Bright hopes for Gaelic's future across the Atlantic

Published on Sunday 14 October 2007 18:28

SCOTLAND'S Gaelic renaissance is being mirrored on the other side of the Atlantic in Canada.

Lewis MacKinnon, chief executive of the Office of Gaelic Affairs in the provincial government of Nova Scotia, was attending the Royal National Mod in Fort William when he spoke of the need to ensure Scotland's native tongue is preserved in his own part of the world.

Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island have long had a strong association with Scotland as it was in those provinces that many of the emigrants from the Highland Clearances settled in the late-1700s and up to the mid-19th century. While there are now only a small number of fluent Gaelic speakers left in Nova Scotia, Mr MacKinnon said he was "optimistic" for the future of the language.

"The office of Gaelic affairs is focusing on working specifically with the Gaelic community and one of the main areas of activity is adult-immersion language courses and the office provides support to communities where programmes are on-going," he said.

Mr MacKinnon revealed Gaelic was being taught for the first time at the local school in Antigosh County after a visit last year from a group of Gaelic-speaking parents from the Highlands who have direct experience of Gaelic-medium education.

Saturday saw the start of competitions at the Mod, with Graham MacKenzie from Inverness proving himself a master of the fiddle. The 15-year-old from Culloden Academy won the Robert MacCallum Memorial Trophy for 13 to 18-year-olds for the second year in succession.

His school also won the fiddle groups section.

MOD RESULTS – SATURDAY

PIPING

B360 Piobaireachhd (James R. Johnston Memorial Quaich)

1. William McCallum, Glasgow.

2. Pipe Major Gordon Walker, Ayrshire.

3. Angus D MacColl, Oban.

4. Niall Stewart, Kyle of Lochalsh.

B361 March, Strathspey and Reel (John T. MacRae Cup)

1. Angus D MacColl, Oban.

2. Pipe Major Gordon Walker, Ayrshire.

3. William McCallum, Glasgow.

4. Peter Hunt.

Sheelah J. Nicol Memorial Trophy (B360 and B361) – William McCallum, Glasgow.

B362 Hornpipe and Jig

1. Angus D MacColl, Oban.

2. William McCallum, Glasgow.

3. Pipe Major Roddy Weir, Edinburgh.

C130 March (16-18) (Royal Highland Fusiliers Cup)

1. Ashleigh Bell, Muir of Ord.

2. Steven Leask, Greenwood Academy.

3. Jonathan Graham, Bishopbriggs.

C131 Strathspey and Reel (16-18) (Col. Murdoch MacTaggart, Bowmore, Memorial Trophy)

1. Steven Leask, Greenwood Academy.

2. Ashleigh Bell, Muir of Ord.

3. Jonathan Graham, Bishopbriggs.

Dr D. S. MacLaggan Memorial Trophy (C130 and C131) – Jointly awarded to Steven Leask, Greenwood Academy, and Ashleigh Bell, Muir of Ord.

C108 March (13-15) (Roderick Munro Trophy)

1. Fiona Mitchell, Campbeltown Grammar.

2. Alexander Levack, Music School Plockton.

3. Scott MacLean, Lochgilphead.

C109 Strathspey and Reel (13-15)

1. Fiona Mitchell, Campbeltown Grammar.

2. Alexander Levack, Music School Plockton.

3. Ewen Henderson, Strontian.

C86 March (Under 13) (Roderick Ross Memorial Trophy)

1. Bruce Domhnullach, Bun-sgoil Phort Righ.

2. Ross MacKay Fraser, Craighill Primary.

3. Seumas Campbell, Sgoil Dhalabroig.

C85 Chanter (under 13)

1. Brighde Chaimbeul, Sgoil Shleite.

2. David MacLeod, Sgoil Ghaidhlig Ghlaschu.

3. Fraser Hogg, Corberry Park Pipers.

SOLO FIDDLE

C118 (13-18) (Robert McCallum Memorial Trophy)

1. Graham MacKenzie, Culloden Academy.

2. Ewan Zuckert, City of Edinburgh Music School.

3. Calum Zuckert, City of Edinburgh Music School.

C83 (under 13)

1. Alan M MacDonald, Sgoil Lionacleit.

2. Abigail Young, City of Edinburgh Music School.

3. Robbie MacKenzie, Culloden Academy.

FIDDLE GROUPS

C176 (under 19)

1. Culloden Academy Fiddlers.

2. Ardnamurchan Fiddle Group.

ACCORDION

B370 March, Strathspey and Reel

1. Andrew MacDonald, Fort William.

C178 (Under 19)

1. Craig McFadyen, Oban.

2. Robert Nairn, Acharacle.

3. Michael John MacMillan, Inverness.

C84 (under 13) (Daniel G. R. Burt Memorial Trophy)

1. Steven Barclay, Cradlehall Primary.

2. Sean MacCallum, Ard-sgoil Thiriodh.

3. Padruig JP Moireasdan, Sgoil Chairinis.

MELODEON

C88 (Under 13)

1. Annabel MacLennan, Coisir Og a’ Bhac.

2. Caitlin Nicolson, Bun-sgoil na h-Airde.

3. Sara MacIver, Coisir Og a’ Bhac.

PIANO

C116 (13-18) (Margaret Hill-Boyle Memorial Trophy)

1. Alistair Iain Paterson, Park Mains High School.

2. Mairi Chaimbeul, Sgoil Shleite.

3. Eilidh Munro, Glasgow Islay Junior Gaelic Choir.

C81 (Under 13) (Jenny M B Currie Kilt Pin)

1. Alan M MacDonald, Sgoil Lionacleit.

2. Lisa-Marie Parkinson, Oban.

3. Brighde Chaimbeul, Sgoil Shleite.

KEYBOARD

C117 (13-18)

1. Calum Zuckert, City of Edinburgh Music School.

2. Christina L MacLeod, Sgoil MhicNeacail.

3. Ewan Zuckert, City of Edinburgh Music School.

C82 (Under 13)

1. Sara MacIver, Coisir Og a’ Bhac.

2. Padruig JP Moireasdan, Sgoil Chairinis.

3. Lisa-Marie Parkinson, Oban.