The win of a lifetime as singers sail away with gold medals

Published on Thursday 15 October 2009 22:07

TWO talented singers yesterday won the prestigious Gold Medal at the Royal National Mod in Oban.

The Gold Medal, which can only be won once in a lifetime by any individual, is one of the Mod's premiere competitions.

It is awarded for solo singing in fluent Gaelic – with one medal up for grabs for men and one for women.

Steven MacIver and Sineag MacIntyre, both 23, fought off competition from the cream of Gaelic singers to claim their crowns before a packed audience in Oban's Corran Halls.

Just five points separated Sineag, of Kilphedar, South Uist, from well-known Gaelic singer Joy Dunlop, from Connel, near Oban, who was runner-up. And in the men's competition only three points separated Steven from John Howieson, from the Isle of Skye, who came second.

Sineag, who works for Bees Nees Media in Glasgow, said she was "ecstatic" to have won and added: "I couldn't believe It."

The win was a poignant moment for Sineag, as Gaelic singing legend Kenna Campbell, who taught her at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, was in the audience.

Sineag, who won the Mod's coveted Traditional Medal in 2006, struck gold this time around by singing two songs, one prescribed and one of her own choice.

Her own-choice song was Talash Iain Mhuideartaich – Lullaby for John of Moidart.

After her win, Sineag sailed off for a boat trip around Oban with men's Gold Medal winner Steven, who hails from Naast, Poolewe.

Steven, a production co-ordinator in the Gaelic department of STV, whose father, Donar MacIver, won the Men's Silver Medal for his singing at last year's Mod, said: "This is my fifth time in the Gold Medal competition. I have been in second place a couple of times. I was determined to win it eventually – I am really happy to have won."

He chose to sing the Gaelic love song E Ho Ro Mo Nighean Donn – My Brown Haired Maid – and said: "It's just got beautiful words and I just felt that I could get them across."

Sineag's former teacher, Kenna Campbell, 70, and Alasdair Grant, 73, had something to celebrate yesterday too: it is 50 years since the acclaimed Gaelic singers won their own Gold Medals at the Mod.

To mark the occasion An Comunn Gidhealach presented Alasdair with a Celtic kilt pin and Kenna with a Celtic brooch.

Yesterday saw Lochs Gaelic Choir taking a celebratory dram, of Drambuie, after winning the Lorn Shield in the rural choirs section.

Ronnie Murray, their conductor, said: "We work so hard all year and we take our singing seriously, but after the competition is over, and the hard work is done, we take a dram to relax."

There are 65 choirs, with about 500 members, taking part in this year's Mod. John Morrison, chief executive of An Comunn Gidhealach, said that, with the help of Brd na Gidhlig, it would soon be offering special courses to help the members of this "captive audience" to improve the fluency of their Gaelic.

VOCAL SOLOS

Working song: Catherine M.B. Dunlop Quaich; 1 Rachel M J Deans, Cumbernauld

2 Catriona Watt, Isle of Lewis

3 Rena Gertz, Edinburgh

4 Celia McDougall, Caithness

Traditional: Moray Trophy (women); 1 Wilma Kennedy, Dundee 2 Liondsaidh Mitchell, Isle of Skye 3rd equal Shona Nic a Mhaoilein, Isle of Lewis and Michelle MacNeil, Glasgow

Traditional: Lochaber Rotary Club Trophy (men); 1 Darren Maclean, Isle of Skye 2 Anndra Robasdan, Isle of Lewis 3 Raymond D Bremner, Caithness 4 Duncan Fraser, Gravir Isle of Lewis

DUETS

Neil MacLean and Jenny M. B. Currie Trophy; 1 Jean MacKay and Kerry Finlay, Inverness 2 Rachel M J Deans and Emma A C Deans, Cumbernauld 3 Nicola Pearson and Wilma Kennedy, Carnoustie

CLARSACH

Accompanying of a Singer: Jean C. Campbell Memorial Trophy; 1 Mairi Chaimbeul, Isle of Skye 2 Calum MacLeod, City of Edinburgh Music School

ORAL

(FLUENT SPEAKERS)

Prose Reading; 1 Ailean Domhnullach, Inverness 2 F Ann MacLean, North Connel

Recitation of poetry composed by competitor; 1 Ailean Domhnullach, Inverness

(LEARNERS)

Poetry Recitation: Ali Abbasi Memorial Cup; 1 Aileen Whytock, Isle of Lewis 2 Sylvia Ladlow, Isle of Skye 3 Raghnall MacAoidh

VOCAL SOLOS

Gold Medal Finals (women); 1 Sinead MacIntyre, South Uist 2 Joy Dunlop, Connel 3rd equal Fiona Dunn, Glasgow and Rachel Walker, Spean Bridge

Gold Medal Finals (men); 1 Steven MacIomhair, Poolewe 2 John Howieson, Isle of Skye 3 Seumas Mac an t-saggairt, Isle of Lewis 4 John Boa, Edinburgh

Donald Thomson Prizes for Gaelic (men); 1 Steven MacIomhair, Poolewe 2 Seumas Mac an t-saggairt, Isle of Lewis

Donald Thomson Prizes for Gaelic (women); 1 Sinead MacIntyre, South Uist 2 Joy Dunlop, Connel

Gilbert MacPhail Prizes for Music; 1 John Howieson, Isle of Skye 2 Steven MacIomhair, Poolewe

Sheriff MacMaster Campbell Memorial Quaich; 1 Coisir Ghaidhlig Ile 2 Coisir Ghaidhlig Taigh an Uillt 3 Coisir Ghaidhlig an Eilein Mhuilich

Selma Shield for Gaelic Coisir Ghaidhlig Ile

Grace Robertson Memorial Baton for Music Ann Barlow

Puirt-a-beul: Aline MacKenzie Memorial Trophy; 1 Lochs Gaelic Choir 2 Coisir Sgir a'Bhac 3 Coisir Ghaidhlig Thaigh an Uillt

Calum Robertson Memorial Trophy for Gaelic Coisir Sgir a'Bhac

Evelyn Huckbody Memorial Trophy for Music Lochs Gaelic Choir and Coisir Ghaidhlig an Eilein Mhuilich

Quartets: Stornoway Gaelic Choir Cup; 1 Fir an t-Struth 2 Na h-Uiseagan 3 Aberdeen Gaelic Choir Quartet

Ian Crichton Memorial Trophy for Gaelic Fir an t-Struth

Folk Groups: Marshall Stormonth Memorial Trophy 1 Ceol Gorm California 2 Gleusda 3 Ceol Geal California

Solo, with instrumental accompaniment: Largs Trophy; 1 John Blair, Gourock 2 Deirdre Mactaggart, Aberdeen 3 Elizabeth Townsend, USA