Caledonian MacBrayne to assist choirs get into Mod swing

10 September 2002

Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne is helping three Gaelic choirs this weekend. (Saturday) hone their skills for the Royal National Mod in Largs in October. The choirs will use the Ardrossan to Brodick ferry MV Caledonian Isles as their training ground for Gaeldom’s showpiece events.

The Largs Gaelic Choir, Glasgow Gaelic Association, Glasgow Islay Gaelic Choir and Cowal Gaelic Choir will be giving it laldy from the 1230 sailing from Ardrossan to Arran. The choirs will offer a selection of songs in different areas of the ship as she makes the crossing to Arran. They will then perform on the return journey and, weather permitting, it is hoped that the massed choirs will sing on the top deck as she arrives at Ardrossan.

To prove their stamina and hone their skills for the challenges of the Royal National Mod in October; the choirs will again perform on the 1515 sailing from Ardrossan, with the massed choirs assembling as the Caledonian Isles draws in at Brodick. Their final performances will be on the return leg of that journey, which arrives in Ardrossan at 1735.

On case the choirs flag at any point in their stamina-sapping day, Route Manager Robbie Brown has laid on other entertainment on the ship as well. He said: "This is a unique event which CalMac is to record for posterity on film. It will hopefully give everyone in the area a taste of what is to come for Mod week and it is an added bonus for our customers on Saturday.”

CalMac has also confirmed that special arrangements are being made to enable young choirs from Lewis to make the journey to Largs in time for the start of the children’s Mod on Monday, October 14. A special sailing of MV Isle of Lewis has been scheduled for half past midnight on Monday Morning, replacing the freight ferry which was due to leave then.

The Isle of Lewis will then make a return trip to Stornoway, fulfilling her timetabled commitment and the rest of the schedule for Monday.

At the end of the Mod week, travellers making their way back to Stornoway will have an hour extras to make it to the Ullapool for the evening sailing. High Dan MacLennan added: “we are making an exception for this sailing at the end of Mod week to allow the choirs the extra hour in Largs to take part in the traditional closing event for the massed choirs. The ship will be available for passengers who are awaiting the arrival of the mod revellers and I am sure that they will appreciate that we are doing this to help the choirs complete what will no doubt be a hectic week. Whether they have any energy left to entertain the passengers on the way home remains to be seen.”