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After eight days of competitions, performances and festivities, the Royal National Mòd bids its farewell to the Western Isles.

Scotland’s biggest Gaelic festival has been hailed a huge success as it leaves a legacy that will be remembered for years.

Thousands of Gaels and non-Gaels made their way to the Western Isles to enjoy all that the Mòd has to offer, with somewhere in the region of up to £2.5m expected to have been generated for the local economy.

Officially closing today as the massed choir made its way from Stornoway Town Hall to the Nicolson Institute for a final choral sing-a-long.

Representatives from 2017 host town Lochaber (pictured above) received the ceremonial handover from this year’s hosts, the Western Isles. The 126th year of the Gaelic festival will be centred around Fort William from the 13-21st October next year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The top prizes this year went to Carol Maclean and Hector MacKechnie in the Gold Medal competition; Claire Macaulay and Torquil MacLeod in the Traditional Gold Medal and Fiona Ross and Fergus Muir took home the Silver Pendants.

During the children’s events on Monday and Tuesday, Màiri Callan (15) of the High School of Glasgow and Eòin Cuimeanach (13) of Gairloch High School won the Traditional Silver Medal competitions.

In the choir competitions; Barra Gaelic Choir won the Lorn Shield, Lochaber won the Margrat Duncan Memorial Trophy, and the Lovat and Tullibardine was won by Dingwall Gaelic Choir, who also walked away with a full sweep of the trophies available in the competition.

John Morrison, Chief Executive of An Comunn Gàidhealach said: “We’ve had a fantastic time in the Western Isles this year, it’s been great fun, we’ve seen some great competitions and the level of Gaelic has been outstanding.

"From all those we’ve spoken to, the feedback has been brilliant. I’m delighted to have seen so many familiar faces competing this year, and it fills everyone at An Comunn Gàidhealach with pride to see new people entering the competitions, we hope they’ll be joining us in Lochaber next year.

"I’d like to extend our gratitude to everyone involved in running this year’s Mòd, and particularly the local organising committee and all of our volunteers. Planning is already underway for Mòd 2017 in Lochaber and we look forward to seeing everyone there.”

 

 

Photo: John Maclean

Royal National Mòd bids farewell to the Western Isles

22 October 2016

Prince Charles visited the Mòd.                                                  Photo: Graham Hood