The opening weekend of the Royal National Mod was declared a huge success yesterday.
Inverness has officially welcomed back Scotland’s biggest Gaelic cultural festival for the first time in 17 years.
It is a signature event of the Highland Homecoming celebrations and a fitting return to the Highland Capital.
The festival runs until Saturday, October 18 and is expected to bring up to £3million to the local economy.
Over Friday, Saturday and Sunday there was a procession through the city, Fringe events including the opening concert featuring Gaelic music stars Skipinnish, and an opening address by John Macleod, president of An Comunn Gaidhealach which organises The Mod.
He highlighted the positive growth of Gaelic-medium education, particularly in the cities, and raised questions about the Gaelic Language Act and whether Gaelic does command “equal respect” to English.
The official opening was performed by Secretary of State for Scotland Alastair Carmichael.
A brand new app has been giving visitors real time event listings and results and the Mod Shinty Cup was staged, with Boleskine beating Inverness 4-2.
The packed Fringe programme was launched with the Fiddlers’ Rally concert on Saturday night which involved more than 100 players, led by Inverness musician Bruce MacGregor.
On Saturday, 22 children’s competitions took place in fiddle, chanter bagpipes, piano, accordion, hornpipe and melodeon.
Brothers Sandy and Finlay Cameron, of Roybridge, both won awards with Sandy, 17, taking the James R Johnston Memorial Trophy in the piping ceol mor competition and being placed third in the piping ceol beag.
Meanwhile, Finlay, 13, took first place in the 13-15 age group Bagpipes Open Competition.
Over the next six days, more than 3,000 competitors will compete in another 180 competitions in Highland dancing, Gaelic music and song, literature and drama, for Gaelic speakers of all abilities.
The biggest Fringe in the Mod’s 122-year history will be running alongside the competitions with possibly up to 100 events taking place.
There will be concerts featuring Cruinn and Skerryvore, street theatre, meet the author events, pub music nights, children’s disco, come and try sessions and a ceilidh.
John Morrison, chief executive of An Comunn Gàidhealach, said: “It’s been a wonderful start to the Mod and Inverness has already proved itself to be a welcoming host.
“Some of the most coveted awards and events are still to come and we’re all eager to see who takes away the Gold Medals on Thursday.
“I do hope non-Gaels also get a taste for the Mod and maybe even pick up a phrase or two in Gaelic. There are some brilliant gigs and concerts taking place as part of the Fringe – from sessions at Hootananny’s, the Ironworks and Blackfriars to name a few, concerts by Gaelic music stars at Eden Court to events like the children’s disco and even Echoes of War which is a free event at 1pm on Wednesday at the Town House.”
Children’s competitions will continue throughout Monday and Tuesday. The adult competitions will commence on Wednesday, including the literature awards, Gold Medal qualifying, the Silver Pendant Final and Traditional Gold Medal qualifying.
On Thursday, the much-anticipated Gold Medal Final and Traditional Gold Medal final will be held, and on Friday the Lovat and Tullibardine and Margrat Duncan trophies for choirs will be awarded.
The Mod will close on Saturday, October 18 with a procession of massed choirs going through the city.
Results
Saturday
Piping – B360 Piobaireachhd (James R Johnston Memorial Trophy) 1 Sandy Cameron, Roybridge, 2 Colin Campbell, Inverness, 3 Jonathan Greenlees, Glasgow.
B361 March, Strathspey and Reel (John T. MacRae Cup) . Gordon McCready, Paisley, 2 Gavin Ferguson, Glasgow, 3 Sandy Cameron, Roybridge.
C130 March (16-18) (Royal Highland Fusiliers Cup) 1 Cameron MacDougall, Acadamaidh Rioghail Bhaile Dhuthaich, 2. Brìghde Chaimbeul, An Caol, 3 Melissa Jeffrey, Eilean Leodhais.
C131 Strathspey and Reel (16-18) (Col Murdoch MacTaggart, Bowmore, Memorial Trophy) 1. Cameron MacDougall, Acadamaidh Rìoghail Bhaile Dhuthaich, 2. Brìghde Chaimbeul, An Caol, 3 Melissa Jeffrey, Eilean Leòdhais.
