EIGHT young singers from Mull scored a double victory at the Royal National Mod yesterday at their first attempt in the unison singing competitions.
And the success of Comunn Gàidhealach Mhuile, who carried off two trophies at Gaeldom's main festival in Oban, was a well-deserved victory for conductor and tutor Riona Whyte.
Only a few years ago, child entries from Mull were in danger of dryi
ng up altogether because there was no-one to teach the next generation.
But Ms Whyte, a former gold medallist, stepped up to the challenge. She said: "We set up for the last Oban Mod in 2003, when some parents asked me if I would do some Mod teaching, because there was going to be no representation.
"We started with just six children, but now we have 24, and we have two after-school classes, one in Tobermory for the high school and one in Salen for the primary children."
She was delighted with the group's performance yesterday, when they won the Rona MacVicar Trophy for Learners Unison Singing, 13-18 years, and the Dugald Campbell Cowan (Oban) Trophy for the highest marks in Gaelic. They also came second in the Puirt-a-beul contest for 13-18-year-old learners, which was won by Coisir Ard-sgoil an Obain.
Ms Whyte said: "You can have up to 24 competitors for unison singing, but there are only eight of them in our winning group."
As the children's competitions got into full swing yesterday, a new Gaelic-speaking puppet was unveiled. It is hoped Cabag will prove popular with youngsters.
Cabag, which is Gaelic for "blether", features in a DVD that has been launched by Argyll and Bute Council.
Initially, 1,000 copies of the DVD – which has been funded by Bòrd na Gàidhlig – will be given to children who register for pre-school Gaelic-medium education all over Scotland.
Glove puppets of Cabag have also been produced for the initiative, which aims to support parents to help young children who are learning Gaelic.
Rosemary Ward, director of education and learning for Bòrd na Gàidhlig, said it was hoped the character would grow in popularity to such an extent that it would eventually be awarded a television series.
Ms Ward said: "Cabag sings, she tells stories and she plays games and she helps children to speak Gaelic."
Cabag is the brainchild of Morag Stewart, from Skye, and Mary MacKinnon, of Oban.
An Comunn Gàidhealach president John Macleod said yesterday that parents from a range of cultural backgrounds were doing their bit to boost the language by sending their children to Gaelic-medium schools.
He said: "I know from my own experience in Edinburgh that most of the children at the Gaelic-medium unit are not from the traditional Gaelic heartland.
"We find the learners are usually more enthusiastic than the native speakers.
It's very encouraging; they are helping the cause, but we need both.
"We need the young native speakers from the traditional heartland to be very active, because they have the qualities of pronunciation and the background of the culture.
"The newcomers, coming in from different countries, don't have that cultural background to help them, but it's nice to have their support and enthusiasm, that they want to be part of our language."
Mr Macleod said there were 3,000 competitors this year, made up of about 2,000 children and 1,000 adults.
ORAL (LEARNERS)Poetry Recitation (13-15); 1 Mairi Sandison, Ard-sgoil Lochabair 2 Mairi Beaton, Ard-sgoil an Obain. 3 Iona A Cairns, Dunoon Grammar School.
(11-12): 1 Andrew MacNeil, Bowmore Primary 2 Sophia MacKay, Bun-sgoil Steornabhaigh. 3 Hannah MacRae, Ard-sgoil Lochabair.
Cowal Trophy (9-10): 1 Mairead Elizabeth MacSween, Royal School of Dunkeld. 2 Rhianna Hayes, Bowmore Primary. 3 Laura Woodrow, Bowmore Primary.
Falkirk Rotary Club Trophy (7-8): 1 Jessica Gow, Sgoil Ghaidhlig Ghlaschu. 2 Kayla Woodrow, Bowmore Primary. 3 Ryan Johnston, Bowmore Primary.
Phemie Wilson Memorial Trophy (5-6): 1 Duncan MacKenzie, Sgoil Ghaidhlig Ghlaschu. 2 Breda MacKinnon, Sgoil Ghaidhlig Ghlaschu. 3 Kathryn Dow, Sgoil Ghaidhlig Ghlaschu.
Prose Reading (13-15): 1 Gillian MacKechnie, Ard-sgoil an Obain. 2 Danielle Martin, Ard-sgoil an Obain.
Conversation (7-8): 1 Sam Gordon, Bun-sgoil Chondobhrait. 2 Murdo Paterson, Bun-sgoil Chondobhrait.
(5-6): 1 Maria Clark, Rockfield Gaelic Medium. 2 Rhiannon Kilpatrick, Bun-sgoil Chondobhrait.
CHORAL (LEARNERS)Unison; Rona MacVicar Trophy (13-18): 1 Comunn Gaidhealach Mhuile. 2 Coisir Ard-Sgoil an Obain.
Dugald Campbell Cowan Trophy for Gaelic Comunn Gaidhealach Mhuile.
Puirt-a-beul: Donald D. MacIsaac Trophy (13-18): 1 Coisir Ard-sgoil an Obain. 2 Comunn Gaidhealach Mhuile.
Hugh MacPhee Trophy Coisir Ard-sgoil an Obain.
Donald Morrison Memorial Award (for highest marks in learners' choral competitions) Coisir Ard-sgoil an Obain.
Two-Part Harmony: Caledonian MacBrayne Trophy (under 13): 1 Coisir Creag an Fhithich. 2 Coisir Og Lochabair. 3 Coisir Og Bun-sgoil Bruach na Muilne.
Puirt-a-beul: Olive Campbell Trophy (under 13): 1 Port Ellen School Gaelic Choir. 2 Bowmore Primary School Gaelic Choir. 3 Coisir Og Lochabair.
