Ishbel MacAskill facts for kids

Isabella Margaret MacAskill (born Isabella MacIver, March 14, 1941 – March 31, 2011) was a special person who worked to protect Scottish heritage. She was also a very talented traditional Scottish Gaelic singer and teacher. People often called her the "Gaelic diva" because of her amazing voice.

Early Life and Family

Ishbel was born on March 14, 1941, in a place called Loanhead, near Edinburgh, Scotland. She was adopted by Allan and Christina MacIver. Her parents were originally from a small island called Broker, Isle of Lewis. When Ishbel was 12 years old, her family moved to Stornoway, which is the main town on the Isle of Lewis. She went to school there at the Nicolson Institute.

Later, she moved to Glasgow to study secretarial skills at Stow College. She worked for British Rail for a while. In 1964, she married Bill MacAskill, who was from Lochinver, Sutherland. For the next 15 years, Ishbel focused on raising their four children.

Singing Career

Ishbel didn't start singing in public until she was 38 years old! Her first performance was at a smaller event during the 1979 National Mòd, which is a big festival for Scottish Gaelic culture. A musician and producer named Noel Eadie heard her sing and was very impressed. This led to her recording her first album.

With her husband's encouragement, Ishbel soon started performing in concerts and festivals all over the world. She became a regular performer at the Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow and the Celtic Colours Festival on Cape Breton Island in Canada.

In 1999, she was a special guest on a TV show called Transatlantic Sessions 2. In 2003, she represented Scotland at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C., in the United States. She also performed at the World Festival of Island Cultures in South Korea. In 2006, she traveled to Australia. There, she led workshops and concerts about Gaelic songs, helping others learn and enjoy this beautiful music.

Television Appearances

Besides Transatlantic Sessions, Ishbel also acted on television. She played a shop assistant named Nora in a popular Gaelic language soap opera from the 1990s called Machair. This show was on Scottish Television.

Later Years and Legacy

Ishbel MacAskill passed away on March 31, 2011, when she was 70 years old. A special concert was held in Inverness on June 16, 2011, to remember her and her amazing contributions to Scottish Gaelic music and culture. Her husband, Bill MacAskill, passed away later that same year.

Solo Music

Ishbel MacAskill released several albums during her career. One of her well-known albums was called Essentially Ishbel, released in 2000. It featured many traditional Gaelic songs.