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Choir's Gaelic skills tip Mod prize balance

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Published Date: 18 October 2008
By Murray Macleod
THE 2008 Royal National Mod in Falkirk came to a poignant close last night when Dingwall Gaelic Choir lifted the prestigious Lovat and Tullibardine Shield.

In what was one of the closest contests for many years, the choir edged out their Highland rivals, Inverness, only on account of having a higher Gaelic mark.

Winning conductor Kirsteen Menzies reflected on the role of choir stalwart Alasdair Mac
Innes, who died at the end of last month aged 74, after an association with the choir dating back 37 years.

After the two leading choirs were tied on an aggregate score of 372 out of 400 for both Gaelic and music, many in the 500-strong audience were left visibly perplexed as to how the prize would be awarded.

However, Robin Banks from Mod organisers An Comunn Gaidhealach, said that, as Dingwall had been awarded one more point for a marginally better command of the language, they would be crowned winners.

"It's amazing, I'm totally speechless," said Ms Menzies, a former Gold Medal winner who only took over the running of the choir from her father, Hamish, this year. Ms Menzies said that Mr MacInnes had played an important role in developing the choir, which has now won the shield seven times.

"The choir sang at his funeral service in Dingwall Cathedral with my father as conductor and that was at Alasdair's request," she said.

Ms Menzies also praised the performance of the Inverness choir, which had just returned from a music festival in Canada to compete at the Mod's main choral event.

"All credit to them after what they went through," she said. "They were fantastic and definitely the ones to beat on the day."

The journey from the Celtic Colours festival in Cape Breton lasted 26 hours and the competition was well under way by the time they reached Falkirk. The running order had to be changed in order to accommodate them.

The Inverness conductor, Jamie MacGregor, said: "I'm so proud of what they've done. To have been in Canada for a week and flying in and being placed where we were was a tremendous achievement."

Inverness almost did not get to Canada at all, after they lost about £10,000 following the collapse of Zoom Airlines, with which they had originally booked their flights. But a fund-raising appeal ensured they made the trip.

The finale of the Lovat marked the closure of this year's Mod, which has been judged by An Comunn as an overall success.





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  • Last Updated: 18 October 2008 12:53 AM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Royal National Mod
 
1

Guga II,

Rockall 18/10/2008 05:57:47
As uusual, the EBC had minimal coverage of the Mod. Their London management are stuck in a time warp, and probably think that a Mod is a fashion statement.

Yet another good reason for scrapping the iniquitous television tax, and handing control of broadcasting in Scotland to the Scottish government.
2

Roy,

18/10/2008 09:13:22
Did you tune into BBC Alba, Guga? There was quite a lot of coverage there and there are recordings on the website.

As an aside, I really enjoy 'ConPassionate' on S4C.
3

Heidi Goodship,

Galashiels 18/10/2008 13:13:45
For a dedicated public service to the Gaelic community, BBC Alba could be a lot better. I was having a moan yesterday because it was sitting idle whilst the Mod competitions were on. Radio nan Gaidheal did cover the competitions but it's a struggle to understand what's going on if you don't speak Gaelic and you really need the TV pictures and subtitles to help you out. The Mod coverage on BBC Alba is no different from that on BBC2, except it's on in the evening instead of the dead of night.
4

radge dug,

Dùn Eideann 18/10/2008 14:56:28
#3 - well, Gaelic radio IS for Gaelic speakers. When i go to other countries, i don't expect everything translated into English. Why can't Gaels have services too without having to translate or subtitle everything?

If you try learning Gaelic, the radio is one of the best tools for helping.
5

radge dug,

18/10/2008 14:57:24
Cli help a lot with learning:
http://www.cli.org.uk/
6

Guga II,

Rockall 18/10/2008 15:59:15
#2 Roy.

No, I didn't tune in to BBC Alba. like the majority of people in the Highlands and Islands, I don't have Sky or access to cable, and the EBC has, so far, refused to put it on Freeview till about 2010.

I don't know whether the people in charge at the EBC are getting kick-backs from Sky by trying to force people that want to watch BBC Alba to pay for Sky.

In any event, it is time the control of broadcasting in Scotland was given to the Scotish government, and not left to our colonial masters who have no interest in Scotland other than as a subsidy fund for the English.
7

Truely English,

18/10/2008 16:15:13
There is no need for this extremely expensive form of cultural divisiveness. Can the Scts not stick with Kilts, tartans and pictures of Bonnie Prince Charlie.
8

Heidi Goodship,

Galashiels 18/10/2008 17:21:56
#4 It will be a good day when there is no need to translate or subtitle Gaelic. Ideally, there should be subtitles for those who need them and the ability to switch them off for those who don't. I hope Gaelic speakers use and enjoy the Gaelic media that are available, in fact it's vital that they do. However, if Radio nan Gaidheal is only for existing Gaelic speakers, then that cannot be good for the future of the language or for the station. From my experience alone, listening to the L&T yesterday,I can say that it's not easy for learners to listen in as there are no visual clues and the commentators tend to talk very fast. Are you saying that I cannot enjoy the Mod unless I improve my Gaelic? That would be like saying an Irish person cannot enjoy a cultural event unless they speak Irish Gaelic, or a French person cannot enjoy the heritage of Brittany unless they speak Breton. For my part, I'd recommend face-to-face conversation with Gaelic speakers for learning. Speaking Our Language was my course of choice but at the end of the day, you need to have someone else to speak to.
9

radge dug,

Dùn Eideann 18/10/2008 18:46:30
RnG is for Gaels. English speakers have a wealth of other stations to cater for them. Do you expect the Asian stations to give up Punjabi or Urdu for English too?

And aye, if i went to an event where Breton or Gaeilge was the main medium, then yes, a knowledge of that language would be beneficial. The Mod is not just 'heritage' anyway, it's a part of our modern Gaelic culture which by it's essence is Gaelic speaking or it would cease to exist. Sorry, but it's up to you to learn Gaelic not up to us to continually translate everthing (somethings, aye) into English.

An dochas gun ionnsaich thu agus gun cuir thu ris a' chanan againn seach a' bhith neartachadh Beurla na mor chuid. Slan.
10

Hugo of Garven,

18/10/2008 20:19:55
I am a non-gaelic-speaking lowlander who agrees with supporting and spreading the Gaelic language.

If yhe Mod wants to reach out to a potential English-speaking audience then I think it sensible to have English sub-titles. This is on the principle of making life easy for potential customers.
11

Hugo of Garven,

18/10/2008 20:31:04
There are usually several posts for English language articles in the Gaelic section of the Scotsman.

It is rare to see posts for the Gaelic language articles.

Why is this?

I think it is a mistake as it could be taken to imply that they are not being read by Gaelic speakers or that the articles are of no interest and not worthy of comment.

I do not think any of these reasons are correct.

 

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