ENA MACDONALD’S NEW BOOK LAUNCHES AT THE NU TRACTOR RALLY

Am Pàipear’s much loved and widely read columnist Ena MacDonald was in Hosta on Saturday
1st June to officially launch her new book Born to Croft, a collection of her monthly columns in
Am Pàipear spanning two decades.

The event was hosted by the North Uist Tractor Rally, and was opened by NU Agricultural
Committee Chair Joan Ferguson, who warmly welcomed Ena:
“Launching Ena’s book here today is especially poignant as the Tractor Rally, as it runs today,
started in 2016 in support of A Million Miles for Ellie, in memory of Ena’s grand daughter Eleanor.”
Joan described Ena as “a crofting icon and an amazing stalwart for ladies in crofting.”

Born to Croft, the book itself, was introduced by publisher and editor Lynn Michell who founded
and still runs the UK’s only independent women’s publishing company, Linen Press.

Patrick Krause, past CEO of the Scottish Crofting Federation, was on hand to praise Ena’s time as
the Chair of the Scottish Crofting Federation. He described Ena as a passionate campaigner for
the crofting cause, saying: “Her good looks and gentle demeanour might fool some, but Ena is
ferocious – and in the best way possible. She has fought for crofters with passion and tenacity,
sitting down with Ministers to tell that what’s what. She is afraid of no-one!”

Iain Stephen Morrison, past Editor of this paper, recounted the considerable contribution Ena had
made and continues to make to Am Pàipear:

“In a day and age when people are brands, when every photo has been through a filter and every
quote has been drafted by a PR person, Ena’s column stands out as an oasis of authenticity. Her
words are insightful, interesting, forthright, funny and sometimes sad; above all, they are real and
that is relatively unique in this day and age.”

“This is a real picture of who we are as a people. What life used to be like here and what life is like
now. For us as islanders, it is very important to remember who we are, what makes us special.
And that’s what Ena’s articles are for me; that’s what her book is all about.”
After the warmest of introductions, Ena treated those gathered to a reading from her new book:

“The most exciting day I have ever experienced was 7th March 1988 when I sold the first
Ardhbann pedigree bull in Oban.” Ena’s story goes on to describe the thrill of out-performing the
Reserve Champion by quite some margin, when the hammer went down on Pibroch Dubh of
Ardbhan at a mighty 2,500 guineas.

Others too, took turns at reading, with Ena’s daughter in law Michelle MacDonald recounting the
dramatic rescue of a stranded calf, and Joan MacDonald reading Ena’s account of ‘Alexander
and the black puddings’.

When she wasn’t reading from her work, she was signing books for the eager fans lined up to
have their copies personalised.

Ena’s wonderful Born to Croft will be loved by readers today and highly valued by historians for
many years to come. The book is published by Linen Press and is available in most island stores.

ENA MACDONALD

Readers of Am Pàipear will be delighted to hear that long-serving and greatly loved columnist Ena MacDonald has published a book based on her contributions to this paper over two decades.

A mix of humorous stories and pithy comment, the book not only charts Ena’s crofting and family life, but takes in the wider context of a changing world; where else would politics, wars and coronations sit in the same column as cattle, crops and cooking? Only Ena MacDonald, in her wise, kind and very human way could pull off such a blend.

The book begins in February 2006 and runs through 300 entertaining pages to the present day, and includes a great array of photographs – something that the Am Pàipear column never provided.

Ena MacDonald really needs no introduction, but readers who are not familiar with her credentials may be interested to know that she was born in 1940 in Ardbhan, Kyles, North Uist and has spent almost her entire life in crofting. 

As a young woman, she left home and spent ten years working first in Glasgow and then in Australia. She returned in 1966 to help her father on the land, and crofting quickly became her passion. 

She recalls creating a stir driving her father’s little red tractor with her blonde hair in a ponytail and often with her young son, Angus, at her side. 

After her father’s death, Ena took over the croft, played a full and active role in all crofting affairs and travelled widely as a representative of The Crofting Federation. She wrote occasional articles for the Scottish Farmer and Highland Cattle Society before starting her regular monthly articles for Am Pàipear.

In 2006 Ena was awarded the MBE for services to crofting and to the community in North Uist. 

For Ena herself, the book has been long in the making:

“Over the years, so many people have asked me ‘Why don’t you put those stories in a book?’ In the late 70s, I wrote to the Highland Cattle Society and had articles published in their newsletters and journals, as well as various other magazines. In 2003, I became chair of the Scottish Crofting Federation and decided that Am Pàipear would definitely be most suitable for me to write about crofting matters. As crofting was my passion, the local crofters enjoyed reading the political and practical news. I had many treasured memories that were still so important to me and my stories were very varied. I enjoyed writing over the years and I do hope that you will enjoy reading this collection of my articles.”

Born to Croft is published by Linen Press and will be enjoying an an official ‘launch do’ at Hosta Hall on Saturday 1st June alongside this year’s Tractor Rally. 

The book will be available to buy and Ena will be signing copies and reading excerpts at 11am and at 2pm.