Rural choirs from all over Scotland came together in Paisley on Thursday to celebrate the beauty of Gaelic song, but in the end singers from Argyll, Lochaber and the Outer Hebrides hauled most of the trophies home.
Lochs Gaelic Choir from Lewis were awarded the Lorn Shield for their outstanding performance, and Bùrach, a choir linked to Mull and Morvern, took home the Sheriff MacMaster Campbell Memorial Quaich, both for the second year running.
First thing that morning, in Paisley’s Wynd Centre, was a new contest for choirs to sing accompanied by piano. Four competed, three from Glasgow and Còisir Ghàidhlig an Òbain (Oban Gaelic Choir) – which emerged victorious, unlike the subject of their song.
The Oban choir chose ‘Òran do Bhonaparte’, a song to Napoleon Bonaparte, written by the bard James Shaw, The Lochnell Poet, who was originally from Mull but settled in Ardchattan. “The choir performed fantastically,” said its conductor Sileas Sinclair. “We are really enjoying this new competition.”
A few minutes’ walk away in Paisley Town Hall, 14 choirs stood up on stage to compete in the puirt-à-beul (‘mouth music’). Còisir Ghàidhlig Ìle (Islay Gaelic Choir) finished first, carrying the Aline MacKenzie Memorial Trophy back on the ferry to the ‘Queen of the Hebrides’. Two Lewis choirs followed: Còisir Sgìr’ a’ Bhac (Back Gaelic Choir) in second, and Còisir Ghàidhlig nan Loch (Lochs Gaelic Choir) in third.
Then in the afternoon seven choirs competed for the Sheriff MacMaster Campbell Memorial Quaich, such as Guthan Sgìre Pheart, Còisir Ghàidhlig an Iar Tuath, and Còisir Ghàidhlig Luirg, singing stunning performances of ‘Mnathan a’ ghlinne seo’ (‘Women of this glen’) and a song of their own choice.
But it was Bùrach who took home The Sheriff for the fifth time in consecutive Mòds, having won it in 2017, then 2018, 2019, and 2022, with the intervening Mòds in 2020 and 2021 cancelled due to the Covid pandemic. A decade after its first Mòd, in Paisley in 2013, Bùrach certainly does not deserve the name it started with, meaning ‘mess’ in Gaelic.
“It is quite surreal: this is five years in a row. Everybody was fantastic,” said Bùrach’s conductor Riona J I Whyte, who is from Lochaline but now lives on Mull. “Every single choir in this category was fantastic, so it feels amazing to have won the Sheriff MacMaster Campbell Memorial Quaich.
“The Mòd to me is all about friendship; these choir competitions are very special and a great place to make friends. We all support each other, which is a lovely feeling,” she said. “We are all competing against friends.
“I love it. I have had Mòd Club (Comunn Gàidhealach Mhuile) for 20 years. I have children I taught in the Mòd Club who are now singing in Bùrach. That is very special. It keeps it moving.”
Còisir Ghàidhlig Ìle came second in the Sheriff MacMasters, singing Tiriodh, Tìr Mo Ghràidh. All the hard work paid off for the choir’s 28 members from Islay, who began rehearsing 10 months ago back in January.
Conductor Arlene McKerrell, whose mother, sister and nephew are all in the choir, too, was “delighted” with the Islay singers’ performance – their first Mòd back since the Covid pandemic. “We have had a good day,” she said. “It could not have gone better.”
Two other rural choirs from Argyll, Còisir Ghàidhlig an Eilean Mhuilich (Mull Gaelic Choir) and Còisir Ghàidhlig Thaigh an Uillt (Taynuilt Gaelic Choir), finished third equal.
“It was brilliant,” said the conductor of Mull Gaelic Choir Donna Dugdale: “We had lots of fun. It felt really good. We sang as well as we could. Everybody was smiling when we left the stage. We are hoping to meet up with Taynuilt and Oban for a wee sing-song in the hotel.” The Mull choir, numbering 32 members that day, chose the song ‘Òran do Bhonaparte’ (‘Song to Bonaparte’).
Taynuilt Gaelic Choir’s conductor Audrey MacLeod Paterson added: “I am absolutely delighted with the way Taynuilt Choir sang. The emotion they got into the song was very important. They did so well.” They sang a “beautifully sensitive rendition” of ‘Mnathan a’ ghlinne seo’ about the Glencoe massacre.
The performance was especially poignant for the singers, because their Gaelic had been taught by the late linguist Brigadier John Macfarlane, who passed away in May this year. “It was very emotional for us,” Audrey said.
“He liked us to sing in Taynuilt Gaelic. I think he was the last native speaker. He used to tell us about the cultural importance of the songs: where they came from, what to put into them. He put so much research into it. We sang thinking of him.” BBC Alba’s Andreas Wolff, who worked with Brigadier Macfarlane, is now tutoring the choir in Argyll Gaelic.
“It was excellent,” agreed Audrey’s husband David Paterson, one of the singers. “We came fourth in the puirt à beul, and third equal in the Sheriff McMasters. We were up against a lot of strong choirs.”
Seven different rural choirs also competed for the magnificent Lorn Shield in the afternoon, singing the prescribed ‘Nam aonar le mo smaointean’ (‘Alone with my thoughts’) and a song of their own choosing. In the end, it was a clean sweep for the Outer Hebrides.
Lochs Gaelic Choir lifted the shining silver targe for their outstanding performance. “It feels absolutely fantastic to have won the Lorn Shield again,” said their conductor Ronald Murray. “We won last year and to win again is just unbelievable. The choir and I are over the moon.”
Another Lewis ensemble Back Gaelic Choir, conducted by Avril Allen, came second, while Còisir Ghàidhlig Bharraigh (Barra Gaelic Choir), conducted by John Joe MacNeil, finished third, singing a song written by Gillebrìde MacMillan and arranged by Sìleas Nic Na Ceàrdaich.
“What a week we’ve had at the Mòd,” said Còisir Ghàidhlig Bharraigh expressing its pride. “Congratulations to all the Barra winners throughout the week.
“Special congratulations to three of our choir members: Theresa Irving (Silver Pendant Winner 2023), Emma MacLeod (Ladies’ Gold Medalist 2023), Iain Beggs (Traditional Gold Medalist 2023).
Mealaibh ur naidheachd air fad! And if that wasn’t enough, we were fifth in the puirt out of 14, and third in the Lorn. Tha sinn uabhasach moiteil.”