic speaker from Carloway in the Isle of Lewis, but has lived in Edinburgh since 1970 when he moved there to join the police service. Now retired, (but not idle) he has been actively involved in several areas of Gaelic development, notably education, arts and community, for many years. He was Convener of Comann nam Pàrant (Nàiseanta) for seven years, his two children Màiri & Calum having been educated through the medium of Gaelic in Edinburgh.
Amongst his current duties are Gaelic translation work, distributing Gaelic News Bulletins, part-time Gaelic Community development work in Edinburgh, and Gaelic Adviser to Comunn na Clàrsaich, with active involvement in the organisation of the Edinburgh International Harp Festival. He became President of An Comunn Gaidhealach in 2007, having been a South-East Regional representative on the Ard Chomhairle. John is married to Christine who belongs to Caithness – co-incidentally the venue for Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail 2010.
Janet MacDonald (Convenor)
Janet was born and brought up in Tobermory, in Mull, and in fact she still lives there. She graduated in Gaelic and Mathematics from Edinburgh University, and spent many years teaching those two subjects. She won the Gold Medal in Inverness in 1984, but before that she competed in many Local and National Mods. She was a member of the “Sound of Mull” group, which was very well known in the 70s and 80s. She still sings with the Mull Choir and Atomic Piseag.
She has worked for the Gaelic cause all her life. Since stopping teaching full time, she works for Sabhal Mor Ostaig, tutoring students of An Cùrsa Inntrigidh, and other college courses. Also she is involved with the running of the Mull local mod, Fèis Mhuile, the Mull & Iona Gaelic Partnership, and any other initiatives which support the language. Janet likes to ensure that the Gaelic of Argyll has a high profile, where possible!
John Morrison (Chief Executive)
John is the Chief Executive of An Comunn Gaidhealach. Born and brought up in Ness on the Isle of Lewis he worked previously as the Finance & Administration Manager at the Angus & Dundee Tourist Board and prior to that as Assistant Secretary at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, University of Dundee. In his spare time he helps run a Youth Football Team and has been a member of Broughty Ferry Community Council. He is also a board member of the Tayside Buildings Preservation Trust.
Robin Banks
Robin Banks is a law graduate of Edinburgh University and thereafter practised as a solicitor in his home town of Oban. He served 15 years as a councillor on Argyle and Bute Council and for the latter 6 years was Depute Leader. He has been a member of several committees of An Comunn for many years and at present serves on the Finance, Administration and Staff Committee and the Royal National Mod Standing Committee.
Tom Mitchell
Tom Mitchell has been a member of An Comunn for a number of years now and has been helping at Mods for more than 40 years. He was a Director of An Comunn Gaidhealach Ltd and represents An Comunn on the McCaig Trust and also the North Lanarkshire Gaelic Initiative Committee. Tom is a member of the Glasgow Branch, lives in Cumbernauld and represents Southern Region West on the Board of Directors.
Norma A Young
Norma, who is from the Isle of Skye, works as a Quality Improvement Officer for Highland Council Education and has responsibility for aspects of Gaelic Medium Education across Highland. She is an Associate Assessor with HMIE and a member of the Educational Broadcasting Council for Scotland.
She has been involved with the Skye Provincial Mod since returning to Skye to take up the post of Head Teacher in 1985. She has been an active member of Roinn a Tuath since 1991, holding the post of chair for 4 years and, due to work commitments, more recently vice-chair. She is a member of the Board of An Commun and is involved with the National Mod since 2001.
Donald MacDonald
Donald joined An Comunn Gaidhealach (and the SYHA!) in 1982 when he went to work in London. He became involved in running the Lewis Provincial Mod in the early nineties and moved forward with Mòd Ionadail Leodhais in 2001. He was joint treasurer at the National Mods held in the Western Isles in 2001 and 2005 and Treasurer for 2011; he joined the board as one of the 2 representatives from the Western Isles region in 2007. He has worked as a Software Analyst for the local council, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar since going ‘back’ to Lewis in 1987. His main leisure pursuits are hill walking and travel.
Amy MacAulay
Amy MacAulay is originally from South Uist but has lived on the Isle of Lewis for over 20 years. It was while she was working as Secretary for An Comunn Gàidhealach in Stornoway in 1991 that she got involved with the Provincial Mòd in Lewis and is still part of the organising committee. She was on the local committee for Mòd nan Eilean Siar 2001, was local Mod Convener for Mòd 2005 and is Vice Mod Convener for Mòd 2011. She is also chairperson of Fèis nan Còisir and vice-chairperson of Laxdale Ladies Choir.
After leaving An Comunn, Amy worked for Grampian Television before she joined Studio Alba in 1999 as part of the TeleG team and also provides subtitling facilities for Gaelic television production companies. In her spare time she enjoys singing and walking – but not usually at the same time!
Calum Iain MacLeod (Observer)
Calum Iain is currently Director of Development with Comunn na Gàidhlig. Prior to that he worked for An Comunn Gàidhealach and the Gaelic Media Service. Amongst organisations Calum Iain is involved in are the Donald Stewart Memorial Trust and the BT National Schools Debate. He is also involved in community groups. Calum Iain is from Ness, Isle of Lewis.
