Bring on the bling: Skye singer wins all three Mòd Gold Medals
A singer from the Isle of Skye max-ed out with the bling on his lapel at the Royal National Mòd in Oban on Thursday, by winning the last of the Gaelic competition’s three Gold Medals, The Oban Times Gold Medal, at his third attempt.
A Gaelic singer can win three Gold Medals at the Royal National Mòd. On Wednesday, men and women compete for the An Comunn Gàidhealach Gold Medal, for singing two own-choice songs. On Thursday, they contend for the Traditional Gold Medal, for doing the same, but in the traditional style.
Also on Thursday, they can go for the golden triple with The Oban Times Gold Medal, the Bonn Oir ’Tìm an Òbain’, by singing a prescribed song.
At this year’s contest, in Oban Congregational Church, it was ’Òran air breith Prionnsa Teàrlach’ (’A Song upon the birth of Prince Charlie’), composed by John McLachlan of Kilbride in Nether Lorne.
The music judge was Kenneth Thomson, retiring after 41 years as conductor of Ceòlraidh Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu (Glasgow Gaelic Musical Association), Scotland’s oldest Gaelic choir founded in 1893.
After the performances, Mr Thomson said: "It is a strong song with lots of scope. We are looking for spectacular performances. This was not easy for us to judge!"
The Gaelic judge Catherine Primrose added: "The Gaelic was extremely high. It was fantastic - and so it should be at this stage, going for The Oban Times Gold Medal."
Carol NicIllEathain from Tobermory finished third, Hannah Russell from Airdrie second, and, in first place, came Darren MacIlleathain, a freelance video editor from Herebost, Dunvegan, now living in Glasgow.
Darren, supported by 10 members of his family in the church pews, said: "I feel proud, surprised, hearing the other two. They were fantastic. I thought if only I had gone on first, I would have felt less nervous!
"This is the third Gold Medal I have won: the An Comunn Gàidhealach Gold Medal in 2003, the Traditional Gold Medal in 2009, and now I have won this one in 2024.
"It is quite difficult to win all three. I always wanted The Oban Times Gold Medal. This is third time lucky! I won it in Oban too - that is extra special!"
Hot on the heels of The Oban Times Gold Medal in the Oban Congregational Church was Precenting a Psalm, in which a leader, or "precentor," sings a line from the psalms, followed by the rest of the congregation, embellishing the melody as they wish, in a free heterophonic fashion. The famous musical artist Van Morrison, we’re told, called it ’the Gaelic blues’.
The competition, and the Dr Alasdair Pàdruig Barden Memorial Salver, was won by Henry Ian Short from London, known as ’Iain Beag’, accompanied by members from Còisir Lunnainn (London Gaelic Choir).
The judge, Christine Primrose, praised the "beautiful sound", as did the compere Norman Mackay, who added: "It was lovely to hear. It takes a lot of courage and you did that very well. The congregation was very, very good."
Next year Còisir Lunnainn, which was founded in 1891, will mark 100 years since Margrat Duncan, commemorated at each Royal National Mòd in the area choirs’ coveted Margrat Duncan Memorial Trophy, conducted the London choir for the first time.
Còisir Lunnainn’s president, Fergus Reoch, who hopes to stand in Margrat Duncan’s shoes by conducting the choir next year, said they are raising money for the restoration of her grave in Twickenham, and compiling information about Margrat Duncan for anyone to learn about her story on the internet.
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