Seinneadairean a’ dèanamh eachdraidh aig a’ Mhòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail

Issued by Corrie Campbell Associates

Tha fios againn a-nis cò gaisgich nam bonn-òir is nan còisirean dùthchail aig an tachartas Ghàidhlig ainmeil seo

Bha òrain Ghàidhlig ri an cluinntinn air feadh Loch Abar a-raoir is dà sheinneadair a’ faighinn urram ainmeil bonn-òir an t-seann nòis aig a’ Mhòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail, an cuid ainmean a’ dol sìos ann an leabhraichean eachdraidh.

B’ i Màiri NicCathalain à Coatbridge a choisinn an crùn ann an co-fharpais nam ban, ceithir bliadhna na dèidh dhi am bonn-òir  a'  Chomuinn Ghàidhealaich a bhuannachadh ann an Inbhir Nis ann an 2021. Ann an co-fharpais nam fear, chaidh an latha le Donnchadh MacLeòid à Drochaid a’ Bhanna ann an Cataibh air an treas oidhirp is e air an dàrna agus an treas àite a bhuannachadh roimhe.

Thuirt Donnchadh MacLeòid, buannaiche bonn-òir seann nòs nam fear: “Chòrd a’ cho-fharpais rium gu mòr – agus bha mi airson bonn-òir a bhuannachadh o chionn fhada, rud a bha mi a-riamh ag iarraidh. Bha mi còig no sia bliadhna a dh’aois nuair a thug mi pàirt aig a’ Mhòd a’ chiad turas, ann an Dùn Omhain, agus bha mo shùil air a’ bhonn-òir on àm sin. Bha ar pàrantan gu mòr airson ’s gun cuireamaid gu feum ar cuid Gàidhlig taobh a-muigh na sgoile agus b’ e seinn an dòigh dhòmhsa a’ Ghàidhlig agam a chumail a’ dol agus feabhas a chur oirre. Tha mi toilichte gun do rinn mi oidhirp eile ’s gun robh de dh’earbsa agam, tha mi cho pròiseil asam fhìn.”

Thuirt is Màiri NicCathalain, buannaiche bonn-òir seann nòs nam ban: “Tha mi cho toilichte – cha robh mi an dùil buannachadh idir. Bu toil leam taing mhòr a thoirt do Cheana Chaimbeul agus Iseabail T a chuidich mi thairis air na bliadhnaichean agus dha mo mhàthair is deagh charaid Màiri C NicGilleEathain à Barraigh a thug brosnachadh dhomh cumail a’ dol leis an t-seinn. Seinn sa Ghàidhlig, sin pàirt dhe mo chultar, pàirt dhe mo dhualchas is tha mi cho pròiseil às. Tha mi an dòchas gum brosnaich seo daoine òga gu seinn cuideachd, gu sònraichte na h-òrain mhòra. Tha e do-chreidsinneach, dà bhonn-òir a bhith agam a-nis. Cha do rinn mi seinn san t-seann nòs on a bha mi 15 agus leis a sin, ’s e dùbhlan a bh’ ann a thilleadh dhan nòs seo. Ach, an-tà, saoilidh mi gun do rinn mi a’ chùis air!”

Bha còisirean dùthchail o fheadh na h-Alba a’ strì ri chèile, leis na ceudan dhiubh a’ tighinn cruinn air a’ Ghàidhealtachd. ’S e Còisir Ghàidhlig Bharraigh a thog Sgiath Latharna, duais a bha gach aon dhiubh ag iarraidh, agus bhuannaich Còisir Ghàidhlig Ìle Cuach an t-Siorraim MacMhaighstir Caimbeul a tha a cheart cho ion-mhiannaichte.

Thuirt John Joe MacNèill, fear-iùil Chòisir Ghàidhlig Bharraigh: “Tha sinn air ar dòigh glan. ’S e latha cho sònraichte a th’ ann dhuinn oir tha Gruagach Òg an Fhuilt Bhàin, òran a thagh sinn fhìn, gu math sònraichte dhuinne. Chaidh an òran seo a sgrìobhadh mu dheidhinn bana-Bharrach agus chuala sinn gu tric e nuair a bha sinn òg. Bha sinn air ar bioran agus shileadh deòir no dhà sa chòisir nuair a bhuannaich sinn an duais am bliadhna – tha e do-chreidsinneach agus cho sònraichte, iongantach air fad. Tha a h-uile duine cho toilichte agus bha a h-uile duine ag obair cho cruaidh fad nam mìosan mòra. Tha e cho snog gun tàinig e ri chèile mar a bha sinn an dùil air an latha – air mhire buileach.”

