Oban Gaelic Choir have lifted the Lovat and Tullibardine Shield for a third consecutive year as competitions at the Royal National Mod draw to a close.
Gaels descended on Paisley Town Hall this afternoon for the Mod’s area choirs competition.
Choirs from across Scotland took to the stage to perform two songs – a prescribed and a song of their choosing – hoping to win the seal of approval from the judges.
Ultimately, it was Oban Gaelic Choir who emerged triumphant, with an overall score of 380.
The crowd erupted in cheers and applause as conductor Sileas Sinclair took to the stage to accept the shield.
It is the third year the group – comprised of more than 40 members – has won the competition.
Conductor Sileas Sinclair speechless as choir wins prestigious award for a third year
Speaking to The P&J, the proud conductor said she never saw the victory coming.
She said: “I’m a bit speechless but I’m very proud of the choir.
“I knew the choir had done everything myself and Christine had asked them to do and when we came off the stage we felt we had sung well, but you don’t really know how it is going across in the audience and with the adjudicators.
“I came in to listen to the other choirs that were still to go and thought, “Oh wow. They are amazing.”
“I was not expecting it at all.”
Oban Gaelic Choir win an armful of trophies at the Mod
In recognition of their victory, the group left with an armful of trophies, including the “Weekly Scotsman” Quaich, the Donald J MacAskill Memorial Trophy and the Hugh MacCowan Trophy.
Raibert McCallum from Campbeltown took to the stage to present Mrs Sinclair with the Malcolm G McCallum Silver Baton as he attended his 77th annual Mod.
The group’s Gaelic tutor Christine MacIntyre also took to the stage to accept the Donald Thomson Memorial Quaich in recognition of their Gaelic marks.
The choir will also share the Oban Times Silver Salver with the Glasgow Gaelic Choir for achieving the highest marks in music.
Oban Gaelic Choir previously won the award in 2019 in Glasgow and again in Perth last year.
Mrs Sinclair praised the choir for their dedication, adding: “They have put in a huge amount of effort and they work unbelievably hard.”
Black Isle Gaelic Choir win Margrat Duncan Memorial Trophy in memory of much-loved conductor
Black Isle Gaelic Choir were reduced to tears as they won the Margrat Duncan Memorial Trophy for a second year.
Kerrie Kennedy, conductor of Aberdeen Gaelic Choir, stepped in to lead the Highland choir following the death of former conductor Kirsteen Maclennan.
The mother-of-two passed away earlier this month; sending shockwaves through the Gaelic community.
In the Gaelic world, she liked to be known as Kirsteen Menzies.
With Mrs Maclennan’s blessing, the choir took to the stage at Paisley Town Hall to perform an emotional rendition of the song Cladaich Loch Iu; arranged by their much-loved conductor prior to her death.
Mrs Kennedy said the arrangement was her “last gift to the choir.”
Their performance touched the panel of judges, sending them straight to the top of the leaderboard, with an overall score of 371.
Mrs Kennedy took to the stage in tears to accept the trophy and the An Comunn Gaidhealach Silver Baton on Mrs Maclennan’s behalf.
‘It was one of Kirsteen’s last wishes’
Speaking just moments after the prizegiving, an emotional Mrs Kennedy said having the Black Isle Gaelic Choir perform at the Mod was one of Mrs Maclennan’s last wishes.
She said: “It just doesn’t seem real at all. It was one of Kirsteen’s last wishes, so we did it for her.
“She was very strong about the fact that we should be performing today and she asked me a couple of months ago if I could step in if she couldn’t do it. She said, “Promise me you will do it if I can’t”, so I did.
“It is still very raw I think for everybody because her funeral was only on Saturday just past. It all feels like a bit of a dream.
“To receive the baton; it is for her. She was definitely here with her dad today.
“I think she would have been very happy with what we did.”
Watching from the crowd was Mrs Maclennan’s husband Jamie MacLennan as her twin brother John and her mum watched from home.
As well as lifting the trophy, the group were awarded the John Nicol Memorial Trophy and the Staffinders Quaich.
Mrs Kennedy spoke of her pride for the choir, saying: “I just couldn’t have asked any more from them.”
She added: “I don’t think I have ever experienced anything like that, either while singing in choirs or conducting choirs. The sound they made today, was just beautiful.
“They gave it absolutely everything. I just couldn’t have asked any more from them.”
Highland male choir hit the right note during their inaugural Mod performance
A newly formed male choir have taken the Mod by storm as they walk away with their first award.
Eadarainn made their debut at the Royal National Mod in Paisley on Friday in the open male choir competition.
The choir formed earlier this year, bringing members of Inverness and Dingwall Gaelic Choirs together.
Taking to the stage at The Wynd Centre, the 12-strong group put on a pitch-perfect performance to earn them first place.
The Highland-based choir are returning home with an armful of trophies, including the Glen Ballachulish Trophy and the Cor Meibion Bro Glyndwr Trophy.
Conductor Nina MacKellar was also awarded the Hector Russell Dirk.
Mrs MacKellar said the men put on a stellar performance.
She said: “I’m really pleased as I’ve never conducted a male choir before, but they sang fantastic.
“They are very good singers.”
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