After eight days of competitions, performances and festivities, the Royal National Mod said goodbye to this year’s host, Dunoon.
The biggest Gaelic festival in the world was hailed an enormous success, with a vast array of talent taking to the stage to compete for the coveted medals in more than 200 competitions.
Thousands of Gaels and supporters made their way to Dunoon to enjoy all that the Mod had to offer, with about £2million expected to have been generated for the local economy.
GALLERY: Check out this selection of winners from this year’s Royal National Mod in Dunoon
To officially bring the event to an end, a massed choir made its way along Argyll Street fro one last performance on Saturday, led by the conductors of some of the Mod’s most prominent choirs.
A ceremonial handover passed the reins from this year’s hosts to the Glasgow 2019 team.
The Gaelic festival will return to the city of Glasgow for the first time in nearly 20 years, taking place from October 11 to 19 next year.
John Morrison, chief executive of organisers An Comunn Gaidhealach, said: “The Dunoon Royal National Mod has been as spectacular as ever.
Royal National Mod brings estimated £2.5 million to local economy
“We’re delighted to have delivered a Mod that, while holding true to tradition, used new ways to engage with young people and we couldn’t be prouder of the young Gaels on our youth committee.
“The level of competition has been superb, and it’s been a treat to welcome Mod regulars and newcomers alike.
“We are grateful as ever to everyone involved in running this year’s Mod, especially the local organising committee and all of our volunteers and sponsors.
“As we wave goodbye to the 2018 Mod, we say hello to another, with planning already well under way for 2019’s event in Glasgow. We very much look forward to welcoming everyone once more.”
This year’s most sought-after prizes were awarded to Ruairidh Cormack, of Portree, and Ceitidh Campbell, of Inverness, in the Gold Medal competition; Ciaran MacAonghais, of An Gearasdan, and Steaphanaidh Chaimbeul, of Kyle of Lochalsh,
in the Traditional Gold Medal; and Eileen Duncan, of Tongue, and Mikie MacEanrig, of Keiss, in the Silver Pendants.
Melvich Gaelic Choir won the Lorn Shield in the choir competitions, while Burach scooped the Sheriff MacMaster.
Stirling Gaelic Choir was presented the Margrat Duncan Memorial Trophy, and the Lovat and Tullibardine was won by the Lothian Gaelic Choir.
“Dunoon has been a roaring success.”
The outgoing chairman of this year’s organising committee in Dunoon hailed the event as “superb”.
Former council leader Dick Walsh, chairman of the Dunoon organisation committee, said the town had been the “ideal venue” for the 2018 Mod.
He thanked the 120 volunteers for helping put the event together and said he hoped it will return there again soon.
Mr Walsh said: “We were delighted when it was agreed that we would host the 2018 Royal National Mòd.
“At which point we brought the people together, particularly the committee that’s been in place for almost the last 27 years, so we have a good bit of experience to provide the support arrangements required to host a national event.
“From this week, we are confident once again that it will be confirmed that Dunoon will be an ideal venue to host the Mod, as the feedback we are getting from the town has all been positive.
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“The voluntary workers have all enjoyed supporting the committee in hosting the Mod, and as I said, there are many people who have expressed their satisfaction about Dunoon and thought the organisation was superb.
“On the basis of that, the planning, the participation and the overall enjoyment, it has been a major success for us.”
He said the whole town had got behind the eight-day event.
“The town has thoroughly enjoyed having the Mod here,” he said. “The volunteers have been absolutely fantastic, nothing was too difficult for them. If there were some people not able to help for any reason, other members stepped up to the plate and volunteered their time.
“Overall, I think it can be concluded that the Royal National Mod here in Dunoon has been a roaring success.”
