An Comunn Gàidhealach Publications > Gaidheal > Volume 42, October 1946--September 1947

124 AN GAIDHEAL. An t-Iuchav. 1947.
LORN, MORVERN AND MULL PROVINCIAL
MOD.
After a lapse of many years a most successful Mod was held
at Oban on Friday, 6th June, and over 200 Competitors from
a wide area gave a good account of themselves. There was
clear evidence that teachers and conductors had worked hard
to achieve a high standard in both language and music. During
the forenoon competitions were carried on simultaneously in
three halls, and in the afternoon Solo and Choral Singing
Competitions were held in the Oban Old Parish Church Hall,
the largest hall available.
A very successful Gaelic Concert was held in the evening,
with Mr. Neil Shaw, General Secretary of An Comunn, pre¬
siding. The programme was sustained by the leading prize¬
winners and by Miss Helen T. MacMillan and Mr. Donald
MacVicar, Mod Gold Medallists. The prizes were presented to
the successful competitiors by Mrs. Athol! Robertson.
The Oban Branch Committee are to be heartily congratu¬
lated on the excellent arrangements made and on the success
of the Mod, which had been in abeyance since 1938. Mr.
Angus MacLeod, Rector of Oban High School, is President,
with Mr. Donald Thomson, Vice-President, Mrs. M. Innes,
Secretary, and Miss Isa MacIntyre, Treasurer.
The Adjudicators were : for Gaelic—Mr. Donald Graham,
M.A., Inverness, Rev. William MacDonald, M.A., Oban, and
Mr. Neil Shaw, Glasgow; for Vocal Music—Dr. MacCourt,
Edinburgh ; for Instrumental Music—Dr. Atholl Robertson,
Oban.
The following is a list of the First-Prize Winners:—
Junior Section.
Oral. — Reading Poetry (Own Choice—age under 14)—
David Stewart, Oban. Reading Prescribed Prose—Duncan
Maclnnes, Duror. Reading Prose at Sight—Anne MacDougall,
Oban High School. Reciting “Am Bruideargan ” from
Memory—Mary Bremner, Duror. Reciting Story (Special
Prizes by Mrs. Atholl Robertson, Oban)—Anne Cameron and
Mary MacKinnon, both of Oban H.S. (equal).
Vocal Music. — Solo Singing (Own Choice—age under
12)—David Balfour, Claggan. Solos (Own Choice—Boys)—
Dugie McColl, Duror. Solos (Own Choice—Girls)—Catherine
Anne Clarke, Taynuilt. Solos (Prescribed—Boys and Girls)—
Isobel MacKechnie, Tobermory.
Choral.—Unison Singing (Prescribed Songs)—Duror Choir
(Conductor, Miss Nan Hunter). Singing in Two-part Harmony
(Prescribed Songs)—Oban High School “ A ” Choir (Conductor,
Mr. Stallybrass).
Instrumental.—Chanter Playing : March—Dugie McColl,
Duror; Strathspey and Reel—Dugie McColl. Pianoforte
(March, Strathspey and Reel)—Agnes Cowe, Tobermory.
Comh-fharpaisean air son Comunn na h-Oigridh. C6mh-
radh-—R. Nic-an-t-saoir. Dealbh-cluich—Ard-Sgoil an Obain
“B.”
Senior Section.
Oral.—Reading Prose at Sight—Dolly Cameron,
Ohan High School. Reciting “ Oran an t-Samhraidh ” from
Memory—Rachel MacIntyre and Dolly Cameron, both of
Oban H.S. (equal). Dialogue—Isabel Stewart, Oban, and
Alasdair Kennedy, Oban H.S.
Vocal Music. — Solo Singing (Own Choice—Ladies)—
Nan Hunter, Duror. (Own Choice—Men)—Hugh MacIntyre,
Oban. Male and Female Voices (Prescribed) — Nan
Hunter. Port-a-Beul (Own Choice) — Nan Hunter. Duets
(Own Choice)—Isabel M. Scott and Hugh MacIntyre, Oban.
Choral.—Prescribed Song and Own Choice (Female Voices),
Taynuilt Choir (Conductor, Iain MacSween).
Pendants for Highest Aggregates (Vocal Music)—Ladies—
Nan Hunter; Men—Hugh MacIntyre.
CUM SUAS DO GHAIDHLIG.
An uair a bha mi 6g b’aithne dhomh seann bhean chdir a
bha gl6 dheidheil air a’ Ghaidhlig a bhruidheann, ged a bha
pailteas Beurla aice. Bha i ’na bean shunndaich agus air leth
deas-labhrach agus geur-fhoclach.
