​Biggest names in trad get set for Gael Force 10 gig at Barrowlands

Friday marks another magnificent day for the Royal National Mòd as it reaches its penultimate day with another raft of prize winners crowned and a packed schedule of live music.

The spirit of Gaelic culture and song triumphed last night as vocalists celebrated their winning moments in the likes of the Traditional Gold Medal and Rural Choirs’ competitions.

In the solo Gaelic singing contest, which invites participants to perform traditional songs that they have carefully selected for themselves, Iain Cormack from the Isle of Skye and Glasgow’s Anna MacGregor were victorious.

Each delivered show-stopping renditions on the night, with Portree singer Iain securing his place as a double gold medallist, having previously won the Gold Medal in Paisley in 2023.

It was a hometown win for Anna, who is from Pollokshields and went through Gaelic Medium Education at Glasgow Gaelic School, before studying Gaelic at the University of Glasgow.

Men’s Traditional Gold Medallist Iain Cormack said: “I’m absolutely ecstatic, really. I just can’t believe it. I had a tough time preparing for the competition, losing my voice at the start of the week. I was still struggling with it even this morning, so I was really glad just to get through it. It’s hard to put into words what this means to me. I’ve gone to every single Mòd since I was born. I’m 24 now so to have both gold medals under my belt, that achievement is almost like the culmination of my childhood.”

Ladies’ Traditional Gold Medallist Anna MacGregor said: “It’s such an honour, not only to have won the Traditional Gold Medal, but to have won it in my home city. It is so lovely and I wasn’t expecting it at all. I took part a lot as a child in the Local and National Mòds, but as a teenager, I didn’t do a lot of solo things. I came back to it again as an adult after doing Gaelic at University. I took part in Paisley in 2023 – that was the first time I’d done the National Mòd as an adult, and I thought, it’s in Glasgow this year so I may as well do it again. I’m glad I did!

“If you think about all the singers that have won this, it’s such an honour to be amongst them and to carry that responsibility onwards. I’d like to give a special thanks to Kenna Campbell, who helped me prepare the songs, and also to my dad and my granny, who have helped me as a singer, and with my Gaelic, for many years.”

Glasgow also welcomed the first of the beloved senior choir competitions as groups from Mull, Islay, Glasgow, Barra and beyond clad in tartan and in their finest voice, took over the Royal Concert Hall for the Rural Choirs’ contests.

Còisir Sgìr’ a’ Bhac from the Isle of Lewis took the Lorn Shield and it was the Isle of Mull Gaelic Choir who bagged themselves the Sheriff MacMaster Campbell Memorial Quaich.

It’s been 11 years since Isle of Mull Gaelic Choir won the title and Glasgow brought their first win under conductor Donna Dugdale, while Bac reclaimed the Lorn Shield, having last won it in Oban in 2024.

Avril Allen, Conductor of Còisir Sgìr’ a’ Bhac, said: “We’re really, really pleased. We sang the songs as well as we could sing them, especially our own choice, which was very meaningful and emotional for us. We came off stage, and we said, ‘do you know what, it doesn’t matter what the results are’, so this win is a bonus.

“The choir members are a really special group, and they’re a really tight and close group. A lot of them have grown up together but they’re so open. We’ve had a few new members this year and we just love having people who want to come and sing with us. The atmosphere in the choir is really positive. They really believe in telling the story, in promoting Gaelic, and I just couldn’t find a better group to work with.

“I think the Mòd committee here in Glasgow have worked really hard here to pull off the Mòd in a city. They’ve really gone over and beyond the call of duty and have done really well, and the choir have all said that.”

Donna Dugdale, Conductor of Isle of Mull Gaelic Choir, said: “I am very shocked – we didn’t expect even a placing in the competition so we’re absolutely delighted. We were really relaxed and just wanted to go out and enjoy it. Vic Linnemann, who composed our own choice song, used to be in the choir. He’s still arranging, and he came to see us tonight. Right before we started singing we thought, ‘Vic is in the audience, let’s just sing it for him’. And that’s what we did.

“This was my fifth year conducting, and it’s been a really steep learning curve, learning on the job, but I’ve had such a supportive choir and they’re very patient with me. We’ve been nearly bottom the last few years so to win was just phenomenal for all of us. The choir has worked really hard this year so I want to say a big well done to them all. They always go into it with the right mindset and really enjoy it.”

There’s even more in store today with the Combined Areas Choirs’ Competitions, which will see choral groups vying for the Lovat & Tullibardine shield and Margrat Duncan trophy.

Art is also set to be celebrated and showcased thanks to the Highland Art Prize at the Briggait. Now in its fifth year, the event will see 12 shortlisted artworks inspired by Gaelic language, culture or landscape whittled down to one winner.

Audiences will be able to enjoy 70 special pieces on display and see who this year’s judges, multi-disciplinary artist Eòghann Mac Colla and gallery owner Scott Bennett, have chosen to exhibit at next year’s Mòd.

Tonight, some of Scotland’s biggest trad stars are joining forces for an almighty night of cèilidh dancing at Glasgow’s legendary Barrowland Ballroom for the event’s finale. Gael Force 10 will see big names go back to their roots, bringing traditional cèilidh dance band music to the legendary stage, for one of the strongest ever west coast cèilidh line ups to have ever performed together.

D-I Brown, Convenor of the Local Organising Committee for the Royal National Mòd 2026 in Glasgow, said: “Glasgow has truly embraced the Mòd and it is fantastic to see. You can feel the energy and excitement surrounding Gaelic in all corners of the city which makes all the hard work in bringing an event of this scale together worth it. Congratulations to all of our winners so far – the standard has been expectational and the passion and sense of community incredibly strong.

“We’re not finished just yet – tonight’s Gael Force 10 is set to be a highlight of the nine days and a brilliant celebration of traditional and Gaelic music. We can’t wait to bring the house down at the Barrowlands!”

The Glasgow Mòd 2026 will hit its closing note on Saturday morning with the spine-tingling Massed Choirs event, with hundreds of choristers gathering around the iconic Donald Dewar statue at the top of Buchanan Street.

The famous spot will be filled with Gaelic song for a showstopping performance of unity to officially round out the historic event.

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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