A bumper number of entrants have helped make an islands festival of Gaelic music the biggest one that organisers can remember.
Mull Provincial Mod is the last round of competitions prior to the Royal National Mod contest in Glasgow next month – and the the Tobermory event was blessed with 200 more entries than last year at the weekend.
But the highlight of the bash was the gathering of more than 250 children to join choir conductor Janet Campbell for a singing session on the beach at Tobermory Bay.
Chairwoman, Janet MacDonald, yesterday praised the high quality of entries from across the country.
Mrs MacDonald said: “This is the biggest competition I, or any of the committee, can remember.
“It has been so well supported from across Scotland and there were some excellent competitions.
“We had a grand ceilidh on Saturday night to give out many of the prizes.
“It was lovely to see so many people brave the weather on Saturday to bring choirs to the island from as far afield as Glasgow and Edinburgh.
“This year our numbers were up by 200 entries. We had more than 1,600 entries into competitions, which is quite incredible.”
Winners hailed from across the region.
Argyll-based Atomic Piseag took the silverware in the ladies competition, Taynuilt Gaelic Choir lifted the prize for the puirt, Oban Gaelic Choir won the mixed choir, and Ceann an Tuirc men’s choir were placed first as male choristers.
There were 250 children, 12 junior choirs, 10 senior choirs and more than 40 individual adults taking part.
Mrs MacDonald added: “It was wonderful to see all the children on the beach, from the small island schools to larger choirs singing. It was quite something to see.
“The Mull Provincial Mod is run by a hard-working committee and a great number of volunteers, and I am surprised each year at just how well it runs with so many people taking part.
“The commitment of everyone involved is quite incredible.”
