As is already said on this blog, the 2010 National Mòd in Thurso was great fun - with terrific music, song and craic. As usual, the Strath Gaelic Choir did well, coming second in the Lorne Shield competition, and enjoying the ceilidhs that went on into the wee small hours, and then on to the hours that weren’t so wee! Now, though, we’re starting to work on our new songs for the Stornoway Mòd in October 2011, and we’re keen to share the enjoyment with new members. Would you be interested? If you love singing, that’s the number-one qualification! (Second would be enjoying good company!) If you have Gaelic, that’s great; but if you don’t, don’t let that put you off: help will be given! Our practices, on a Thursday evening in Kyleakin Hall, are always great fun.

If you’d like to hear us, meet us, or just enjoy a good evening with us, why not come along to our Ceilidh at 8 pm on Saturday 15th January in Breakish Hall? Music will be provided by the Breakish Ceilidh Band (and there could be room to dance!) and there’ll be singing and refreshments. Admission will be free, but there will be a raffle, and an opportunity to make a donation to assist Broadford School Choir. So, it should be a good evening, and we’ll hope to see you there!

Còisir Ghàidhlig an t-Sratha
Strath Gaelic Choir
(Charity No SCO 05981)

People generally agree - some of them with perhaps a little surprise - that this year's Mod in Caithness was really good. Everybody seemed to be commenting on how friendly and welcoming the locals were, and the ceilidhs were just wonderful! We had some successes in the competitions, with the highlight probably our second place in the Lorn Shield; our quartet (Pat Anderson, Heather Harvey, Morag Macleod and Connie Matheson) came third in the Stornoway Gaelic Choir Cup; our folk group, An t-Eilean (Pat Anderson, Scott Henderson, John Howieson and Sarah May Maclennan), got second place in the Marshall Stormonth Memorial Competition; and John Howieson came third-equal and fourth respectively in a couple of solo competitions. And then, as always, the real singing started, as two rooms in the hotel became two very different ceilidh experiences, and the hotelier discovered that the professional musicians he'd hired were redundant, as we made our own entertainment: all sitting and chatting and singing - and sometimes drinking, if so inclined! - and the singing went on away into the small hours and then away into the hours that weren't so small! If there weren't competitions, maybe we wouldn't have such an impetus to learn the songs and sing them to the best of our ability; but above all it's about enjoying singing with good company, and this Mod was a good illustration of that!

Hopefully photos and videos from the Mod will be coming soon (only the ones that are fit to be seen!). See also http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi.... All the results can be found on the An Comunn website (http://www.acgmod.org/nationalmod/re....

Mealaibh ur naidheachd, a' Fhloraidh agus Decker, agus failte a' Sheonaidh beag!