​Bardic Crown, Silver Pendant and Gold Medal awards imminent on day six of the Mòd

Gaeldom’s ‘hall of fame’ is getting ready to welcome new greats, with a host of highly sought-after honours being decided at today’s Royal National Mòd in Lochaber.

Amongst the highlights will be the Literary Awards, taking place at the Highland Cinema from 12pm. These celebrate Gaelic writing across a number of categories, culminating in the most prestigious of all the literature awards – the historic Bard of An Comunn Gàidhealach, an honorary title bestowed on individuals for their outstanding contribution to the Gaelic literary canon.

Receiving the Bardic Crown this year is Stornoway-born poet Anne C. Frater, who takes over the mantle from Meg Bateman, published poet and lecturer, to become the Mòd’s 61^st Bard since the honour was first introduced over 100 years ago.

Born into a Gaelic-speaking family and community in Upper Bayble, Point, Anne left the island of Lewis to study at the University of Glasgow. There, she graduated with Honours in Celtic and French, going on to gain a Diploma in Secondary Education at Jordanhill College before returning to Glasgow University where she achieved a PhD in Scottish Gaelic Women’s Poetry up to 1750.

In the years since, Anne has held various roles in Gaelic media, lectured at the then Lews Castle College, and worked as a translator and editor. As well as her own poetry collections, Fon t-Slige and Cridhe Creige, her work has appeared in various notable anthologies.

No stranger to the Mòd, Anne was awarded Best Gaelic Book (1995-96) for her first poetry collection, Font t-Slige, became the inaugural winner of the Donald J MacIver Short Story prize (2016) and contributed to the book, 100 Years of the Bards of the Gaelic Society, 1923-2023.

Anne C. Frater said: “I am delighted to receive this honour, especially when I look on the list of previous winners, and I’m not sure that I deserve to be amongst them. I can’t help thinking about the noted poets who helped me when I started composing poetry, Derick Thomson and Kirsty Ann MacLeod, and I hope that I will have the opportunity to encourage Gaelic writing, especially in the Western Isles, in the year ahead.”

Other top Gaelic honours being awarded at today’s Royal National Mòd include crowd favourite, the Mòd Drama Final, staged at Lochaber High School from 7pm.

Fort William’s Nevis Centre will provide the setting for some truly spine-tingling performances from Gaeldom’s top male and female singers. This includes the Silver Pendant Finals – the top competitions for adult learners, with entries up a third on last year – from 2pm, followed by the flagship Gold Medal Final at 7.30pm.

Yesterday saw juniors set a high bar. Amongst these, in the 13 to 15 year old traditional competitions, 13-year-old Seumas Alasdair Macleod from Sir E Scott School on Harris was awarded the Traditional Silver Kilt Pin, while 15-year-old Chloe Campbell from Stornoway won the Traditional Silver Pendant, along with the Ann Kelly MacDonald Memorial Trophy for achieving the highest marks.

Also in the 13 to 15 year old age group, Calum Michael Morrison from Glasgow Gaelic Secondary School won the An Comunn Gàidhealach Silver Kilt Pin. Sophie Stewart, 15, from Conon Bridge in Ross-shire took the An Comunn Gàidhealach Silver Pendant having won the under 19 solo singing competition on Monday.

In the Cogadh nan Còmhlan (Battle of the Bands), Sealladh from Ardnamurchan fought off fierce competition from the other up and coming acts to win the top spot. They won a recording session at a local studio, the Thomas Mitchell Trophy, and the John Robertson Memorial Artwork for their standout performance.

The singing on show in the choral competitions was every bit as stand-out. In the 13 to 18 year old category, Sèisteil from Mull, Morvern and Lochaber won Mrs Campbell Blair Trophy in the Choral Unison Open event, along with the Angus M Ross Trophy for the highest marks in Gaelic and the Belle Campbell Trophy in the Choral Puirt-à-Beul Open competition. Còisir Àrd-sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu was awarded the Oban Times Challenge Trophy in the Choral Harmony Open event.

Nipping at their heels in the under 13 category, Còisir na h-Òige from Inverness celebrated a triple victory. The choir conducted by Iain-Murdo MacMillan won the Aberfoyle & District Branch Trophy for the Choral Unison Fluent event, the Mrs Schroder Cup in the Choral Puirt-à-Beul competition and the Mrs Ann Grant of Laggan Memorial Trophy for the Choral Harmony Fluent event, which also earned them the Susan Paterson Caledonian MacBrayne Trophy for the highest marks across all categories.

In the Choral Unison Open event, Còisir òg Mhuile was awarded the Badenoch & Strathspey Area Committee Trophy.

The live music continues today courtesy of the Màrtainn Skene Dance Band and special guests performing at a Street Cèilidh in Cameron Square from 1pm, followed by a Cèilidh Singing Challenge (Gabh Òran) hosted by MC Robert Robertson of Tide Lines’ fame at the Nevis Centre from 4pm.

Over at the Highland Cinema, literature lovers can join Professor Hugh Cheape in Following in the footsteps of John Luim and other Abrich from 2pm and attend bilingual book launch of former Gold Medal winner Fiona J. Mackenzie’s latest work, The Cadence of a Song: the life of Margaret Fay Shaw, at 4pm.

For youngsters, there’s a fun-filled reading session with BBC presenter Linda Macleod at Duncansburgh Church, a Sradagan Children’s Gaelic Club, and opportunities to join Spòrs Gàidhlig for some outdoor pursuits.

James Graham, outgoing Chief Executive Officer of An Comunn Gàidhealach, said: “Huge congratulations to our newly crowned Bard and, indeed, to all our winners and competitors today. Young or old, learner or fluent, it’s thanks to all those who actively create, showcase and celebrate Gaelic culture that the language remains as relevant in the present day as it’s ever been.”

Iain Robertson, Chair of the Lochaber Mòd Local Organising Committee, said: “The success of any festival is shaped by those attending. So, on behalf of the many organisers, volunteers and venues working behind the scenes, our thanks go to each and every entrant, judge, artist, musician, speaker and spectator for helping make this year’s Mòd as fun as it is full-on. Good luck to everyone vying for an award in today’s competitions and a warm welcome to our new Bard of An Comunn Gàidhealach.”

Highland Council Leader Raymond Bremner said: “A fantastic celebration in Lochaber is in full swing! Highland Council is proud to recognise the very important role the Mòd plays in promoting and strengthening our Gaelic language. Events like the Mòd, and the language and culture which is at its heart, is hugely important to the social, cultural and economic fortunes of the Highland area. The success of the Royal National Mòd continues to show the enormous appeal that traditional Gaelic culture continues to have for people from across the world.”

This year’s event is supported by EventScotland, part of VisitScotland, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Highland Council, The Scottish Government, Caledonian MacBrayne, BBC ALBA, Creative Scotland and SQA.

The Royal National Mòd returns to Lochaber in 2025, from 10 - 18 October. Tickets for flagship events at https://buytickets.at/ancomunn.

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