Donald MacDonald was born in Eriskay on 8 May 1912, the eldest of fourteen children of Hector MacDonald, fisherman, from Eriskay (Eachann mac Dhòmhnaill 'ic Aonghais 'ic Eoghainn 'ic Eachainn 'ic Dhòmhnaill Chruinn, 1880-1960), and of his wife Kate MacKenzie from Uist (Ceit Maiseig, 1890-1982). He was educated at Eriskay School, Daliburgh Junior Secondary School, Lochaber High School and Glasgow University (MA in Latin and Gaelic, 1935), followed by a year’s teacher training at Jordanhill College. He then taught in Barra for 11 years, initially at Eoligarry (1936-37) and then for 10 years at Castlebay. In 1947 he returned to Eriskay as headmaster.

In 1949 he married Kate MacKinnon from Barra (Ceit Nìll 'Illeasbaig Nìll Eòin, b.1922). They had four children. He retired in 1977 and was awarded the Silver Jubilee Medal by the Queen. He died on 23 May 1989 and is buried in Eriskay.

MacDonald won the Bardic Crown at the National Mòd in Inverness in 1949 for the poem 'An Ròn'. One of his most popular poems is 'Òran na Politician'.

In summer 1933, while a student, he had collected traditional stories in Eriskay for Trinity College, Dublin. He carried out similar work in Uist in 1934 for An Comunn Gàidhealach, some of the results of which were published in An Comunn’s journal 'An Gaidheal' from 1940.

The stories in these notebooks were collected from Effie Currie. According to the articles in 'An Gaidheal’ she was from Leth Mheadhanach (South Boisdale), and was known as Oighrig Ruadh or Oighrig Eòghainn.