Young silver medallists revel in success at Mod

● Gaelic talent in the spotlight at hard-fought Glasgow contest

Young Gaels are revelling in their success after winning the prestigious silver medal at the Royal National Mod.

Rihanna Boyle from Glasgow earned the An Comunn Gaidhealach Silver Medal at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall yesterday after winning the girls 13-15 solo singing competition.

The 15-year-old from Glasgow Gaelic School sang a prescribed song, beating 19 other competitors.

She said: “A lot of the people I knew were in the competition and their Gaelic was really good. I am really proud of myself. It’s such a great achievement and I don’t think I will forget it.”

The boys’ Silver Medal in the 13-15 group was won by 13-year-old Anndra Cumming from Gairloch.

The teen has been performing since the age of six, and has participated in the Royal National Mod since 2013.

Clutching his medal, he said: “I feel pretty happy about that. I wasn’t really expecting to do so well.

“Gaelic is my first language.

“My mum spoke Gaelic as her first language and my dad learned it in university.”

The traditional girls’ under-11 contest was won by eight-year-old Frankie MacDonald as Isabella Sommerville, 12, took home the Kenneth Brown Memorial Prize.

Their accomplishments mark the end of day three of the Mod’s contests, bringing their junior competitions to a resounding close.

John Morrison, chief executive of An Comunn Gaidhealach said: “There is an abundance of young talent in the Gaelic community and it is fantastic to see these incredible young ambassadors get this year’s competitions under way.”

Western Isles students of the Nicolson Institute’s choir were also rejoicing yesterday after securing a triple win at the Mod.

The 18-strong group comprising pupils aged 12 to 18 secured first prize in the 13-28 years unison, puirt-a-beul and two part harmony competitions after performing six Gaelic songs across the three competitions.

The group is now preparing to return home to Stornoway with the Mrs Campbell Blair Trophy, the Angus M Ross Trophy, the Belle Campbell Trophy, the Oban Times Challenge Trophy, the Mrs Hobbs Cup and the Rev Archie M Beaton Trophy.

Conductor Avril Allen said: “I am delighted the choir did well. They worked really hard.”

Photographs by Sandy McCook SERIAL WINNERS: The choir from the Nicolson Institute, Stornoway, show off their silverware.