THE introduction of a Mòd Academy to encourage children to compete at Scotland's premier Gaelic cultural festival has been a soaring success in boosting numbers.

Children's competitions dominated the fourth day of the Royal National Mòd in Oban and hundreds more are due to take part as the annual event continues.

The junior entries include 70 from Oban after local Gaels took action when only two youngsters from the town - the birthplace of the Mòd - competed at the national festival last year.

Duncan MacDonald, convener of the local committee for the 2015 festival, said they took the initiative to start a Mòd Academy at the beginning of this year, paying tutors to give lessons to interested children from Oban High School and its feeder primary schools.

Money came from Argyll and Bute Council as well as Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

Mr MacDonald said: "I just felt that it needed a boost and the schools and the teachers welcomed us with open arms."

It is hoped that funding can be identified to continue the pilot in Oban and to set up similar Mod academies in other places.

John MacLeod, President of An Comunn Gàidhealach, said: "It's a very encouraging development.

"We would like to have access to funding at a national level in order to extend this project to other areas, particularly to up-and-coming locations for the national Mòd.

"It would be good to develop this so that year after year the locations where the Mòd will be will see a significant increase in participation from local youngsters."

ORAL (LEARNERS)

C150 Poetry Recitation (16-18)

1 Katie MacFarlane-Cameron, CGM - Cille Chomhghainn.

C100 (13-15)

1 Rachel Grigor, Àrd-sgoil Boroughmuir.

2 Ryan Johnston, Bogh Mòr.

3 Rachel Bolton, CGM - Loch Alainn.

C49A (11-12)

1 Freya Maclean, Còisir Òg an Rubha.

2 Rachel Bolton, Comunn Gàidhealach Mhuile.

3 (equal) Abbie Morris, Bun-sgoil Port Ilein, and Emily Mackie, Bun-sgoil Port Ilein.

C49 (9-10) (Cowal Trophy)

1 Eva Munro, Bun-sgoil Port Ilein.

2 Jack Mutch, Bun-sgoil Chille Mhoire.

3 Bronagh Newman, Bun-sgoil Port Ilein.

C26A (7-8) (Falkirk Rotary Club Trophy)

1 Muireann Dalton, Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu.

2 Scott Mcphee, Bun-sgoil Achadh na Creige.

3 Isla Duke, Bun-sgoil Chondobhrait.

C26 (5-6) (Phemie Wilson Memorial Trophy)

1 Paige Charlotte Fleming, Bun-sgoil Inbhir Pheofharain.

2 Donald Andrew Fletcher, Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu.

3 (equal) Sorley Finlay Cavanagh, Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu, and Catriona Mackinnon, Bun-sgoil an Ath Leathainn.

C24 Conversation (5-8)

1 Adam Kaiess, Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu.

2 Rufus Hughes, Bun-sgoil Achadh na Creige.

3 Muireann Dalton, Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu.

C25 Story Telling (5-8) (Daisy’s Den Trophy)

1 Muireann Dalton, Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu.

CHORAL (LEARNERS)

C77 Two-Part Harmony (under 13) (Susan Paterson Caledonian MacBrayne Trophy)

1 Bun-sgoil Phort Ilein.

C78 Puirt-a-beul (under 13) (Olive Campbell Trophy)

1 Còisir Ghàidhlig Bun-sgoil Bogh Mòr.

2 Rionnagan Rois.

3 (equal) Còisir Bun-sgoil Achadh na Creige, and Bun-sgoil Phort Ilein.

C03 Unison (Rural Primaries) (Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee Trophy)

1 Bun-sgoil Phort Ilein.

2 Còisir Nam Balach - Bun-sgoil Phort Ilein.

3 Còisir Ghàidhlig Bun-sgoil Bogh Mòr.

C76 Unison (under 13) (Donald and Maimie MacPhail Trophy)

1 Rionnagan Rois.

2 Comunn Gàidhealach Mhuile.

3 Còisir Bun-sgoil Achadh na Creige.

Darlington Gaelic Society Silver Jubilee Trophy for Gaelic - Rionnagan Rois.

Morag Robb Memorial Trophy for Music - Comunn Gàidhealach Mhuile.

CHORAL (OPEN)

C173 Unison (under 19) (Queen Elizabeth 1937 Coronation Trophy)

1 Còisir Òg Ghàidhlig Ìle.

2 Còisir Òg Dhailriata.

3 Rionnagan Rois.

C174 Two-Part Harmony (under 19) (Tom Crawford Trophy)

1 Còisir Òg Ghàidhlig Ìle.

2 Còisir Òg Dhailriata.

3 Falkirk Junior Gaelic Choir.

C175 Puirt-a-Beul (under 19) (Martin Wilson North Berwick Trophy)

1 Còisir Òg Dhailriata.

2 Còisir Òg Ghàidhlig Ìle.

3 Rionnagan Rois.

Aggregate Prizes for C173, C174 and C175

East Kilbride District Council Trophy - Còisir Òg Ghàidhlig Ìle.

