Royal National Mòd News

Gold standard showcase for Gaelic singers as Mòd embarks on busiest day

Published: 15 Oct 2026

Senior Drama Mòd Competition

The best Gaelic singers in the world showcased gold standard performances last night as the Royal National Mòd held the illustrious Gold Medal competition at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. Men’s gold medallist Mark Smith and women’s gold medallist Isabelle Bain shared the sheer beauty and power of Gaelic song at its very finest, each scoring the highest marks to fight off tough competition from the Gaeldom’s strongest vocal talent.

The 134-year-old competition is famed for its prestige, with the two singers from Lewis – who were each making their debuts in the competition – joining a long line of previous winners who are among the best known and most highly regarded Gaelic singers in history.

Speaking after her win, Women’s Gold Medallist Isabelle Bain, who is from Lewis and lives in Australia, said: “I’m just delighted and shocked. I didn’t think it would happen, so I’m delighted to have won. I haven’t competed in a few years so in the morning I felt quite nervous, but then this evening I was more comfortable. I don’t know if I was just back in the swing of it, but I really enjoyed singing this evening. It means a lot to be a Gold Medallist. I’m following in the footsteps of so many great Gaelic singers, so I’m delighted to be joining them!”

Men’s Gold Medallist Mark Smith, who is from Lewis and lives in Glasgow, said: “I’m totally in disbelief. I did not expect it at all. It’s way more nerve-wracking than I thought it would be. It feels like a dream right now. I’ve loved learning the songs because it’s made me appreciate Gaelic poetry more, which hopefully is something that I can continue to learn about. It’s opened up a whole way of singing that I didn’t know I could do. Being able to do it in Glasgow has just been so lovely because everyone could come to watch and support.

“I have totally loved representing Lewis. In the morning, I got to sing a song that my grandfather wrote about my granny, so that’s what I really wanted to do. I’m so chuffed, I’m just absolutely over the moon.”

The learners’ equivalent of the competition – the Silver Pendant – was also hosted in the afternoon, with Laura Gormley from Balfron and Euan Paterson of Port Appin each coming out on top. There were trophies galore bagged across the afternoon, with Euan lifting the stunning Alasdair MacInnes Memorial Trophy, while Laura took the Catherine Gemmell Memorial Trophy and the John A MacRae Quaich.

Gaelic theatre was also in the spotlight last night, with Gaelic performance groups from Uist, Skye, Inverness, Islay and Glasgow vying for glory in the Mòd Drama Final.

It was Uist Drama Team who lifted the Premier Award – the West Highland Free Press Quaich – for their performance of Am Faigh an Cowboy Bàs?.

The premier showcase of Gaelic culture and song continues today as the nine-day event embarks on one of its busiest days of events.

Thursday began with a minute’s silence, observed at 9am across all venues, as a mark of respect for this week’s tragedy on Lewis.

Looking ahead, the beloved Combined Rural Choirs’ Competitions and the Traditional Gold Medal event will take centre stage, alongside Highland Dancing contests, with hundreds of people competing at events across the programme today alone.

The festivities of the Mòd, meanwhile, are reaching into every corner of the city, with Gaelic music, song, film, art and culture spilling into all kinds of venues.

In Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Ceòl is Craic presents Guth a’ Bhaile - Voice of the City - celebrating contemporary Gaelic songwriting and emerging talent. Singers Màiri MacMillan and Josie Duncan will perform original songs inspired by the lived experience of Gaels in the city today, joined by acclaimed Haitian composer and multi-instrumentalist Germa Adan and young musicians from Glasgow Gaelic Secondary School.

Edward House, programmed by Glasgow Life, will host more opportunities to experience and participate in Gaelic culture with events like Fèis Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu inviting people to share their memories and tales of one of Glasgow’s best-known thoroughfares at Sauchiehall Street Stories.

Elsewhere Glasgow’s pubs are welcoming the Mòd with open arms, with sessions happening across the week including at the ever popular meeting point, Park Bar, which has live music on every day this week. For those looking to take the celebrations into the small hours, Gluais meaning ‘Move’, will see the finest Glasgow Gaelic DJs take over Nice n Sleazy.

Peigi MacLennan, Chief Executive Officer of An Comunn Gàidhealach, said: “Glasgow has been alive with Gaelic language, music and culture this week, and last night’s Gold Medal competitions were a real highlight. Our winners delivered outstanding performances and thoroughly deserve their place among the distinguished singers who have taken home these prestigious titles over the years.

“Today is another huge day for the Mòd, with hundreds of competitors taking to stages across the city and some of our best-loved competitions getting underway. Beyond the competition halls, Gaelic is filling spaces right across the city. It’s fantastic to see people coming together to celebrate and experience the language and culture in so many different ways.”

This year’s Royal National Mòd in Glasgow 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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