An Comunn Gàidhealach Publications > Gaidheal > Volume 43, October 1947--December 1948

AN GAIDHEAL.
119
An t-Iuchar, 1948.
Choral. — Unison singing — Kyle of Lochalsh Gaelic
Choir. Harmony (South-West Ross Challenge Shield)—
Balmacara Gaelic Choir.
Instrumental. — Piping — Samuel Stewart, Plockton.
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ISLAY PROVINCIAL MOD.
The Islay Provincial Mod was held in Bowmore on 11th
June. The entries were so numerous that competitions were
held in five halls simultaneously, and the greatest enthusiasm
prevailed throughout. Splendid work was done by local
teachers and others in preparing choirs and individual com¬
petitors, and the standard was consistently high. Gaelic is
very much alive in Islay.
Special thanks are due to the Mod Committee, of which
Mr. Alex. Maclndeor was Convener, Mr. Neil MacGill, M.A.,
Secretary, and Mr. Neil MacKechnie, M.A., Treasurer.
Exceptionally good work was done by Mr. Robert MacArthur,
M.A., who trained two senior choirs and several junior choirs
in addition to preparations for oral and solo work.
The closing concert was presided over by Mrs. Clifton,
Kildalton, and, to accommodate the number of people who
wished to attend, an overflow concert was held in an adjacent
hall, but even this proved inadequate. The guest artistes
were Miss Mary C. MacNiven, Mr. Neil MacLean, and Mr.
Gilbert MacPhail. Because of a cold. Miss Helen T. MacMillan
was unable to sing.
The following adjudicated at the Mod: Rev. John
Anderson, Mr. Malcolm G. MacCallum, Mr. Neil MacLean,
Miss Helen T. MacMillan, Mr. Alexander Nicolson, and Mr.
Neil Shaw.
The First-Prize winners were :—
Junior Section.
Oral. — Reciting Scripture passage — Chris Carmichael,
Bridgend. Reciting poem—William Currie, Port Ellen.
Comhradh (Comunn na h-Oigridh)—Daibhidh Heads, Feachd
Phort Ilean. Dealbh-chluich—Feachd Phort Ilean.
Vocal Music. — Solo singing: boys and girls under
11—Margaret Campbell, Port Ellen. Girls (Gold Pendant)—
Jessie Ross, Port Ellen. Boys (Gold Pendant)—Dugald
MacKerrell, Bowmore. Canntaireachd—Sine Gilmour,
Gortan. Duet singing—Flora and Peggy Ferguson, Bridgend.
Choral. — Two-part harmony (Morrison Challenge
Cup)—Ardbeg School Choir. Unison singing and puirt-a-beul
(MacIntyre Challenge Cup)—Rhinns Junior Choir.
Senior Section.
Oral. — Reading at sight — C. S. Carmichael, Port
Charlotte. Recitation—Chrissie Currie, Keills. Reciting of
original poetry composed by competitor—C. S. Carmichael.
Vocal Music.— Solo singing : Female voices (Gold
Pendant)—Maisie MacLachlan, Bruichladdich. Male voices
(Gold Pendant) — Duncan MacCalman, Port Ellen. Solo
singing (confined to former winners of Pendant and cann¬
taireachd)—May L. MacLean, Port Charlotte. Singing of a
Donnchadh Ban song (Miss MacIntyre Memorial Prize)—
Duncan MacCalman. Singing of a song by Duncan Johnston
(Memorial Prize)—May L. MacLean. Singing of unpublished
song by native of Islay, Jura, or Colonsay (Prize by Glasgow
Islay Choir)—Duncan MacGillivray, Portnahaven. Cann¬
taireachd—Neil Gillespie, Portnahaven. Duet singing—Mrs.
