Gilleasbuig Eàirdsidh Sheumais | Archibald “Archie” Alex MacKenzie
(1907-1995)

Archie Alex was known as a tradition-bearer, bard and genealogist. Born in Rear Christmas Island to Archibald James (Eairdsidh Sheumais) and Catherine Campbell, he worked as a farmer until he moved to Halifax where he worked in construction and sold insurance. A great enthusiast of Gaelic song and music, he composed many songs, some of which appear in MG 6.6 and The MacKenzie's History of Christmas Island Parish. He traveled to Scotland many times and made lasting friendships that were strengthened over the years through correspondence. Archie Alex was also very successful at Mods and performed extensively. In 1985, he released a revised version of his father's genealogical study of the parish of Christmas Island. Archie Alex often went by "Mac Eairdsidh Sheumais (literally, "Son of Archie James"), in a display of pride in his father's accomplishments. Archie Sheumais, a school-teacher, was a well-known bard and author of the first edition of The MacKenzie's History of Christmas Island Parish. Archie Alex's brother, Hugh Francis, was also a bard and fiddler.

“The Beaton Institute”