Royal National Mòd lives up to its name as Prince Charles flies in

The Prince of Wales was a surprise guest at the Royal National Mòd in Stornoway yesterday, where he presented an Italian cyclist with the Gaelic learner of the year award.

The Lord of the Isles meets Mod competitors at the Nicholson Institute in Stornoway.

Charles, known as the Lord of the Isles when in the Western Isles, handed the Gaelic learner award to Carmine Colajezzi in recognition of the significant steps he has taken to becoming fluent. The Prince also officially opened the Isle of Harris distillery in Tarbert, where he sealed a cask marked “Lord of the Isles 18.10.16”.

Mr Colajezzi was born and raised in Abruzzo, Italy, before moving to Scotland five years ago.

The 30-year-old began to study Gaelic after getting hooked on the language while on cycling tour of the Western Isles and last year moved to Skye and enrolled at Gaelic college Sabhal Mor Ostaig to boost his fluency.

Prince Charles cuts a cake to mark the 125th anniversary of An Comunn Gaidhealach, with An Comunn president John Macleod.

The prince, first Royal visitor to the Mòd since 2013, arrived by helicopter and spent an hour at the Nicholson Institute when he met young Gaelic singers and Highland dancers as well as volunteers and staff from Mòd organisers An Comunn Gaidhealach.

He also cut a cake to mark the 125th anniversary of An Comunn Gaidhealach, the national Gaelic organisation.

John Macleod, An Comunn Gaidhealach president, said: “It’s an honour to have had His Royal Highness, The Lord of the Isles, attend this year’s Royal National Mòd.

“Today has been a significant day in the history of the Mòd, and I’m sure for the people of the Western Isles too.

Traditional Silver Medal winners Eoin Cuimeanach and Mairi Callan.

“Carmine is a worthy winner of the Gaelic learner of the year award, his hard work and commitment has been remarkable.

“The level of competition already this year has been outstanding and we’re delighted to have witnessed such high levels of Gaelic being spoken in the younger generations.”

The highlights on day five of the Mòd were the Traditional Silver Medal competitions, with the girls medal won by Màiri Callan, 15, of the High School of Glasgow, with Eòin Cuimeanach of Gairloch High School winning the boys award.

Màiri also picked up the An Comunn Gàidhealach Silver Medal on a very successful afternoon for the 13-year-old.

Gaelic learner of the year Carmine Colajezzi, from Italy

Over the past two days ‘The Children’s Mòd’ has seen hundreds of under 19 Gaelic speakers taking part in over 50 competitions in storytelling, poetry and singing, with entrants coming from backgrounds as far and wide as Spain and Zimbabwe, as well as one competitor travelling from Abu Dhabi.

The adult competitions start today, with the showpiece Gold Medal Final taking place in the evening.

Meanwhile, a series of films to help teach Gaelic to children learning it in primary school outwith Gaelic Medium Education was launched yesterday at the Mòd.

The films star, and were made by, senior school pupils who have come through Gaelic Medium Education and are now passing on their language skills to youngsters who are just beginning to learn it.

Prince Charles cuts a cake to mark the 125th anniversary of An Comunn Gaidhealach, with An Comunn president John Macleod.

The films, made with the support of media professionals, form part of the Go! Gaelic programme, a comprehensive online resource developed by Gaelic educational resources organisation Stòrlann Nàiseanta na Gàidhlig.

They can be viewed online, at www.go-gaelic.scot, alongside powerpoints and lessons on core language, to help learners get the strongest grasp of key words and phrases. A Go! Gaelic App has also been developed to complement the programme.

Stòrlann chief executive Donald Morrison said Go! Gaelic “fills the gap” between Gaelic and English Medium Education, providing “those outwith Gaelic Medium with the opportunity to engage with Gaelic.”

MOD RESULTS, TUESDAY

ORAL (FLUENT SPEAKERS)

C75 Prose Reading (under 13)

Traditional Silver Medal winners Eoin Cuimeanach and Mairi Callan.

