Two island singers have joined the Royal National Mod’s Hall of Fame after winning the Gold Medal in Perth.
Gaels gathered at Perth Concert Hall last night to watch Annie MacDonald and Ruairidh Gray take home the An Comunn Gaidhealach Gold Medal.
Mr Gray from South Uist, was awarded the Islander Shield and the John MacArthur Memorial Trophy, as well as the Gold Medal Prize in memory of Innis MacLeod, Shawbost and the Archie Maclean Memorial Salver.
He also won first in the Donald Thomson Prize for achieving the highest marks in Gaelic in the men’s competition and the Gilbert MacPhail Prize for the highest marks for music.
Miss MacDonald, 24, also walked away with an arm full of trophies, including the Islander Shield and the Archie Maclean Memorial Salver.
She was awarded first place for the Donald Thomson Prize for achieving the highest marks for Gaelic in the ladies competition and joint second for the Comunn Gaidhealach Prize for her marks in music.
The pair were among a strong-line of competitors.
Each hopeful took to the stage at the Gannochy Auditorium to perform one prescribed song and one of their choosing in the hopes of blowing away the judges.
Joining ‘the greats’
Mr Gray from Daliburgh, South Uist, was brought to tears as the scores were read aloud in the auditorium.
The 20-year-old, who is in third-year at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, said it was impossible to sum up in one sentence the emotions he felt.
“It is 130 years this year since the Mod was established and this is the 117th Gold Medal competition,” he said.
“What I do is think about the people who have won this before. You think of the great Robert Maclean, Alistair Gillies, Calum Kennedy and Margaret Duncan – really the stars of our culture – and now to see myself be joined with them on that list, it is really the biggest thing that you’ll ever do.
“Certainly in our culture, it is the premium award so to win that, I can’t really sum it up.”
Celebrating the best of Gaelic language and culture
“To perform in front of people is the greatest privilege I have often said and especially, to do it in the company of the fellow competitors,” he added.
“It elevates it to a whole other level.
“When you are on stage with people who also love – equally as much as I do – what they do and to share the stage with those people and to sing with those people, to people who already love it so much, it is the best feeling ever. It is wonderful.”
The Gold Medal winner first competed at the Royal National Mod in 2009 just aged seven, and has picked up multiple awards since then.
His younger brother Michael Gray watched on with pride as he accepted the Gold Medal.
The 17-year-old said: “I’m over the moon that he won today. Of course, I would have been proud of him either way but it is great to see that all of the effort he has put in since January this year, it is good to see its finally paying off.”
First time is the charm for Annie
Miss MacDonald meanwhile won the Gold Medal as she returned to the Royal National Mod for the first time since childhood.
The 24-year-old, from Staffin, Skye, previously competed while at primary school, but then took a break.
This year, she decided to return, cementing her name in the history books.
She travelled from London – where she is studying classical singing at university – to take part.
“I’m quite overwhelmed,” she said. “I don’t think it has really settled yet that this has happened but I feel really humbled and very grateful to have received the Gold Medal. I am very, very happy. I can’t quite believe it.”
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