Uist man’s historic win at the Royal National Mòd

The very talented Ruairidh Gray from Daliburgh has achieved the rare and remarkable accolade of winning gold medals in both headline competitions at this year’s Royal National Mòd in Perth.

On Wednesday, Ruairidh claimed the men’s Bonn Òir a’ Chomuinn, winning through from what was described as an exceptionally strong field.

On Thursday evening, he shone, again beating off the strong and talented competition to take the Bonn Òir an t-Seann Nòis Gold Medal.

The two medals might sit side by side in the competition calendar, but they are each very different, as Ruairidh explains: “When the first Mòd Gold Medal competition was held in Oban in 1893 it was a small affair with just a handful of singers taking part. Many of the singers of that time would have received musical education and instruction. Some might have even received instruction in a semi-classical style. This meant that not only would they have learned the words for their songs, but also how to sing through long, difficult phrases and use correct control of breath and expression. This instruction would have left certain singers at quite an advantage and in 1971, a second medal competition was added to the listing; the traditional, or the Bonn Òir an t-Seann Nòis as it is known in Gaelic – literally, ‘gold medal of the old style’. This second competition judged performers in their own right, singing their own native Gaelic dialects in their own style with full use of vocal ornamentation.”.

“Although the competitions are quite different and each requires a particular set of skills, I believe them to be of equal importance to the Gaidhig culture”.

Ruairidh is currently the second-only person in the Mòd’s history to have won both the Bonn Òir a’ Chomuinn and the Bonn Òir an t-Seann Nòis in the same year. The only other person having done so is fellow Hebridean, Kenneth Nicholson. A native to the island of Lewis, Mr Nicholson won the double at the Stornoway Mòd in 2005 when Ruairidh was only 3 years old!

As well as the two gold medals, Ruairidh left Perth with no less than eight other prizes, including the Scotia Trophy, awarded for the highest overall mark in both the mens and ladies traditional medal competition, and the Islander Shield, awarded to the competitor with the highest overall mark within his and her own competition.

Ruairidh joins an esteemed list of Mòd gold medallists, and says he is honoured to be present amongst such important names: “I read through the long list of these great gold medallists, stretching back to 1893; people like Norman Maclean, Calum Kennedy, Archie Grant, Margaret Duncan, Kenna Campbell, Iseabail T. MacDonald – these are important and influential musicians who have helped keep Gaelic song alive and we still talk about them with reverence today. I feel very proud and deeply honoured to think my name shall sit alongside theirs.”

The two gold medal competitions have very specific requirements, and demand excellence in both music and language. Competitors are asked to sing a mixture of set songs, and songs of their own choosing and deciding which songs to include is not an easy task. Ruairidh explained:
“Finding and then choosing the right songs is incredibly important. They must contrast and show that the singer is able to not only showcase his own vocal and technical ability but to show he has an understanding and appreciation of how the different song topics work together in a sort of concert programme. For example, my own song choice spanned four centuries, from the 1650s to 1923. Love songs, songs of war and songs that yearn for a place and way of life were all topics which I used. I think a good display of song choice and understanding of the language is very important when entering something such as the Mòd”.

Ruairidh is in his third year at the Royal Conservatoire Scotland where he is studying traditional music, with a principal study on Gaelic song. He is mentored within the Conservatoire by esteemed Gàidhlig scholar and folklorist Ms Iseabail T. MacDonald of South Uist and Glasgow. Ruairidh said: “It is a privilege for me to be mentored by someone who cares so deeply for my language and culture. I have been aware of Iseabail and her work my whole life and to now call her my mentor is truly an honour”.

While most in Uist would have been delighted to hear of Ruairidh’s success, there are a number of people who will be taking particular pride at his double medal win. The teachers, tutors, family, friends and neighbours who have supported Ruairidh’s musical career are too many to mention. Am Pàipear spoke to one person who has been a loyal supporter for many years, Ruairidh’s 93-year-old friend and neighbour, Mrs Elizabeth Thompson:

“Ruairidh lived across the road from me in Daliburgh from the age of ten. I don’t know how we came to strike up such a close friendship, given the very great difference in our age, but we certainly bonded over our mutual love of music. We sang together almost every day, at home and in the Choir at St Peter’s in Daliburgh, where I was the oldest member and he was the youngest. We sang all different kinds of songs and Ruairidh was forever trying to find a song I didn’t know. I remember he turned up one day singing the Polish national anthem, hoping to catch me out – but I knew that one too! Ruaridh is a very special person, not just for his rare musical talent but for his generosity and kindness. I am so very happy for him and just bursting with pride.”

This year the Mòd celebrated its 117th Gold Medal Competition, having held the event every year since 1893, world wars and international pandemics excepted. More than 7,500 people came to Perth to listen, watch or perform, with a huge army of volunteers giving up their time and devoting their energies to making sure the event was a success.