1 Anndra Uisdean Cuimeanach, Bun-sgoil Gheàrrloch.

2 Emily Macdonald, Bun-sgoil Shlèite.

3 Molly Fox, Bun-sgoil Phort-rìgh.

C43 Bible Reading (9-12)

1 Arabella Manchester, Sgoile Bhaile a Mhanaich.

2 Seumas Caimbeul, Bun-sgoil Chille Mhoire.

3 Rae MacIver, Sgoil Gàidhlig Ghlaschu.

C42i Poetry Recitation (aged 9)

1 Amy MacRitchie, Sgoil Lìonail.

2 Muireann Dalton, Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu.

3 Ellie Cameron, Sgoil na Pàirce.

C22Ai Poetry Recitation (aged 7)

1 Ruairidh Sommerville, Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis.

2 Jenna Yule, Bun-sgoil Chondobhrait.

3 (equal) Beth MacDonald, Bun-sgoil Lacasdail and Tormod Macleòid, Sgoil nan Loch.

C22 (5-6) Poetry Recitation (Rev Donald Stewart, Duntulm, Memorial Quaich)

1 Hannah Jane MacLeod, Bun-sgoil Chondobhrait.

2 Coinneach Mackenzie, Sgoil a’ Bhac.

3 Sarah Ann Mackenzie, Sgoil an Taobh Siar.

C41A Storytelling (11-12)

1 Kaitlin MacDonald, Bun Sgoil Lacasdail.

2 Molly Fox, Bun-sgoil Phort-rìgh.

3 Erin Nic’Illiosa, Bun-sgoil Stafainn.

C41 Storytelling (9-10)

1 Isabella Sommerville, Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis.

2 Korin Weir-Stewart, Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu.

3 Innes John Begg, Sgoil Lacasdail.

C21 Storytelling (5-8) (Alasdair Macinnes Memorial Cup)

1 Jessica MacKay, Sgoil Sir E Scott.

2 Seumas Stiùbhart, Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pàirce.

3 Fiona Langley, Sgoil Sir E Scott.

C89 Folk Tale (13-15)

1 Ruth M Mackay, Sgoil MhicNeacail.

2 Ruairidh Gray, Sgoil Lionacleit.

3 Marion MacCorquodale, Sgoil Lionacleit.

C39 Folk Tale (9-12)

1 Molly Fox, Bun-sgoil Phort-rìgh.

2 Nuala Macdonald, Bun Sgoil Ulapuil.

3 Alasdair Stiùbhart, Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pàirce.

CHORAL (FLUENT SPEAKERS)

C111 Two-part Harmony (13-18) (‘Oban Times’ Challenge Trophy)

1 Sgoil MhicNeacail.

2 Sgoil Sir E Scott.

3 Còisir Sgoil Lionaclait.

Mrs Hobbs Cup for Gaelic - Sgoil MhicNeacail.

C110 Unison (13-18) (Mrs Campbell Blair Trophy)

1 Sgoil MhicNeacail.

2 Sgoil Sir E Scott.

3 Còisir Sgoil Lionaclait.

Angus M. Ross Trophy for Gaelic - Sgoil MhicNeacail.

CHORAL (OPEN)

C175 Puirt-a-Beul (under 19) (Martin Wilson North Berwick Trophy)

1 Còisir Òg Ghàidhlig Ìle.

East Kilbride District Council Trophy (C173, C174 and C175) - Còisir Òg Ghàidhlig Ìle.

