Mòd set for weekend
Mòd Ìle 2018 is being held in the local high school on Saturday June 23, with competitions kicking off at 9am.
Mòd secretary Alison Gray has described this year’s entries as being ‘most encouraging’ and among those taking part in the choral section will be Còisir Òg Dhail Riata and the Nairn Gaelic Choir. As well as local entries, other competitors will hail from neighbouring Jura, Mid Argyll and the Oban district.
This year the organisers have introduced a new competition for traditional solo singing, and island primary schools have been flexing their artistic muscles in the design of a new logo for the Islay Mòd. This was won by Bowmore primary pupil Duncan Gillies and his winning logo will be launched on Mòd day.
Successful competitors will reprise their winning ways at the Mòd concert in the school’s assembly hall at 7.30pm.
The island’s first local Mòd took place at Bowmore on Thursday June 17, 1924, in warm summer sunshine.
A report in An Gàidheal, a Comunn Gàidhealach publication of that time, said that ‘all roads led to Bowmore’ for the occasion and that all vehicles on the island were requisitioned for Mòd day. The report adds that as many as 20 cars were parked in the vicinity of the village hall. (O, scribe, that shouldst be living at this hour!)
The first Mòd attracted a total of 219 entries, including seven senior and four junior choirs. Competitions began at 11am and continued until 8pm, with a one hour break.
Oral classes were well supported, and junior competitions were keenly contested, even if boys were reluctant to compete. Large entries were a pleasing feature of the adult section where adjudicators described the quality as ‘exceedingly high’.
This was particularly so in the men’s solo singing, where the winning competitor took all the top honours in both the local and open sections. He was John MacIver from Portnahaven, while Margaret MacNiven, also from the same Rhinns village, was the leading female singer. Top marks in the duet class went to Bowmore songstresses Mary Weir and Grace MacPherson.
Shining brightly in the choral section was the Bridgend Gaelic Choir, while the Bowmore Junior Choir and the Kilchoman School Choir were considered the best in their class.
The Mòd concert began at 9pm in the village hall, which was filled to capacity, resulting in people having to stand outside to listen to the entertainment.
Comunn Gaidhealach president Angus Robertson was in the chair and the awards were handed over by Margaret C MacTavish, a local Gaelic stalwart from Newton. These included a challenge cup for choral music presented by Hugh Morrison, laird of Islay.
Monetary prizes came from Lady Mary Morrison, Glasgow printer Archibald Sinclair, and the Glasgow Islay Association.
In the vote of thanks, praise was heaped on the local constabulary’s Sergeant Ferguson for his assistance and for the manner in which he regulated the queues.
I wish Mòd Ìle 2018 every success. It is unlikely, however, that a police presence will be required to handle crowd control! Islay’s Ballygrant Inn has increased its recent accolades after being voted the best whisky bar in Scotland at the Scottish Entertainment and Hospitality 2018 awards ceremony in Glasgow’s Merchant City.
Receiving the award from ceremony presenter Stephen McGowan was the inn’s proprietor, David Graham, who said he was delighted his establishment was recognised in this way.
‘Last year we won the best craft spirit category,’ he added, ‘but to win in this class is just fantastic.’
The wide range of whiskies featured at the Ballygrant greatly impressed the competition judges, as did the knowledge and enthusiasm displayed by the inn staff.
The competition is now in its seventh year and it covers more than 20 categories in the licensed trade industry.
Another local establishment featured in this year’s finals was Bowmore’s Lochside Hotel, owned by Neil Morrison, whose portfolio also includes Macgochans in Tobermory and the Benleva Hotel in Drumadrochit.