Carmichael and Miss C. Campbell, Port Ellen. Quartette
singing—Bowmore Quartette. Trio singing (male voices)—
“ Lute ” Trio. Trio singing (female voices)—Port Charlotte
Trio. Solo singing of Psalm (Rev. Neil Ross Memorial Prize)—
C. S. Carmichael.
Choral. — Four-part harmony (Morrison Challenge
Cup)—Port Charlotte Gaelic Choir. Unison singing (Greenock
Gaelic Choir Challenge Cup)—Port Charlotte Gaelic Choir.
Female voices (Cameron Challenge Cup)—Port Charlotte
Gaelic Choir.
Instrumental. — Bagpipe playing (open and confined)
-—Dugald Ferguson, Port Ellen. Pianoforte playing (Junior)—
Margaret Matheson, Port Ellen.
PROPAGANDA NOTES.
Northern Area.
The District Mods. — During the period under review,
the main activities of the area have been centred on the
district Mods, seven of which are being held in the month of
June. Two of these have already been held on 4th and 11th
June and reports of them can be seen elsewhere in this issue.
The remaining five Mods will be held at Fort William, Lairg,
Daliburgh, Stornoway, and Portree. For a one-day Mod at
Fort William there are nearly 300 entries, a record, while in
Skye over 500 entries have been received for a two-day Mod.
The Children’s Camps.—^Arrangements are also proceed¬
ing for this year’s All-Gaelic Camp to be held at Inverailort
from 8th July to 2nd August. Ceilidh nan Gaidheal an Inbhir
Nis has made a donation of £5 5s. to the Camp Fund, and the
Aberdeen Branch are again forward with a donation of £2 2s.
to be used for the benefit of the children attending the Camp
this year. These donations are most thankfully received and
will help to provide something extra for the children. Over
sixty members have already enrolled for the Camp and it is
hoped this number will be increased. All members of Comunn
na h-Oigridh attending the Camp must bring their Ration
Books with them, and this also refers to the adults. This is
very important as the Ration Books have to be sent to the
Food Office after the children arrive at the Camp. D. McP.
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INVERNESS OFFICE.
The new address of the Inverness Office of An Comunn
Gaidhealach is 4 Falcon Square, Inverness, and the telephone
number is “ Inverness, 1226.“
This is both the headquarters of Mr. Donald MacPhail, the
Northern Organiser, and the official address for all communica¬
tions concerning the National Mod at Inverness in 1949.
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BAS CHAIRDEAN.
We regret to record the death of Mrs. Greenshields, Loch¬
gilphead, wife of Ex-Provost Alexander Greenshields. Mr.
Greenshields has had a long connection with An Comunn and
his interest in its work has been shared by his family. We
would express our deep sympathy with the family in their
bereavement.
We also regret to note the death of Mr. Angus MacAskill,
Glengarry, one of the founder members of the Glengarry
Branch of An Comunn. Mr. MacAskill, who was ninety years
of age and belonged originally to Skye, was a bard of no mean
quality and was widely known and respected. To this family
also we express our sympathy.
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EDINBURGH LOCAL MOD.
The fourth Edinburgh Local Mod was held in the Central
Halls on 22nd May, and attracted a greatly increased number
of competitors, many of the competitions being “ open.” One
competitor, Carol Galbraith, who had already won several
successes at the Kintyre Mod, flew to Edinburgh on the morning
of the Mod and won three firsts and a second. Altogether the
entries were double those of last year.
The adjudicators were: for Gaelic, Rev. Dr. Coll A.
MacDonald, Mr. John MacLean, H.M.I.S., Mr. Angus Matheson,
and Mr. Finlay J. MacDonald ; for music, Mr. David Yacamini
and Mr. John Whitfield; for Piping, Mr. Euan MacDiarmid.
At the evening concert in the Music Hall, the Chairman
was Major-General Douglas Wimberley, who commanded the
51st (Highland) Division at El Alamein. The programme was
sustained by Miss Cathie B. MacLean, Miss Kitty MacLeod,
and Mr. Donald Maclnnes, along with a number of Mod
prize-winners.
The following are the principal results :—
Junior Section.
Gaelic conversation (for learners under 12)—Catriona
Bethune. Solo singing (confined : under 16)—Murdo Mont-