To mark the return of the Royal National Mòd to Fort William this October the West Highland Museum plans to hold an exhibition to celebrate the eight occasions in which Lochaber has previously hosted the event.
The museum would like to invite anyone with memorabilia associated with these occasions which they would be willing to lend for the exhibition to get in touch. A Mòd Loch Abar spokesperson said, “we look forward to the exhibition and would encourage people to come forward with donations towards it”.
We are especially interested in senior Mòd medals, photographs, programmes and video/audio recordings. We are especially keen to celebrate those who have won senior competitions in Lochaber, but also Lochaber residents who won big in Mòds outside the district.
When the Mòds was first held in Fort William in 1922, the same year as the museum started, a tin roofed garage was the main venue for singing events. The men’s gold medal was won by John M. Bannerman who later said, with typical self-deprecation, that it had been raining when he sang, and the judges could not hear properly. If anybody has information on the exact location we would be delighted to hear. The old Marshall and Pearson garage on the site of the current Royal Mail sorting office seems likely. Bannerman had played 8 of his 37 internationals for Scotland at the time of the 1922 mod and went on the be President of An Comunn. The museum has been in contact with members of his family and are hopeful of getting some of his memorabilia on loan.
All exhibits will be displayed securely. The intention is to run the exhibition from mid August until the end of the Mòd in October
Anyone who has objects they would be willing to loan the museum, please contact the curator manager, Vanessa Martin (curator@westhighlandmuseum.org.uk / 01397 702169 or Ronald Cameron (rcameron@whinknowe.co.uk / 07711-815445)
Loch Abar agus Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail
Tha Taigh Tasgaidh na Gàidhealtachd an Iar a’ dol a chumail taisbeanadh sònraichte a chomhrachadh gu bheil am Mòd Nàiseanta a’ tilleadh gu Loch Abar anns an Dàmhair airson an ochdamh turus. (1922, 1927, 1932, 1981, 1985, 1999, 2007, agus 2017)
‘S toigh leis an Taigh Tasgaidh cuireadh a thoirt do dhaoine aig am bheil cuimhnichean, no “memorabilia”, a bhiodh iad dèonach a thoirt air iasad airson an taisbeanaidh, a chuir fios thugainn. An Mòd Loch Abar cante, “tha sinn a’ coimhead air adhard do’n thaisbeanadh agus bu toigh leinn daoine a’ bhrosnachadh tighinn air adhard le stuth air an shon”.
Tha uidh sònraichte againn ann an buinn òir, dealbhan, prògraman agus clàran audio. Chòrdeadh e ruinn euchdan nan farpaiseach, a bhuain duaisean ann ann Loch Abar agus Abraich a bhuain ann àite sam bith, a chomharrachadh.
Chaidh fairpaisean seinn a cumail ann an garaid air an robh mullach sinc ann an 1922, a chiad turas a bha am mòd ‘sa Ghearasdan, an dearbh bhliadhna a thoisich an taigh tasgaidh. Bhuain Seonadh Mac ‘ill a’ Bhrataich bonn òir nam fear. Thuirt e, gu màlda, gun robh e a silleadh uisge agus cha b’urrainn don britheamhan ga chluinntinn! Chòrdeadh e ruinn a chluinntinn bho duine sam bith, aig am bheil fios, far an robh an garaid sin. ‘S docha gun deach seann garaid Marshall & Pearson, far am bheil ofis a’ Phost Rioghail an diugh, a’ chleachdadh. Aig àm a’ mhòid sin bha Seonaidh air a chluich rugbaidh do dh’Alba ochd tursan a mach as an trichead ‘sa seachd a rinn e ‘s chùrsa-beatha aige. ‘B e Ceann-Suidhe a’ Chomuinn a bh’ann eadar 1949 agus 1954. Tha an Taigh Tagaidh air a bhith a bruidhinn le nighean ‘s ogha Seonaidh (Lord Bannerman of Kildonan) agus tha sinn an dochas gum faigh sinn “memorabilia” bhuapa, air iasad.
