The Royal National Mòd (Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail) continues today (Thursday 20th October) in the Western Isles as Rural Choirs take to the stage. The coveted Gold Medal competition took place yesterday evening, with Carol Maclean and Hector MacEachairn walking away with the awards. Carol had travelled from Mull, whilst Hector came from Argyle to compete in the competition in Stornoway.
Yesterday also saw the prestigious Silver Pendant competition take place at the Lewis Sports Centre, as Fiona Ross from Glasgow won the ladies award and Fergus Muir of Bowmore won the men’s title.
Today, the Rural Choirs will look to make their mark on the 2016 Mòd, particularly in the Grampian Television Trophy and the Sheriff MacMaster Campbell Memorial Quaich competitions. Traditional solo competitions will also run today, with the qualifiers in the morning and the Mary Lamont Gold Medal Traditional Final in the evening. Over on Harris, the Sir E. Scott will host this year’s Highland Dancing competitions.
In the Fringe today, emerging musicians will entertain the crowds in ‘Music at the Stones’ at the Callanish Visitor Centre. ‘Echoes of War’ at Stornoway Town Hall will reflect on conflicts through song and music, featuring singers such as Erik Spence, James Graham, Kirsteen Menzies and the Dingwall Gaelic Choir. The internationally acclaimed ‘Breabach’ will show in Stornowy’s An Lanntair tonight, the production has won several awards around the globe. Closing the evening, the Mòd’s annual Convener’s Ceilidh will take place at the Caberfeidh Hotel, organised by the convener of the local organising committee, Norman MacDonald.
Elsewhere at the Mòd, CalMac have launched their ‘Your West Coast’ campaign with an innovative film exploring the ferry company’s historic role in Scotland’s West coast. The three and a half minute clip includes imagery from the 1944 David MacBrayne film ‘Islands of Youth’ as well as new CalMac footage that has been projected onto landscapes around the West coast. The campaign highlights the iconic Scottish ferry providers’ modern era and enduring stability of 165 years in service. The soundtrack has been provided by Oban band Skippinish, with their song ‘Home by the Sea’ which lyrically narrates the story of the film, and includes a Gaelic version of the song. (see attached release for more details).
John Morrison, Chief Executive of An Comunn Gàidhealach, said:
“It’s been a quick but great seven days since the Mòd started. We’ve seen some fantastic performances in all the competitions, and last night’s Gold Medal was truly outstanding; huge congratulations to Carol and Hector. As we reach the final few days here in the Western Isles, there are still some great competitions to come. The atmosphere around the Western Isles has been wonderful, and we look forward to the last few days at this year’s Mòd”
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Hebrides Today brings you the latest news from the Western Isles
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