Introduction to 

Isle of Coll Song

When the Glasgow Coll Association was in its early heyday, a competition was organised for a song about the island. The prize-winning entry was Isle of Coll, with words by Kirsty Campbell, the air by her husband, John McGee and arranged for the piano by William Jack.

Kirsty was the youngest in the family of Captain John Campbell of the SS Hebrides. The children were all identified as Mairi Sgiobair, Niall Sgiobair etc., rather than by the usual patronymics. Captain John was born about 1853 at Caolas where his family had lived for generations. He married a Uist woman and the family was born and brought up in Glasgow. The only surviving member is Neil, a retired clergyman living in Falkirk. 'Mairi Sgiobair' was president of the Glasgow Coll Association for many years. Kirsty's sons Peter and Ewen are faithful visitors to the island.