Dingwall Academy pupil Sophie Stewart delighted with double win at Royal National Mòd in Perth
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Sophie Stewart is celebrating after winning two awards at this year’s celebration of Gaelic culture.
Sophie (12), from Conon Bridge and a pupils at Dingwall Academy, won first place in the 11-12 fluent solo singing girls’ category, receiving a gold medal as well as the Kenneth Brown Memorial Prize.
She also won gold in the solo traditional style singing fluent girls competition for the same age group.
She said she thought she had done well but added: “For the trad I didn’t think I was going to get it – it was quite a tough competition – but it was quite good in the end."
Having come second at the Mòd in Inverness previously she said: “I think I’ve improved a lot lately and I enjoy it a lot more. I’m still fairly nervous though.”
Sophie, coached by tutor Steven MacIver since she was six years old, said it was good to see the Mòd back to normal following Covid-19 restrictions.
“It was nice to meet the people in the competition and see my friends,” she said. “The Mòd is really important because, if you lose it, you can’t pick it up again. It’s nice that Gaelic is being encouraged in Scotland.
“I’m looking forward to the next one – I’ve not been to a Mòd in Paisley before so I am excited to see the venue and all the people.”
Mum Audrey said Sophie was first introduced to Gaelic when she started at the Gaelic medium unit at Dingwall Primary School.
She said: “She’s always been interested in singing from the day she could speak and she is always singing around the house.”
She said it was also good that her daughter had the confidence to stand in front of people singing while being judged.
“Not for a moment did I expect that she would lift both medals,” she added.
Also at the Mòd, the Black Isle Gaelic Choir, conducted by Kirsteen Maclennan and formed just after lockdown, won the Margaret Duncan Memorial Trophy.
Ms Maclennan said: “We’re absolutely overwhelmed and couldn’t be happier to have won. The choir has worked so hard through the challenges of the pandemic.
“This is the first time we’ve entered this competition, we’re a new choir, formed just after lockdown and in our first competitive Mòd have lifted the beautiful Margaret Duncan Memorial Trophy.
“This is especially poignant as this was the first trophy my father Hamish Menzies won back in 1963, he was very fond of this trophy having won it multiple times, so it means a great deal to myself, my son and the rest of the choir.”
Scotland’s premier celebration of Gaelic language and culture was held at 14 venues across Perth with around 2100 participants in 200 competitions.
