Mackenzie at the Mod

FIONA MACKENZIE is the Mairi Mhor Gaelic Song Fellow, so the 100th Royal National Mod in Oban was sure to loom large in her life in October. Fiona takes a wry look at the highs and lows of a visitor-cum-competitor at the centenary celebrations.

1pm. McDonalds in Fort William, required stopping place for two boys. While gesturing to him to hurry up, manage to hit myself on the nose and pour blood all over restaurant floor. That will look good on all the press photos later this week.
4 pm. Visit supermarket in Oban which is bedecked in 'Failte dhan Obain' banners and get all that food that we were going to get anyway. Check into rustic chalet, half way up a “romantic glen, enshrouded in soft Highland mist” which soaked us before we got to the door. Unpack, eat and collapse in front of that essential Mod viewing, Pop Idol, with a bottle of best South African restorative.
 

Sunday 12 October
Glen still a “haven of Highland tranquility and dewy splendour” – ie, it’s pouring. Dog has discovered the delights of chasing the resident ducks, who respond by leaving deposits all over the doorstep out side chalet. All chalet residents now have to sing, not just me, due to faulty lock on toilet door. Spend afternoon rehearsing for evening concert with recalcitrant teenage daughter who is missing shopping trip in Inverness, and taking boys tenpin bowling. Granny wanted to try it but couldn't get the shoes on over her bunions. Evening concert of Celtic Praise sang to a somewhat larger audience than expected – actually, precisely 1000 more than expected. Gold medallists galore. Nice mix of traditonal and contemporary Celtic music with a praise element somewhere. Felt suitably uplifted and optimistic for success during the succeeding days.
 

Monday 13 October
Monday dawns gloriously - blue skies and no wind. Is this Oban? Check out my Mairi Mhor stand at the Trade Fair (a grand title for 4 portakabins). Stuffed with all sorts of Gaelic paraphernalia, CDs , books, T-shirts, drama groups etc. I have approximately 6 sq. feet of floor space. Daughter sings in new Traditional Competiton sponsored by Mairi Mhor Fellowship - she was wonderful of course, didn't win but well placed. Have to round up a posse of Highland Council representatives - and Arthur Cormack – to make the presentations and have their mugshots taken. Felt like a sheepdog, keeping the flock in order. Took them to lunch (which had to be sent back as the Scampi contained no Scampi) while Granny took boys to casualty - one boy with raging fever and one with a poisoned ingrowing toe nail. Well, it wouldn't be a Mod without a visit to the Doctor, hospital or vet. Attended childrens’ prizewinners concert in evening - Cathy Crombie resplendant in her red mini kilt and thigh length leather waders. Three posterior numbing hours later we are still there. Standard of prizewinners very high - all learners of Gaelic, but still excellent, solos, choirs, bardachd (poetry), and clarsachs – much credit to the Feis movement, I’m sure.
 

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