TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO Friday October 21, 1994
Norman strikes gold at last
Campbeltown’s Norman MacKinnon was in seventh heaven last week, when he struck gold at the Mod in Dunoon – after being runner-up six times before.
The 38-year-old quantity surveyor, who now lives in Glasgow, celebrated with his wife Gillian and their two children, Ross and Calum.
Norman was a hugely popular winner of the coveted men’s Gold Medal, as he continued his family’s strong Gaelic tradition. His mother sings in Carradale Gaelic Choir and his grandfather was a Gaelic singer.
‘I knew it was my big chance in Dunoon this year,’ he said afterwards.
‘It feels good to finally win the gold at a Mod in Argyll.
‘I persevered and never gave in,’ he said, commenting on his previous attempts to win the Gold.
He won on the strength of the aggregate points from the qualifying rounds, closely followed by Fionnlagh MacAoidh, Goillspidh. Seamus MacTaggart from Port Ellen, Islay, was joint third with Graham Neilson from Duddingston. The winning margin was four points.
Norman, a former pupil at Campbeltown Grammar School, won the Oran Mhor contest, the principal qualifying competition for the final, for the third time in his Mod career. He also won the other qulifyer, the Lachlan Maclean Watt Memorial Trophy.
Music adjudicator Anne Macdearmid praised Norman’s singing – over the noise of foghorns from ferries approaching the pier near Queen’s Hall.
The prescribed song was ‘Ri Taobh Loch Tatha’ , and Norman’s own choice was ‘A Mhairi Bhoidheach A Mhairi Ghaolach’.
‘I’ve had a lot of help from various people along the way,’ he added, ‘for which I’m very grateful.’
Jean bows out on a high
Campbeltown’s Jean Gillies grabbed the limelight at the Mod in Dunoon last week when she led Oban Gaelic Choir to glory in the competition’s top event for choral work.
Hugs were hugged, tears were shed and Jean, as conductor, was carried shoulder high, the Lovat and Tullibardine Trophy secured.
She also received the Malcolm G MacCallum silver baton as conductor of the winning choir.
Jean, 34, now lives in Connel, and is married to Mr Arthur Gillies, general manager of The Oban Times. She works in Oban Job Centre.
Jean, of course, ran the successful Highland Parish Youth Choir in Campbeltown, from 1979 to 1985.
But she is sticking to a decision to stand down as conductor in Oban.
‘It was a decision taken quite a long time ago,’ she said.
‘A lot of people have suggested that I don’t and it would be very easy to let your heart rule your head and stay, but I made the decision and I am going – it is a great way to go.’
There were gasps of delight when Oban marks were read out in Dunoon – 92 and 91 for Gaelic and 93 and 91 for music, four points ahead of Dingwall.