An Comunn Gàidhealach Publications > Gaidheal > Volume 26, October 1930--September 1931

An t-Sultuin, 1931.
AN GAIDHEAL.
185
SECRETARY’S NOTES.
All the entries for the National Mod have
now been received, and, while they are not
quite so big as last year, they cannot,
however, but be regarded as most satisfactory.
The total received is 1364, of which 720 are
Juniors and 644 Seniors, and are distributed
over the following sections : —Junior—
Literary, 387; Oral, 134; Duet and Solo
Singing, 176; Choral Singing, 29. Senior—
Literary, 47; Oral, 99; Duet and Solo
Singing, 421; Choral Singing, 51; Instru¬
mental, 24 ; Musical Compilation, 2 ; Celtic
Art (not closed until end of August;
figures will be given later). A gratifying
feature of these figures is that new
records have been set up in the
Junior Choral and Senior Oral competitions.
The Oban and Lorn Association’s War
Commemoration Gold Medal competition has
received the greatest patronage of any in the
Senior Vocal with an entry of 64 names, and
the “James Grant” comes second with 29
ladies and 25 gentlemen taking part. There
are 9 entrants for the Lovat and Tullibardine
Trophy, and it is pleasing to see the name of
the London choir included amongst that
number. Eleven choirs have entered for the
Lorn Shield presented by Colonel and Mrs.
Iain Campbell (Airds) to encourage Rural
choirs. In this competition particularly
many new names have been received, and to
these and all others who are taking part in
Mod competitions for the first time we extend
a cordial welcome.
Through the kind generosity of the Hon.
Mrs. Smyth, Ness Castle, whose deep interest
in the cause of Gaelic is well known to all
who follow the movement, we have to
announce that she has gifted a new trophy,
to be known as the Esme Smyth Shield, for
annual competition by the ladies’ choirs.
We are greatly indebted to the Hon. Mrs.
Smyth for this further expression of her
goodwill, and we thank her most sincerely
for the handsome gift.
The programme and time-table of the Mod
proceedings is in most respects similar to
last year. The Town and Masonic Halls will
be in use during the Mod period to accom¬
modate all the competitions. The competitions
commence on Tuesday, which is devoted
entirely to the Juniors, with the Junior
concert in the evening. The Seniors com¬
mence on Wednesday, and will continue in
both halls until Friday. The Rural choir
competition takes place on Thursday, and,
as usual, Friday will be largely devoted to
choral events. The official opening will be
held in the Town Hall on Wednesday at
12 noon.
The booking arrangement for the Mod
concerts will be undertaken by Mr. George
Souter, The Music Shop, Dingwall, to whom
all application for tickets should be directed.
In order to accommodate all who wish to
attend the Mod grand concert on Friday
evening, two concerts are being held in each
hall, and it would help matters considerably
if local persons and others temporarily
residing in the district would patronise the
second house concerts, and thereby ensure
that those coming by special trains and
omnibuses could gain admission to the first
houses and thus be enabled to return home
as early as possible. The programmes of
each of the concerts are identical, and the
prices for admission to all the concerts are
as follows:—Junior Choir Concert on Tues¬
day evening, 2s 4d and Is 2d; Rural Choir
Concert on Thursday evening, 3s 6d
(reserved) and 2s 4d; Grand Concerts on
Friday evening (Town Hall and Masonic
Hall, 6.30 and 8.45 p.m.), 5s 9d (reserved)
and 2s 4d. Mail orders for tickets should
include return postage, and in the case of
the Grand Concerts it should be clearly
stated whether the tickets required are for
the first or second house concerts.
Special arrangements have again been
made with the Railway Companies and with
Messrs. MacBrayne (1928), Ltd., for the
issue of cheap fare tickets for those travelling
to the Mod. One day return tickets will be
issued from any station with a radius of 60
miles of Dingwall at single fare plus frac¬
tions of a penny. Tickets will also be issued
from any station in Scotland, including
Carlisle and Berwick, at single fare and a
third for the return journey, fractions of 3d
reckoned as 3d. The period for which these
latter tickets are valid has been extended to
include Monday, 28th September, as also
have the return tickets granted by Messrs.
MacBrayne on the same terms of fare and a
third for the return journey to any of their
points of call. Before advantage can be
taken of any of these concessions, special
vouchers, which can only be had from this
office, must be obtained and presented at the
Railway booking offices and on steamboats.
All applications for these vouchers should
reach the office here not later than Saturday,
19th September, and must be accompanied
by stamped addressed envelope.
In order to adhere to the time-table as
closely as possible and prevent undue waste
of time, it would help greatly if competitors
would kindly attend at eaeh hall where they