Willie Macrae

Willie Macrae is head of the only Gaelic Medium Secondary Department in Ayrshire, which is based at Grange Academy Kilmarnock. A native speaker of Gaelic, Willie was brought up mainly in Harris in the Western Isles but completed his school education in Inverness, where he furthered his interest in traditional music at the school folk club. At Aberdeen University in the late sixties, Willie was privileged to hear the great North East singers including Jeannie Robertson, Jimmy Mc Beath and Lizzie Higgins.

Willie plays anglo- concertina and moothie and can be persuaded occasionally to sing in his native language. As well as teaching term time in Kilmarnock, Willie also tutors at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the Skye Gaelic College and teaches evening classes in Kilmarnock.