Còisir Ghàidhlig nan Loch (Lochs Gaelic Choir) are jetting across the Atlantic on Tuesday to make its inaugural appearance at the New York City Tartan Week Mòd.
The Lewis based choir are competing in the choral contest in Manhattan on Thursday while numerous individuals in the group are singing in the solo event.
The NYC Tartan Week Mòd is a vibrant celebration of Scottish Gaelic language
and song, featuring competitions and workshops that attract participants from
across North America and beyond.
This year’s Mòd introduces two new competition categories: poetry recitation and vocal harmony groups, alongside the traditional solo singing competition.
Winners will receive cash prizes and opportunities to perform at various events during Tartan Week.
The New York Mòd marks a significant milestone in the choir’s celebrated
History and underscores their dedication in promoting Gaelic culture on an international stage and fostering connections within the global Gaelic community. The event serves as a cultural bridge, extending the spirit of the Scottish Mòd to New York City, and inspiring renewed interest in Gaelic arts and language.
Their performance is highly anticipated by audiences eager to experience authentic Scottish choral traditions.
Beyond the formal competitions, the choir have been asked to perform at an event hosted by Mòd sponsors, Isle of Harris Distillery. The evening will feature a selection of songs, expertly paired with the distillery’s finest spirits. This also represents an ideal meeting of Lewis, Harris and Gaelic on the far side of the Atlantic.
Much of the choir’s activities will be posted throughout the week on their social media channels @lochsgaelicchoir.
Long standing conductor, Ronnie Murray, who won An Comunn Gold Medal at the Glasgow Mòd in 1998 says they will “proudly fly the choral and Gaelic flag” at the New York Mod and at the Tartan Day parade.”
He said: “Lochs Gaelic choir have over the years competed at numerous Royal National Mòds, Pan Celtic Festivals in Ireland and also at the Vancouver Mòd in Canada.
“We decided this year to spread our wings once again and compete in the group competition at the New York Mòd during Tartan Week.
“The whole choir together with friends, who are joining us to sing in New York, have worked extremely hard at choir practices and weekend workshops as well as organising and planning to make this a choral trip to be remembered.”
He added: “On a personal note, I am honoured to conduct the Lochs Gaelic Choir in New York and to count every member of the choir, as part of my extended choral family.
“We have been extremely fortunate to have received funding from Macaulay Askernish and Muaitheabhal Trust for which we are extremely grateful.”
Their repertoire for going stateside focuses on one song - compared to the five required
for the annual Royal National Mòd - titled An t-Aparan Goirid which recounts a dramatic
love rivalry between two men over Jessie of Balranald and her turbulent escape from
North Uist to avoid an unwanted arranged marriage in 1890. Stormy weather blew her
boat off course and she ended up trapped in Rodel House (later known as Rodel Hotel)
on Harris where her true beloved broke in to rescue her.
Lochs Choir have been riding the crest of a wave at the Royal National Mod on this side of the ocean in recent years with both the Ladies Choir and the main choral group taking home a clutch of silverware annually.
Soloists from the choir intending to compete in the New York individual Gaelic events
are the mother, father and sons line-up of Fiona MacInnes, Iain Begg,and Murray and
Innes Begg along with their close relatives, Rory and Conal MacDiarmid. Nicola Pearson,
Katie Macinnes, Ronnie Murray and Ricky Hannaway are also participating in the solo
singing competitions.
Flying the Gaelic flag for Scotland at New York Mòd during Tartan Week
30 March 2025