Latha bha sud thubhairt fear 6g spaideil rithe :
“A Bheitidh, car son a tha sibh a’ bruidheann Ghidhlig
daonnan ? Tha fios agaibh gu bheil Beurla gu leoir aig a
h-uile neach anns an kite so.”
“ Tha thu ceart, a laochain,” ars ise, “ ach tha mi a nis
’nam sheann bhean, agus co aige bheil fios de a’ chainnt a bhios
aca anns an ath-shaoghal ? Bidh cothrom nas fhearr agam an
uair a tha a dha dhiubh agam. Mar sin chan ’eil mi dol a
dhi-chuimhneachadh mo Ghaidhlig ! ” S. A. C.
❖
BADENOCH-STRATHSPEY PROVINCIAL MOD.
The first post-war Mod in this district was staged at
Kingussie on Friday, 6th June. The Mod was originally fixed
for April, but the very severe weather conditions at that time
necessitated a postponement to June. Although the entries
were not up to pre-war standards, there was a satisfactory
reponse from the various districts.
The Mod was officially opened by Mr. John Campbell, who
gave a spirited address in Gaelic comparing the Badenoch of
his younger days with the present. He missed, he said, the
old Bards, Pipers and Story-tellers, but he was glad to see
that an effort was being made to retain the language and Music
of our people. He wished the Mod every success.
Proceedings began at 9.30 a.m. and the Adjudicators,
Pat Sandeman, Calum Iain MacLeod, Rev. Dr. John Mac-
Pherson, and Mrs. J. M. Matheson, L.R.A.M., had a busy day.
The Concert in the evening was of a high standard, sustained
by the first-prize winners, assisted by Duncan M. MacKenzie
(Mod Gold Medallist), Pat Sandeman, and Dugald Campbell.
The Very Rev. Dr. Dugald MacFarlane made an ideal Chair¬
man. He pointed out the great cultural value of Mods such as
these and exhorted all present to continue with the good work.
Mr. John MacKinnon, M.A., Honorary Secretary, introduced
the Concert items. The various Mod Trophies, eight in number,
were presented by Miss MacKay of Kingussie Secondary
School, and she was warmly thanked hy the Chairman. The
Northern Organiser moved a comprehensive vote of thanks
to all who had helped to make the Mod the success it un¬
doubtedly was.
The following is a list of the First-Prize Winners :—
Junior Section.
Literature. — Essay — J. A. Campbell, Kingussie.
Dictation—J. A. Campbell. Translation from English to
Gaelic—A. MacRury, Kingussie.
Oral.—Reading Poetry (Own Choice)—J. A. Campbell.
Reading Unseen Prose—J. A. Campbell. Reciting “Am
Bruideargan ”■—A. MacRury. Reciting “ Caiseamachd
Comunn na h-Oigridh ’’—Norma Stewart, Kingussie. Con¬
versation (native speakers)—A. MacRury.
Vocal.—Solos — Girls under 12 (Own Choice), Margaret
Barnett, Newtonmore; Girls 12-16 (Prescribed), Joyce
Cattanach, Kingussie ; Boys under 12 (Own Choice)—Edward
Campbell, Newtonmore; Boys 12-16 (Prescribed)—Angus
Montgomery, Newtonmore. Duets (Prescribed) — Jean
Tennant and Ann Reat, Kingussie.
Choral.—Singing of “ Chuir iad an t-suil a Pilat ”—
Kingussie School Choir. Unison and Puirt-a-Beul—Kingussie
School Choir.
Senior Section.
Literature. — Collection of old Place-names in Mod
area—James MacAulay, Abernethy.
Oral. — Reading unseen prose (native speakers)—
Dugald Campbell, Laggan. Reading unseen prose (learners)—
Mrs. Guthrie, Newtonmore. Reciting “ Oran an t-Samhraidh ”
(native speakers)—Dugald Campbell. Narrating Sgeulachd—
Dugald Campbell.
Vocal. — Solos — Ladies (Prescribed), Elsie Ross,
Abemethy; Men (Prescribed),—Andrew MacPherson, New¬
tonmore. Former First-Prize Winners (Prescribed)—-Jessie
MacKerral, Abernethy. Song by local bards—Mrs. MacKerral,
Abernethy. Duets (Own Choice)—Mr. and Mrs. MacKerral,
Abemethy.
Choral.—Singing of “An t-Ailleagan” and “ Ri Guaillibh
a Cheile ” (Mixed Voices)—Newtonmore Gaelic Choir. Singing
of “Mo Nighean Chruinn Donn ” and “ Na Seann Grain”
(Mixed Voices)—Newtonmore Gaelic Choir. Singing o’
“ Puinneagan Chil ” (Ladies’ Choirs)—Kingussie Ladies.
Choir. Puirt-a-Beul (Mixed Voices)—Kingussie Gaelic Choir