A row erupted yesterday after Royal National Mod hopefuls claimed confusion over the closing date for entries.
It is understood the deadline quoted in the Mod rules was July 5 – but people logging on to the website were told entries were already closed.
In a bid to calm the situation, organisers An Comunn Gàidhealach agreed to push back the deadline for entries to July 5 after “the confusion that was created”.
In spite of a Facebook awareness campaign with a countdown over the past week, at least 30 people were caught out, some being told they could no longer enter.
One of many frustrated choir conductors, Riona Whyte said: “The rules stated that entries would close on July 5. It doesn’t matter if a decision has been made elsewhere to change the date – the rules for the competition still state the original date of July 5 for entries.”
Mrs Whyte, who conducts Burach Gaelic Choir, as well as tutoring many children across Mull, Ardnamurchan and Lochaber, said: “The rules state July 5, and that is what we have been aiming for.”
Many others agreed with Mrs Whyte, one person even posting a reply from the organisers saying the date had been changed to make sure that everyone didn’t apply at the last minute.
On social media one chorister asked: “The entry forms have been online for ages, why didn’t you just enter earlier?”
A conductor, from Glasgow, explained that to enter for a competition, entrants must produce the musical score of the own choice – for every competition being entered.
In some cases, choirs and individuals may not have their own choice composition, with all required parts and connections, until July.
A spokesman from the Royal National Mod said: “We apologise for the discrepancies regarding the final date for submitting online entries for this year’s Royal National Mod.
“All of our communications should state that entries close on July 1 2019. Given the confusion this has created, we have decided to leave entries open until July 5. Tapadh leibh (thank you).”
The spokesman said he believed there was a glitch in the system that had rejected entries, but this had now been resolved.
