Fionn MacColla

After graduating first in the country for his teaching exams, Mac Colla was appointed headmaster of Laide Public school in Wester Ross at the age of 19.

According to Martin Hopkinson, "It was James Whyte, a St Andrews-based American supporter of the Nationalists and patron of contemporary Scottish art and culture, who bought Baird's portrait of Mac Colla, a painting that has sadly disappeared.

And the Cock Crew takes its title from the gospel story of Peter the disciple who ended up denying and thus betraying Jesus.

The Albannach has a modern (20th century) setting, and makes wry comments on contemporary Gaelic, and general Scottish attitudes.

[4] Selections for Makars' Court are made by The Writers' Museum; The Saltire Society; The Scottish Poetry Library.