Guest blog: Ceitidh Smith
Ceitidh Smith has competed in local and National Mods since the age of 5 and is assistant secretary of the Inverness Local Mod, a member of Meur Inbhir Nis, vice-president of Inverness Gaelic Choir and has been involved in the Royal National Mod 2014 committee.

Guest blog: Ceitidh Smith

Ceitidh Smith has competed in local and National Mods since the age of 5 and is assistant secretary of the Inverness Local Mod, a member of Meur Inbhir Nis, vice-president of Inverness Gaelic Choir and has been involved in the Royal National Mod 2014 committee.

So another National Mod has come and gone in a whirl of song, music and tartan and the post-Mod blues have definitely set in. This year the Mod was back in Dunoon for the seventh time in its 120 year history and the local organising committee didn’t disappoint.

With individual competitors and choirs from every corner of Scotland and further afield it is one of the highlights of the year where we meet friends we don’t see from year to year to socialise, sing old songs, new songs and put our best performances on show.

The polished BBC coverage of winners that the majority of the country sees is only the tip of the iceberg and there were plenty of other events, sessions, competitions, ceilidhs, concerts and spontaneous outbursts of singing throughout the week that showcased the amazing talent that Gaeldom continues to produce.

So as we all disperse back into the real world from the gaelic bubble, with social media going mad with thank yous, congratulations, photos and memories from first timers and seasoned veterans all I can say is –

Roll on Paisley 2013!

This year the main individual prizes were won by:

* Gold Medals: Eilidh J Davies, Invergarry and Calum MacLeod, Edinburgh

* Traditional Medals: Christine Stone, Caithness and Alex MacDonald, North Lanarkshire

The choir competition s were won by:

Rural choirs

* Lorne Shield: Còisir Sgìr a’ Bhac (Back Gaelic Choir, Lewis)

* Sheriff Masmaster Campbell Memorial Quaich: Còisir Ghàidhlig Tairbeart Loch Fìn (Tarbert Loch Fyne Gaelic Choir)

* Puirt: Còisir Ghàidhlig Ìle (Islay Gaelic Choir)

* Ladies: Còisir Ghàidhlig an Eilean Mhuilich (Mull Gaelic Choir)

Area choirs

* Lovat and Tullibardine Shield: Dingwall Gaelic Choir

* Margret Duncan: Aberfeldy and District Gaelic Choir

* Puirt: Còisir Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis( Inverness Gaelic Choir)

* Ladies: Atomic Piseag, Argyll

* Men: Coilich a’ Chinn a Tuath (Cocks of the North, Caithness and Sutherland)