Oban choir makes history at Royal National Mòd

And there was another first on Friday night at Oban’s Corran Halls - this time for Govan Gaelic Choir.

The outstanding Còisir Ghàidhlig Bhaile a’ Ghobhainn lifted the Margrat Duncan Memorial Trophy, led by their talented conductor Kathryn Callander, who also hails from Oban. This Is their first time competing in the Margrat Duncan and they managed to take the title on their first attempt!

Kathryn, who has been conductor for around eight years, said: “I’m feeling elated and so proud of my choir. The win is even more special because I’m from Oban originally. 

“There’s such a lot of hard work that’s gone in and they’ve pulled it out of the bag today. It’s massive for the choir.

“I’m going to have some Champagne to celebrate, definitely Champagne.”

They say things happen in threes. On Friday night, too, Royal National Mòd stalwart Kenny Thomson was honoured by An Comunn Gàidhealach with a special token of appreciation to mark his last Mòd as a conductor.

The long-standing conductor of Ceòlraidh Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu (Glasgow Gaelic Musical Association), fondly known as the ’GGs’, was recognised for his outstanding 41-year contribution to the choir.

Born in Campbeltown in 1949, though not to a Gaelic-speaking family (although his father had “a few words”), Thomson attended Dalintober Primary School, Campbeltown Grammar School and Keil School in Dumbarton.

He sang in school choirs and when he came to work in Glasgow, joined the Philharmonic Male Voice Choir. When he and his wife-to be, Valerie, were visiting a friend whose father was president of the GGMA, he said that they were short of basses and would Thomson sing with them to perform at the 1968 Mòd. He joined for what was supposed to be six weeks and never looked back.

Thomson, who has been a member of the choir for 56 years, directed it to victory at local and national Mòds. But the Oban Mòd was to be the last one with the baton.

"I have just loved every minute," Kenny told the packed audience in Oban’s Corran Halls. "The friends I have made through all the choirs is wonderful. I will still be singing in the choirs, so I will still be around.

"But it is time for the bodach to call it a day."

Visit our Mòd Live feed for more.