VOCAL SOLOS (FLUENT SPEAKERS)

C44Aii Girls (aged 12) (Kenneth Brown Memorial Prize)

1 Alice Nic a’ Mhaoilein, Còisir Òg an Rubha.

2 Rhianna Porch Boyle, Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu.

3 Erin Nic’Illiosa, Bun-sgoil Stafainn.

C44Ai (aged 11) (Maybury Gardens Cup)

1 Andrea MacDonald, Bun-sgoil Inbhir Pheofharain.

2 Eve Byrne, Bun-sgoil Chondobhrait.

3 Anna NicLeòid, Rionnagan Rois.

C44ii (aged 10) (Nancy Craik Memorial Trophy)

1 Mary Sophia Morrison, Bun-sgoil Lacasdail.

2 Emily Macdonald, Bun-sgoil Shlèite.

3 Caitlin Yule, Buns-sgoil Chondobhrait.

C44i (aged 9)

1 Isabella Sommerville, Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis.

2 (equal) Evie Kellett, Comunn Gàidhealach Mhuile and Muireann Dalton, Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu.

3 Seona Brown, Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu.

C45A Boys (11-12)

1 Tormod MacIllinnein, Sgoil MhicNeacail.

2 Finlay MacLennan, Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis.

3 Seumas Caimbeul, Bun-sgoil Chille Mhoire.

C45 (9-10)

1 David Chisholm, Rionnagan Rois.

2 Matthew Gilmour Wright, Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pàirce.

3 Anndra Uisdean Cuimeanach, Bun-sgoil Gheàrrloch.

C23Aii Boys and Girls (aged 8)

1 Luke Johnson, Sgoil Sir E Scott.

2 Fiona Langley, Sgoil Sir E Scott.

3 Isla Duke, Bun-sgoil Chondobhrait.

C23Ai (aged 7)

1 Ruairidh Sommerville, Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis.

2 Maeve McKenzie, Bun-sgoil Chondobhrait.

3 Tormod Macleòid, Sgoil nan Loch.

C23 (5-6)

1 Hannah Jane MacLeod, Bun-sgoil Chondobhrait.

2 Flora Scott, Sgoil Sir E Scott.

3 Seumas Stiùbhart, Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pàirce and Seonaidh Forrest, Bun-sgoil Shlèite.

C146 Traditional: Boys (16-18) (Neil MacLaine Cameron Memorial Trophy)

1 Mìcheal Callan, The High School of Glasgow.

2 Duncan Macleod, Acadamaidh Rìoghail Bhaile Dhuthaich.

3 Alex John Moireasdan, Sgoil MhicNeacail.

C70B Boys (under 13)

1 Finlay MacLennan, Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis.

2 Seumas Caimbeul, Bun-sgoil Chille Mhoire.

3 John Angus Morrison, Sgoil MhicNeacail.

C70Ai Girls (10 and under)

1 Ellie-Ceit Johnson, Sgoil Sir E Scott.

2 Arabella Manchester, Sgoil Bhaile a Mhanaich.

3 Seona Brown, Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu.

VOCAL SOLOS (LEARNERS)

C102 Girls (13-15) (James C. MacPhee Memorial Medal)

1 Lucy Smith, An Eaglais Bhreac.

2 Iona Scott, Bogh Mòr.

3 Abbie Morris, Ìle.

Alexander Hamilton Trophy for Gaelic (C102 and C103) - Lucy Smith, An Eaglais Bhreac.

Jean Graham Trophy for Music (C102 and C103) - Lucy Smith, An Eaglais Bhreac.

DUETS (FLUENT SPEAKERS)

C74 (under 13)

1 Ellie-Ceit Johnson & Luke Johnson, Sgoil Sir E Scott.

2 Alice Nic a’ Mhaoilein & Kirsty Nicolson, Còisir Òg an Rubha.

3 Caitlin Yule & Johanna MacIver MacLeod, Bun-sgoil Chondobhrait.

DUETS (LEARNERS)

C104 (13-15) (Donald Ross Memorial Trophy)

1 Holly Smith & Lucy Smith, An Eaglais Bhreac.

2 Abbie Morris & Elizabeth MacMillan Currie, Ìle.

3 Oscar Tormod Fish & Juliet Rose McKenzie, Sgoil MhicNeacail.