Margaret Bennett’s lifelong passion for oral tradition stems from her musical Gaelic and Scots heritage and her upbringing on Skye, Lewis, and Shetland. Immersed in Glasgow’s folk scene in the mid-Sixties, she met Hamish Henderson in 1966, which inspired her to study Folklore. After qualifying as a teacher, she emigrated to Canada for postgraduate studies at Memorial University of Newfoundland, mentored by Professor Herbert Halpert, a longtime friend of Hamish Henderson.
Margaret spent eight years documenting folklore in Newfoundland and Quebec before returning to Scotland with her son, Martyn. They settled in Kingussie, where she taught and Martyn learned bagpipes. From 1984–96, she was part of Edinburgh University’s School of Scottish Studies and later lectured at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She holds honorary positions at St Andrews University and the Royal Scottish Academy.
A prize-winning author, her works include Scottish Customs from the Cradle to the Grave (1992) and Dundee Street Songs, Rhymes and Games (2021). She has contributed to numerous broadcasts, documentaries, films, and recordings, earning several honours. Known for sharing songs through workshops and festivals, she says, “Nothing better than everyone joining the chorus!” As Hamish Henderson remarked, “Margaret embodies the spirit of Scotland.”