Thuirt Libby NicSheathanaich, an leughadair Gàidhlig aig Chòisir Ghàidhlig Ìle: “Tha a’ chòisir air mhire! ’S e cho-fharpais theann a bh’ ann, gu dearbha fhèin, agus ged a bha fios againn gun do rinn sinn gu math – ach cha bhi thu cinnteach gus an cluinn thu an sgòr deireannach. Tha e cho cudromach dhuinn gun do bhuannaich sinn duais nan còisirean dùthchail oir bha sinn ag obair cho cruaidh fad na bliadhna. Thòisich sinn san Fhaoilleach, a’ tighinn cruinn turas gach seachdain gus an robh e dìreach ceart. Tha sinn a’ riochdachadh ar n-eilein an seo agus tha seo cho prìseil do mhòran mar sin.”

Thig an tachartas as motha ann an saoghal na Gàidhlig gu aona-cheann an-diugh ann an co-fharpais nan còisirean sgìreil. Tha Sgiath MhicShimidh is Thulaich Bhàrdainn agus Geall-dùbhlain Mairead NicDhonnchaidh ion-mhiannaichte ri bhuannachadh agus tha còisirean o cheithir rannan ruadh na RA, a’ gabhail a-staigh Glaschu, Obar Dheathain, Lunnainn, an t-Eilean Sgitheanach agus nas fhaide air falbh a’ cur brod an òrain is an ciùil air an àrd-ùrlar tron latha ann an Ionad Nibheis.

An dèidh na co-fharpais theann seo, bidh an Dannsa Mòr againn, leis a’ chòmhlan-ciùil tradaiseanta às na h-Eileanan Siar, Beinn Lee. Seo an cothrom mu dheireadh ann an Ionad Nibheis do dhaoine casan dannsa a chur air an làr aig cèilidh bheòthail, a’ cur crìoch air an t-seachdain ann an nòs fìor Ghàidhealach fhad ’s a chumas taighean-seinnse a’ Ghearastain a’ dol leis na seiseanan beòtha acasan is spiorad a’ Mhòid gar toirt a dh’ionnsaigh deireadh na seachdaine.

Thèid feadhainn a chruthaicheas obair-ealain a th’ air a spreigeadh le cultar is tìr nan Ghàidheal a chomharradh cuideachd feasgar an-diugh is Duais Ealain na Gàidhealtachd ga thoirt seachad ann an Taigh-ealain MhicCaluim. Thagh na britheamhan, Beth Robastan Fiddes agus Donaidh Rothach, iad fhèin nan sàr luchd-ealain cuideachd, 12 obair-ealain dhen 70 a tha gan taisbeanadh o fheadh na Gàidhealtachd is nan Eilean.

Thuirt Peigi NicGilleFhinnein, Àrd-oifigear Gnìomha eadar-amail a’ Chomuinn Ghàidhealaich: “Chan eil ach latha eile dhen Mhòd air fhàgail agus tha tachartasan a’ dol gun sgur, eadar obair-ealain, ceòl, dràma is spòrs agus innse sgeulachdan, dannsadh cèilidh is ionnsachadh – sàr-thaisbeanadh de ghràinnean-mullaich cultar na Gàidhlig.

“’S e seud ann an crùn a’ Mhòid a th’ ann am bonn-òir an t-seann nòis an-còmhnaidh, ri taobh Sgiath Latharna agus Cuach an t-Siorraim MacMhaighstir Caimbeul is bha e fiù nas fheàrr na bha daoine an dùil agus bu chòir dhan a h-uile duine a bhuannaich duais a bhith air leth pròiseil asta fhèin. Tha iad a-nis ann an talla nan sonn, gualann ri gualainn ri seòid seinn na Gàidhlig.

“Tha an t-aoibhneas is an spionnadh a bheir na còisirean dhan Mhòd gun a leithid, a’ glacadh spiorad a’ chompanais a th’ aig teis-meadhan an tachartais seo. Tha mi an dòchas gum bi àm comharraichte math air an latha mu dheireadh dhen Mhòd am bliadhna aig a h-uile a tha an sàs ann.”

Thig Mòd Loch Abar 2025 gu crìoch a-màireach le tachartas mìorbhaileach nan Co-chòisirean far an cluinnear na ceudan de sheinneadairean às na còisirean còmhla ann an Ceàrnag Chamshroin ann an taisbeantas drùidhteach a chomharraicheas deireadh na fèise annasach seo.

Fhuair am Mòd taic o EventScotland, na phàirt de VisitScotland, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd, Riaghaltas na h-Alba, Cailleannach Mac a’ Bhriuthainn, BBC ALBA, Alba Chruthachail agus SQA am bliadhna.

Bidh Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail ann an Loch Abar gu crìoch air an 18mh dhen Dàmhair 2025. Airson tiocaidean is barrachd fiosrachaidh, tadhail air www.ancomunn.co.uk.

Singers soar into the history books at the Royal National Mòd

Traditional Gold Medal and Rural Choir champions revealed at the prestigious Gaelic event

Lochaber was alive with the sound of Gaelic song last night as two vocalists were crowned winners of the prestigious Traditional Gold Medal competition at the Royal National Mòd, etching their names in the history books.

