Mòd takes to Oban stages
Oban Mòd comes to town next weekend.
Entries are now in for the two-day celebration of everything Gaelic, showcasing talent of all ages on stages at venues from the Corran Halls to the Phoenix Cinema, Oban High School to St Columba Cathedral’s church hall.
You can pick up a programme covering what is on, when and where from the Corran Halls.
Anyone from the public is welcome to go along, watch and enjoy the competitions that start at 9am each day.
Friday June 2 is juniors day with the senior competitions on Saturday June 3.
Organisers are hard at work making sure the event runs smoothly as competitors, families and friends from all over the Lorn area, Lochaber and Mid-Argyll and further afield make their way.
The island of Barra is sending over a choir in the hope of taking home a prize.
This year’s provincial mòd is also celebrating 100 years of the Irene MacCowan medal being awarded for adult solo singing.
Last year’s recipient was Helen Pearson from Soroba who has been performing at mòds for more than half a century.
“The popularity of, and interest shown in this competition also spans the years,” said Oban Mòd secretary Ann Ferguson.
The golden medal was first presented by Oban and Lorn Association to commemorate the First World War. In 1923 it was won by Irene MacCowan who went on to donate it to the Oban Local Mòd Committee in the 1970s.
Irene had kept it in a box but wanted others to enjoy it, since then it has been competed for annually.
Irene was well known for her own musical talent, in particular as a pianist, and was well respected in the community. Her parents owned slate quarries on Luing and she had trained as a music teacher. She married Dr Athole Roberts who was a GP in Oban and they lived in Croft Road.
Singers proud to have won this medal in the past include Karen Matheson of Capercaillie, Moira Dunlop, Riona MacCormick and Nicola Pearson.
To mark the centenary year of Irene MacCowan first winning this medal, its former winners have been invited to return to the mòd stage and compete for it again alongside other entrants.
The Pearson family of Oban have also donated an additional special prize for this year’s winner.