Royal National Mòd News

Royal National Mòd in full swing at half-way mark

Published: 14 Oct 2025

Youth Literature at Royal National Mòd 2025​

As the Royal National Mòd 2025 in Lochaber reaches the half-way mark, youngsters fluent in Gaelic music, drama, poetry and song are preparing for their moment in the spotlight, following a plethora of award wins in the learner categories yesterday.

Day four of the nine-day festival saw Gaels aged 19 and under compete for medals, prizes and trophies across 27 events.

Amongst these, in the Solo Singing Learners 13-15 event, Eilidh MacInnes, aged 14, from Ardnamurrachan won the James C. MacPhee Memorial Medal, for her stunning performance of prescribed song, Do’n Chuthaig.

Eilidh also took the Alexander Hamilton Trophy for the highest mark in Gaelic went, while 15-year-old Erin Greig from Mull was awarded the Jean Graham Memorial Trophy for the highest mark in music.

In the Solo Traditional Mixed Singing Learners 16-18 category, 18-year-old Mary Morrison from Point on Lewis took first place, winning the Provost of Falkirk Medal.

In the Solo Traditional Singing Mixed Learners 13-15 category, 14-year-old Robbie Donald MacLean of Castlebay School on Barra came out on top, taking home the Donald Macleod Trophy.

In the solo singing 16-18 categories, Isla Duke from Falkirk and Finlay Morrison from Glasgow took first place in the girls and boys competitions respectively.

The performances were no less impressive in the choral categories. In the Choral Unison Learner under 13 competition, Còisir Ghàidhlig Fèis Phàislig (Paisley Fèis Gaelic Choir), under the expert direction of conductors Mairi McGillivray and Ellen MacDonald, swept the board, earning them all three trophies on offer: The Donald & Mamie MacPhail, The Darlington Society Silver Jubilee and The Morag Robb Memorial Trophy.

Sèisteil Bheag wowed the judges in the Choral Puirt-à-Beul Learner Under 13 competition to claim The Macintyre Cup and Olive Campbell MBE Trophy. Conducted by Rhiona Whyte, the group delivered a lively and rhythmic set.

Looking ahead to today’s competitions in the fluent categories, highlights include the 13 to 15 year old girls and boys Traditional Silver Medal events, from 2pm at St Mary’s Catholic Church, with teens delivering solo performances of a Gaelic song of their choosing.

These will be followed at 6pm by the An Comunn Gàidhealach Silver Pendant event, with the 13 to 15 year old girls performing the set song of Tha Thu Daonnan Nam Smuain, and the Silver Kilt Pin competition, with the 13 to 15 year old boys taking on the classic Balachan Beag a’ Chuailein Bhàin.

Also preparing to go head-to-head today will be 12 competing acts at this year’s Cogadh nan Còmhlan (Battle of the Bands) – an event that’s fast becoming an important showcase of emerging talent on the Gaelic and traditional music scene. The heats get underway at 2pm at Duncansburgh Church, with the five best bands making it through to the final at 7.30pm when all eyes will be on the top prize: a studio recording session.

Beyond the busy competition schedule, there will be plenty of other opportunities for festivalgoers to celebrate Gaelic culture. This includes, for little ones, Bookbug fun at West Highland college from 10.30am, a Bilingual Bookbug at Caol Library from 11am and Bilingual drop-in crafts at Fort William Library from 1pm.

For all the family, there’s a Street Cèilidh with live music by the Robert Nairn Dance Band and special guests in Cameron Square from 1pm, followed by a second Family Cèilidh at the Nevis Centre from 6.30pm.

Then, to bring the day’s events to a close in style, celebrated Scottish musicians Màiri Morrison and Alasdair Roberts will perform tracks from their latest album, Remembered in Exile: Songs and Ballads from Nova Scotia at the Highland Cinema from 8pm.

Maggie Cunningham, Chair of An Comunn Gàidhealach, said: “As we reach the half-way point of this year’s festival in Lochaber, the energy for, and interest in, the Royal National Mòd shows no sign of abating - quite the opposite!

“The number of entrants, musicians and performers continues to grow, as does the event’s appeal and reach – and with it, the considerable economic, social and cultural benefits that these all bring. It’s fantastic to see.”

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 runs in Lochaber until 18 October. Tickets for flagship events at https://buytickets.at/ancomunn.

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