Iain Thomson Memorial Trophy for Gaelic - Còisir Òg Ghàidhlig Ìle.

Alistair MacNeil (North Berwick) Trophy for Gaelic tutor - Còisir Òg Ghàidhlig Ìle.

Jean Walker Memorial Trophy for Music - (equal) Còisir Òg Ghàidhlig Ìle and Còisir Òg Dhailriata.

VOCAL SOLOS (LEARNERS)

C102 Girls (13-15) (James C. MacPhee Memorial Medal)

1 Holly Smith, An Eaglais Bhreac.

2 Mairead MacSween, Acadamaidh Bràghaid Albann.

3 Lucy Smith, An Eaglais Bhreac.

C103 Boys (13-15) (James C. MacPhee Memorial Medal)

1 Ryan Johnston, Bogh Mòr.

2 Ross McLeish, Àrd-sgoil an Òbain.

3 Lewis Davey, Bogh Mòr.

C51A Girls (11-12) (Ronald MacEachen Memorial Cup)

1 Kirsty Nicolson, An Rubha.

2 Abbie Morris, Bun-sgoil Port Ilein.

3 Elizabeth MacMillan, Sgoil Lacasdail.

C51 Girls (9-10) (Mrs Roderick B. Munro Trophy)

1 Jessica Gordon, Rionnagan Rois.

2 Aaliyah Macdonald, Còisir Òg an Rubha.

3 Amy Mustarde, Inshes Primary School.

C52A Boys (11-12)

1 Matthew Higgins-Macleod, Ard-sgoil Gheàrrloch.

2 John Angus Morrison, Sgoil MhicNeacail.

3 Innes Munro, Bun-sgoil an Dùn Beag.

C52 Boys (9-10) (Dr Archie MacKinnon, Islay, Memorial Trophy)

1 Angus MacAskill, Bun-sgoil Inbhir Aora.

2 Alexander Dugdale, Comunn Gàidhealach Mhuile.

Donald Macleod Trophy for Gaelic (C51 and C52) - Jessica Gordon, Rionnagan Rois.

C27A Boys and Girls (7-8) (Hugh Macintyre Memorial Trophy)

1 Muireann Dalton, Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu.

2 Rowan Morris, Bun-sgoil Port Ilein.

3 Verity Lawrence, CGM - Loch Alainn.

C27 (5-6) (Joan Campbell Memorial Trophy)

1 Catriona Mackinnon, Bun-sgoil an Ath Leathainn.

2 Ryven Perry, Bun-sgoil Taobh na h-Aibhne.

3 Sorley Finlay Cavanagh, Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu.

C145A Traditional 16-18 (Provost of Falkirk Medal)

1 Katie MacFarlane, An t-Àrd-Ruigh.

2 Hannah MacRae, An Gearasdan.

VOCAL SOLOS (OPEN)

C177 Previous Prizewinners (Skelmorlie and District Highland Association Quaich)

1 Katie MacFarlane, An t-Àrd-Ruigh.

2 Emily Robertson, An Eaglais Bhreac.

3 Hannah Calder, Àrd-sgoil Lochabair.

DUETS (LEARNERS)

C104 (13-15) (Donald Ross Memorial Trophy)

1 Mairead MacSween and Laura Nicoll, Acadamaidh Braghad Albainn.

2 Holly Smith and Lucy Smith, An Eaglais Bhreac.

3 Rachel Bolton and Floriana Lawrence, CGM- Loch Alainn.

C79 (under 13) (Angus MacTavish Memorial Trophy)

1 Molly Blyth and Brodie Crawford, Sgoiltean Ceann Loch Gilp.

2 Oscar Tormod Fish and Juliet Mackenzie, Còisir Òg an Rubha.

3 Annie Farreu and Abbie Morris, Bun-sgoil Port Ilein.

ACTION SONG (OPEN)

C87B (under 13)

1 Clann Thròndairnis.

2 Bun-sgoil Achadh na Creige.

3 Comunn Gàidhealach Mhuile.

FOLK GROUPS (OPEN)

C172 (under 19) (Allan Thomas Mitchell Trophy)

1 Oban High School Traditional School of Music Group 1.

2 Faram, Eilean Leòdhais.

3 Sgoil Chiùil Lochabair.

C172A (under 13) (Murdo MacFarlane Trophy)

1 Clann Thròndairnis.

2 Ceòl an Rubha.

3 Bunsgoil Achadh na Creige.

WAULKING SONG

C180 (under 19) (Harris Tweed Authority Award)

1 Clann Thròndairnis.

DRAMA (OPEN)

C87A (under 13) (Donald MacDonald Memorial Trophy)

1 Bun-sgoil Achadh na Creige Prìomh 1-4.

2 Bun-sgoil Achadh na Creige Prìomh 4-7.

PIPING

C132 Piobaireachhd (under 19)(W.G.G. Wilson Trophy)

1 Brìghde Chaimbeul, An Caol.

2 Finlay Cameron, Drochaid Ruaidh.

3 Aaron Hossain, Àrd-sgoil an Òbain.

END