Oban Mòd 2024: What's on Wednesday?

Theresa told The Oban Times after her win: "I am delighted I got through my nerves! It is a lot of learning, walking along the beach. I had a lot of help from my neighbours and colleagues at work. I tried to get them all to talk to me in Gaelic."

Last year’s Gold Medal women’s prize was won by Emma MacLeod, 25, of Scalpay, while the men’s prize was taken by Iain Cormack, 21, hailing from Skye. There were incredible demonstrations of musicality and passion for Gaelic song across the evening as vocalists sung a prescribed piece and a song of their own choice.

Coming from a long line of Mòd Gold Medallists, Iain sang the song his father sang 40 years ago when he won the Gold Medal, ’Welcome to the Isle of Skye’. He said: “The song I sang has always meant a lot to us as a family, it’s almost an anthem for Skye. I’m absolutely delighted to be taking home the medal.”

Emma was already a Traditional Gold Medallist, and completed the set with this win. She said: “Winning the Gold Medal means so much to me. I’ve been involved with the Mòd since I was very young and it was an honour to win the Traditional Gold Medal a couple of years ago. I didn’t know if my style of singing would suit this competition and I couldn’t believe it when I saw the scores come in.”

Back in August, the Paisley Mòd Gold Medallists headed stateside for Mòd Chesapeake in Maryland to celebrate the thriving Gaelic connection between Scotland and the USA.

As part of their prize for winning the Gold Medals for Gaelic song, the pair acted as ambassadors at the regional festival, performing and teaching two workshops, as well as attending a celebratory dinner and cèilidh.

Mòd Chesapeake, hosted by Sgoil Gàidhlig Bhaile an Taigh Mhòir, marks a significant milestone in the international outreach of the Royal National Mòd, emphasising its global footprint and fostering strong connections with diaspora communities.

Liam Ó Caiside, co-founder and adjudicator of Mòd Chesapeake, co-organiser of Gàidhlig Photomac and President of An Comunn Gàidhealach Ameireaganach, said: “We are really delighted that Iain and Emma will be here in the States for Mòd Chesapeake this year. This will be our second regional Mòd in this region – between Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia. Scottish Gaelic learners in the region will get great encouragement from this visit – it’s a big honour."

Emma said she was “thrilled to be given the opportunity to go overseas to Mòd Chesapeake as a Gaelic Ambassador, alongside Iain. It’s a great honour to travel so far afield to share my love and passion for the Gaelic language, culture and song.

“Being able to represent Gaelic internationally is not just a privilege but also a testament to the enduring significance of our cultural identity. What better way to learn a language than through song? I live for the Mòd and now I get to go to two within a couple of months - delighted!”

Iain also said it was an "honour" to be invited to Mòd Chesapeake, and he was very proud that he and Emma were there as ambassadors for An Comunn Gàidhealach and the Gaelic community as a whole. "It is very important to maintain the connection of Gaelic culture with American people of Gaelic descent," he said. For more info please visit the Mòd Chesapeake website.