It was Màiri Callan from Coatbridge who was crowned victor in the ladies competition, having won the Gold Medal in Inverness in 2021. In the mens, it was third time lucky for Duncan MacLeod from Bonar Bridge in Sutherland who came out on top having previously placed third and second.

Men’s Traditional Gold Medallist Duncan MacLeod said: “I really enjoyed the competition - getting the Traditional Gold Medal has been my longest goal and something I’ve always wanted to achieve. I was five or six years old when I first competed at a Mòd in Dunoon and ever since I’ve wanted to win the Gold Medal. My parents were very keen that we used our Gaelic outside of school and singing has helped me keep up and improve my Gaelic. I’m glad I went to the effort to compete again and trusted myself, I’m feeling really proud.”

Ladies’ Traditional Gold Medallist Màiri Callan said: “I’m really happy – I just did not expect to win at all. I would like to say thank you to Kenna Campbell and Ishbel T for helping me over the years and my mum and good friend Màiri C MacLean from Barra for encouraging me to keep singing. Singing in Gaelic is my culture, it's part of my heritage and I'm very proud of that. I hope to encourage other young people to sing as well, particularly the big songs. Having the two Gold Medals now feels unbelievable. I've not sung in the traditional style since I was 15, so to strip back to the Seann Nòs style, it was quite challenging. But, well, I think I've done it!”

Rural Choirs from across Scotland also went head to head, with hundreds gathering in the Highlands to compete. The hotly contested Lorn Shield was lifted by Barra Gaelic Choir, while Islay Gaelic Choir won the sought-after Sheriff MacMaster Campbell Memorial Quaich.

John Joe MacNeil, Conductor of Barra Gaelic Choir, said: “We're absolutely delighted. It's a really special moment for us because Gruagach òg an Fhuilt Bhàin, which was our own choice, is a really special song to us. It’s a song written about a woman from Barra, so we’ve grown up listening to it and it just means so much. There was a lot of excitement and a lot of tears shed from the choir on winning this year – it’s an unreal and special feeling, I would describe it as electric. Everyone’s absolutely delighted and everyone's worked so hard for months and months. It’s been lovely for all that to come together in the way that we wanted – we’re just overjoyed.”

Libby Shaw, Gaelic Reader of Islay Gaelic Choir, said: “The choir is feeling ecstatic! It was a strong competition, it really was, and although we knew we had sung well – it’s not finished until the results are read out. It means so much to win at the Rural Choirs, because we've worked all year for it. We started in January and have been working right through once a week to get it to perfection. We’re representing our island so that means a lot to people.”

The world’s biggest Gaelic event reaches a crescendo today with the Combined Areas Choirs’ Competition. The sought-after Lovat & Tullibardine shield and Margrat Duncan trophy are up for grabs, with choirs from across the UK, including Glasgow, Aberdeen, London, Skye and beyond, set to put their best vocals and musical arrangements forward at the Nevis Centre across the day.

The fierce competition will be followed by An Dannsa Mòr (The Big Dance) with Hebridean trad band Beinn Lee. This final fling at the Nevis Centre will give attendees the chance to hit the floor for a lively cèilidh, ending the week in true Highland style, while Fort William pubs continue to be bursting with live sessions as the Mòd spirit ramps up into the weekend.

Artists inspired by the culture and landscape of the Gaeldom will also be celebrated this afternoon with the unveiling of the Highland Art Prize winner at a ceremony at McCallum Art House. Judges Beth Robertson Fiddes and Donnie Munro, both accomplished artists in their own rights, selected 12 artworks from more than 70 on show from across the Highlands and Islands.

Peigi MacLennan, incoming Interim Chief Executive Officer of An Comunn Gàidhealach, said: “Friday marks the penultimate day of the Mòd and wall-to-wall events celebrating everything from art, music and drama to sport, storytelling, cèilidh dancing and learning – a true showcase of Gaelic culture at its finest.

“The Traditional Gold Medal final, always a jewel in the Mòd’s crown, alongside the Lorn Shield and the Sheriff MacMaster Campbell Memorial Quaich exceeded all expectations, and the winners should take immense pride in their achievements. They now join the ranks of Gaelic song’s most cherished torchbearers.

“The joy and energy the choirs bring to the Mòd is unparalleled, capturing the spirit of camaraderie that defines the event so beautifully. I hope this year’s event closes out in special fashion for all involved.”

The Lochaber Mòd 2025 draws to a close tomorrow with the spectacular Massed Choirs event, where hundreds of choir members’ voices will join in unison at Cameron Square for a goosebump-inducing performance to mark the end of the remarkable festival.

This year’s event is supported by EventScotland, part of VisitScotland, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Highland Council, The Scottish Government, Caledonian MacBrayne, BBC ALBA, Creative Scotland and SQA.

The Royal National Mòd takes place in Lochaber until 18 October 2025. For tickets and more information, visit www.ancomunn.co.uk.