Learners triumph, fluent youngsters step forward, and flagship island showcase awaits

​Gaeldom’s young learners are celebrating after a successful day of award wins in the junior competition programme at the Royal National Mòd in Glasgow, while fluent youngsters chase the next round of medals.

Yesterday, Gaels aged five to 19 competed in 30 competitions spanning poetry, storytelling and song, including solo and choral performances.

Of the many stand-out moments, the Solo Singing Learners Girls 13-15 event saw 15-year-old Libby Bezuidenhout from Oban deliver the winning performance of the prescribed song, Òran a’ Chlydesdale, clinching the James C. MacPhee Memorial Medal.

Libby was also awarded the Jean Graham Memorial Trophy, with its distinctive silver quaver, for achieving the highest mark in music and the Alexander Hamilton Trophy for gaining the highest mark in Gaelic.

In the Solo Traditional Mixed Singing Learners competitions, 17-year-old Zoe Leparoux, from Uig on the Isle of Lewis took first place in the 16-18 category to win the Provost of Falkirk Medal, while 15-year-old Robbie Donald MacLean from Barra came out top in the 13-15 category, claiming the Donald Macleod Trophy for the second year in a row.

Shortly after, in the Solo Singing Open 16-18 categories, Cailean Jennet, aged 18, from Oban High School, and Jenna Yule, from Cumbernauld, went on to win the Boys’ and Girls’ events respectively.

The competition was every bit as strong in the choral categories. The U13 events saw young Mull singers come out on top.

Sèisteil Bheag conducted by Riona J I Whyte , delivered a stirring performance of Iorram Ùigeach in the Choral Unison Learners U13 to win The Donald & Mamie MacPhail Trophy, along with The Darlington Society Silver Jubilee for the highest marks in Gaelic and The Morag Robb Memorial Trophy for the highest marks in music.

The same young group from Mull also enjoyed a double win in the Choral Puirt-à-Beul Learners Under 13, and were awarded with both The Macintyre Cup and the Olive Campbell MBE Trophy.

In Choral U19 open competitions, it was a clean sweep for Falkirk Gaelic Junior Choir, winning the Choral Unison, Choral Harmony and Puirt-à-Beul competitions and taking home an impressive eight trophies in total.

A raft of prizes were also handed out at the Junior Literature Prizegiving at The Social Hub, as youngsters of all ages from Glasgow, Inverness and beyond, were celebrated for their efforts in creative writing, art and filmmaking.

The junior competitions culminate today with the hugely popular fluent categories, which have seen the single biggest rise in competitor numbers year on year. Around 1,100 competitors will take part in the Mòd today alone.

Among the most eagerly awaited performances are the Solo Traditional Singing Girls and Boys 13-15 events. Starting at 9am in the main auditorium of the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, the talented teens will each perform a Gaelic song of their choosing as they compete for the Traditional Silver Pendant and Silver Kilt Pin.

In the nearby Strathclyde Suite, meanwhile, the An Comunn Gàidhealach Solo Singing Fluent 13-15 events also get underway at 9am. The girls will perform Thug mi mo làmh don Eileanach and the boys will take on Fàgail Ghlaschu, with both striving to win the An Comunn Gàidhealach Silver Pendant and Silver Kilt Pin.

Adding to the anticipation, today also sees Glasgow’s Glee Club host the annual Cogadh nan Còmhlan (Battle of the Bands), showcasing emerging talent in Gaelic and traditional music. The heats get underway at 1pm, with seven young bands competing to secure a place in the five-strong final this evening from 7.30pm. Up for grabs is the Allan Thomas Mitchell Trophy, along with a dedicated recording time at a professional studio and the John Robertson Memorial Prize.

Away from the competitions, An Drochaid (The Bridge) is the headline Fringe event on everyone’s lips. Described as a ‘who’s who’ of Gaelic diaspora talent, the landmark gathering will bring together more than 50 singers, pipers, and traditional musicians, representing all seven of Glasgow’s Island Associations in a historic national first.

Starting at 8pm, singer and broadcaster Mary Ann Kennedy will lead a stellar line-up at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, filling the venue with the music of Islay, Lewis & Harris, Mull and Iona, Uist & Barra, Skye and Tiree.

Helping keep festivalgoers entertained in the hours beforehand, Edward House will be hosting Songs and Art (Skylark), Class and Conversation Phrases for the Mòd and short film The Tale of the Crow, amongst other events. These will be followed from 5pm by good food and live music with The Road to Glasgow.

The City of Glasgow College, meanwhile, will be running more Sruth media workshops and My World of Work Live sessions for youngsters unable to attend on Monday, and Glasgow Cathedral will provide another opportunity to Meet the Patron Saint.

As day gives way to night, there’s the choice of The People’s Psalms at the Glasgow Film Theatre or a talk by Angus Peter Campbell on Donald Archie MacDonald at the famous Mackintosh Tea Rooms. Alternatively, at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, there will be a Family Cèilidh from 6pm.

Maggie Cunningham, Chair of An Comunn Gàidhealach, said: “The junior competition programme is a Mòd highlight for many festivalgoers and especially so this year with a record number of young entrants across the categories. It’s fantastic to see such engagement with the Gaelic language and culture from an early age.

“With the standard getting higher every year, our congratulations go to all of our young learners who took home a medal yesterday and we wish our fluent learners the very best of luck in today’s packed competition programme.”

D-I Brown, Convenor of the Royal National Mòd Local Organising Committee, added: “One of the standout events of this year’s Mòd Fringe programme is the fittingly named An Drochaid (The Bridge). Connecting each of the Glasgow Island Associations through a shared love of Gaelic music and song, it promises an island gathering the likes of which we’ve never seen before – an evening not to be missed.”

This year’s Royal National Mòd, which runs in Glasgow until Saturday 17 October 2026, is supported by Glasgow Life, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, The Scottish Government, VisitScotland, Caledonian MacBrayne, BBC ALBA, Creative Scotland and Qualifications Scotland.

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