Saturday 22/10/05 - Royal National Mod (Day 7)

The Mod comes to an end today. The choirs will sing for a final time, all together, in Perceval Square, at 10.30. At the breakfast table, the post-mortem was continuing as to the reasons why the Canadian choir had not succeeded. The Gaelic tutor was staying with us, and she felt particularly down. You can only feel sorry. Once in Perceval Square I had to wait for quite a bit because the pipebands were once again late. They marched the choristers down Cromwell Street and into Perceval Square.
The above image (taken in July) shows the junction of Cromwell Street and Percival Square (to the left). The image below (April 2005) shows the view in the opposite direction, from Percival Square into Cromwell Street.

A Lewis Crofters lorry has been set up with a set of speakers and conductors take turns conducting the massed choirs. At 1.15, I go down to the ferry terminal. Droves of people going on the ferry. They're seen off by the pipeband. The usual melee ensues, but everybody does manage to squeeze on board. With twice 3 hoots on the ship's whistle, the Isle of Lewis sails for Ullapool at 2.15 with a piper playing from the top of the wheelhouse. I walk back with a neighbour from Newton Street. It's a cold afternoon, but dry after an initial light shower at 10.45. Ann and Gordon have left for Kilbride in South Uist, which is where Ann is from. Carmel and John went on the plane to Edinburgh at midday. They read up on the island in the morning, as they knew very little about the history of the place. And history is so important, because it's the very history that has given rise to Gaelic music as we know it. The sun sets at 6pm, which brings Mod 2005 to a close!