C132 Piobaireachhd (under 19) 1 Cameron MacDougall, Acadamaidh Rioghail Bhaile Dhuthaich, 2 Brighde Chaimbeul, An Caol, 3 Callum Wynd, Ard-sgoil Naomh Modan.
C108 March (13-15) (Roderick Munro Trophy) 1 Ben Muir, Taigh Phreston, 2 Eoghainn Peutan, Ard-sgoil Phort Righ, 3 Katie MacDonald, Barra.
C109 Strathspey and Reel (13-15) 1 Finlay Cameron, Acadamaidh Dholar, 2 Calum Craib, Beinn na Faoghla, 3 Katie MacDonald, Barra.
C86 March (under 13) (Roderick Ross Memorial Trophy) 1 Eosaph Caimbeul, An Caol, 2 Archie MacLean, Bun-sgoil an Aodain Bhain, 3 Jonathan Beaton, Àrd-sgoil Phort Righ.
C85 Chanter (under 13)
1 Molly Alice Perkins, Sgoil Phaibil, 2 Anna Magee, Bun-sgoil Thunga, 3 Laura Robertson, Comhlan-pioba Loch Abair.
Solo fiddle – C118 (13-18) (Robert MacCallum Memorial Trophy) 1 Magnus Westwell, Ard-sgoil Coille nan Ridirean, 2 Hannah MacRae, Ard-sgoil Lochabair, 3 Eilidh MacLeod, Sgoil MhicNeacail.
C83 (under 13) 1 Rona MacLeod, Acadamaidh Rìoghail Bhaile Dhuthaich, 2 Anna Westwell, Ard-sgoil Broughton, 3 Alice Nic a’ Mhaoilein, Coisir Og an Rubha.
Fiddle groups – C176 (under 19) 1 Tarsainn an Drochaid, 2 Sgoil Chiuil Lochabair, 3 C for Craic.
C176A (under 13) 1 Na Fidhlearan Beaga.
Accordion – B370 March, Strathspey and Reel 1 Brandon MacPhee, Caithness, 2 Graham MacLennan, Stornoway, 3 Ruairidh MacLean, Loch Bhraoin.
C178 (under 19) 1 Alasdair MacDonald, Ard-sgoil Ghearrloch, 2 Connor Alasdair MacPhail, Ard-sgoil Thioradh, 3 Ciorstaidh-Sarah Chaimbeul, An Caol.
C84 (under 13) (Daniel G. R. Burt Memorial Trophy) 1 Kyle Gordon Rowan, Ard-sgoil Cnoc a’ Ghiuthais, 2 Eoin Coinneach Cuimeanach, Bun-sgoil Gheàrrloch, 3 Anna Magee, Bun-sgoil Thunga.
C178A Traditional (under 19) 1 Kyle Gordon Rowan, Ard-sgoil Cnoc a’ Ghiuthais, 2 Ciorstaidh-Sarah Chaimbeul, An Caol, 3 Lauren Anne Maclean, Western Isles.
Melodeon – C179 (Under 19) (Hebrides Haulage Trophy) 1 Annie Margaret Maclennan, Sgoil MhicNeacail, 2 Duncan Shirkie, Sgoil MhicNeacail, 3 Catriona Bain, Sgoil MhicNeacail.
C88 (under 13) (Salar Trophy) 1 Calum Alexander Maclennan, Sgoil MhicNeacail, 2 Tormod Niall Maclennan, Sgoil Shiaboist.
Piano – C116 (13-18) (Margaret Hill-Boyle Memorial Trophy) 1 Cara Gordon, Ard-sgoil Inbhir Theorsa, 2 Eilidh G Morrison, Sgoil MhicNeacail, 3 Duncan MacLeod, Acadamaidh Rìoghail Bhaile Dhuthaich.
C81 (under 13) (Jenny M B Currie Kilt Pin) 1 Isla NicLeoid, Bun-sgoil Stafainn, 2 Domhnall MacGriogair, Sgoil Ghaidhlig Ghlaschu, 3 Lewis Sutherland, Sgoil Ghaidhlig Ghlaschu.