QUALITY PERFORMANCES AT PROVINCIAL MODS

11th June 2007

The Provincial Gaelic Mod season is in full swing with events having taken place throughout Scotland showcasing some of the major up and coming Gaelic stars of the future. The Provincial Mods, supported by Caledonian MacBrayne who are the main commercial supporters of the Royal National Mod, the Royal Bank of Scotland, Bòrd na Gàidhlig and the Royal Mail Group offer opportunities for potential National Mod competitors to rehearse their Mod pieces.

Caithness and Sutherland Provincial Mod took place last weekend returning to Thurso for the first time in 21 years with the adjudicators including Beathag Mhoireasdan, Rhona Lightfoot and Isobel Mieras. With Thurso bidding to host the Royal National Mod in 2010, the event offered local people the opportunity to find out what would be involved in staging the national event if the Thurso bid is successful. The Caithness Mod also featured competitors from throughout the area and visiting competitors from areas such as Inverness with Saffron Hanvidge particularly impressive in the singing competitions.
Murdo Morrison, Promotion Manager for the Royal National Mod attended both the Lewis Mod and the Caithness & Sutherland Mod which ended with a packed ceilidh dance and prize-winners concert in the Royal British Legion Club in Thurso on Saturday night.

Mr Morrison said "The Caithness Mod was a big success ending with a packed final event featuring many of the prize-winners from the local area and also some from further afield. Beathag Mhoireasdan and Kenneth Nicolson also went down very well as visiting guest artists at the closing ceilidh. The Lewis Mod was also hugely enjoyable with some top quality performances. It was really encouraging to see the level of interest from teachers, parents and children in both Lewis and Thurso in supporting their local Mods with many also intending to be at Fort William for Mod 2007"

Lewis Provincial Mod, the largest of the Provincial Mods, took place over three days last week featuring participants from a number of island schools. Winners from the Lewis Mod, held in Stornoway included Hannah Knight and Iain M Macmillan both from Shawbost school on the West Side of the island. Among those adjudicating the competitions in Stornoway were Arthur Cormack, Calum Alex Macmillan and Ewan Stewart.

Mr Stewart heaped praise on the performers saying "I was very impressed with some of the talent on show at the Lewis Provincial Mod and the final event on Friday night was a showcase of some of the best young emerging Gaelic talent around"

Stirling Provincial Mod and the Mods in Islay, East Kilbride and Perth & Angus have also taken place with Ardnamurchan set to take place this week (15th June) followed by Oban on 23rd June. September will see Provincial Mods in Lochgilphead and Mull providing final opportunities for National Mod competitors to fine tune their performances ahead of Mod 2007 which takes place in Lochaber from 12th to 20th October 2007.

Photo - Melvich Gaelic Choir