Unison (Rural Primaries): Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee Trophy: 1 Coisir Og Thobar-Mhoire. 2 Coisir Og Throdairnis. 3 (equal) Coisir Og Ath-Tharracail and Port Ellen School Gaelic Choir.
Unison: Donald and Maimie MacPhail Trophy (under 13): 1 Coisir Og Lochabair. 2 Coisir Bun-sgoil Achadh na Creige. 3 Coisir Ghaidhlig Bun-sgoil Steornabhaigh
Darlington Gaelic Society Silver Jubilee Trophy for Gaelic Coisir Og Lochabair.
Morag Robb Memorial Trophy for Music Coisir Bun-sgoil Achadh na Creige.
Unison: Queen Elizabeth 1937 Coronation Trophy (under 19): 1 Coisir Og Dhailriata. 2 Coisir Og Ghaidhlig Ile. 3 (equal) Falkirk Junior Gaelic Choir and Glasgow Islay Junior Gaelic Choir.
Two-Part Harmony: Tom Crawford Trophy (under 19): 1 Glasgow Islay Junior Gaelic Choir. 2 Falkirk Junior Gaelic Choir. 3 Coisir Og Dhailriata.
Puirt-a-beul: Martin Wilson North Berwick Trophy (under 19): 1 Coisir Og Dhailriata. 2 Glasgow Islay Junior Gaelic Choir. 3 Falkirk Junior Gaelic Choir.
VOCAL SOLOS (LEARNERS)Traditional: Provost of Falkirk Medal (16-18): 1 Katy McAdam, Comunn Gaidhealach Mhuile. 2 Georgina Durie, Comunn Gaidhealach Mhuile.
James C MacPhee Memorial Medal (Girls 13-15) 1 Kirsty Watt, Sgoil Mhic Neacail. 2 Laura Davies, Ard-sgoil Lochabair. 3 Rhiannon Cameron, Ard-sgoil Lochabair.
James C. MacPhee Memorial Medal (Boys 13-15): 1 Robert Robertson, Ard-sgoil Lochabair. 2 Ruaraidh MacKinnon, Ard-sgoil Ile. 3 Alasdair Currie, Islay.
Ronald MacEachen Memorial Cup (Girls 11-12): 1 Molly Francis, Lochgilphead Primary. 2 Hannah MacRae, Lochyside Primary. 3 Emma MacFarlane, Tarbert Academy.
Mrs Roderick B. Munro Trophy (Girls 9-10): 1 Catherine Watchman, Coisir Og Lochabair. 2 Hannah Calder, Coisir Og Lochabair. 3 Katie MacFarlane, Falkirk Junior Gaelic Choir.
Boys (11-12): 1 Fergus Munro, Coisir Og Lochabair. 2 Hugh Morrison, Sgoil Sir E Scott. 3 Michael Mallinder MacLeod, Falkirk Junior Gaelic Choir.
Dr Archie MacKinnon, Islay, Memorial Trophy (Boys 9-10): 1 Jonathon Fairgrieve, Coisir Og an Rubha. 2 John Duncan Clark, Ardgour Primary School.
Hugh MacIntyre Memorial Trophy (Boys and Girls 7-8): 1 Brodie Carmichael, Ard-sgoil Thobar-Mhoire. 2 Kirsty Thomson, Sgoil Ghaidhlig Ghlaschu. 3 Isobel Ferguson, Keills Primary School.
Joan Campbell Memorial Trophy (5-6): 1 Abigail Cavanagh, Sgoil Ghaidhlig Ghlaschu. 2 Lachlan Kennedy, Sgoil Ghaidhlig Ghlaschu. 3 Rachael Johnstone, Bun-sgoil Steornabhaigh.
VOCAL SOLOS (OPEN)Skelmorlie and District Highland Association Quaich (Previous Prizewinners): 1 Eilidh NicCarmaig, Ard-sgoil Phort Righ. 2 Kim NicDhomhnaill, Sgoil Ghaidhlig Ghlaschu. 3 Eilidh Munro, Glasgow Islay Junior Gaelic Choir.
DUETS (LEARNERS)David C. B. Maitland Memorial Trophy (16-18): 1 Sarah Cairns & Roisin Turner, Lochgilphead. 2 Alice Lister & Eildih Campbell, Lochgilphead High. 3 Katy McAdam & Georgina Dury, Comunn Gaidhealach Mhuile.
Donald Ross Memorial Trophy (13-15): 1 Josie Duncan & Kirsty Watt, Sgoil Mhic Neacail. 2 Eva & Kara Edgar, Isle of Lewis. 3 Niamh McKaveney & Erin Andrews, Tarbert Academy.
Angus MacTavish Memorial Trophy (under 13): 1 Hannah Gillies & Laura Woodrow, Bowmore Primary. 2 Emma MacFarlane & Niamh Heggarty, Tarbert Academy. 3 Natalie Dunn & Zoe Wells, Bowmore Primary.
ACTION SONG (OPEN)(under 13): 1 Bun-sgoil Phort-Righ. 2 Clann Throdairnis. 3 Comunn Gaidhealach Mhuile.
FOLK GROUPS (OPEN)Allan Thomas Mitchell Trophy (under 19): 1 Fuaim Ghlaschu. 2 Clann Strath Ailein. 3 Oidhche Chiadain.
(under 13): 1 Na Rionnagan. 2 (equal) Bowmore Primary Folk Group and Na Liosaich. 3 Ceol is Gaire.
DRAMA (OPEN)Donald MacDonald Memorial Trophy (under 13): 1 Coisir Og a' Bhac. 2 Comunn Gaidhealach Mhuile. 3 Bun-sgoil Phort-Righ.
