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YOUNG talent from Inverness showcased their music and language skills at Scotland’s biggest celebration of Gaelic culture.

Locals were among more than 3000 participants competing in the Royal National Mod in Glasgow last week.

Inverness Royal Academy pupil Jessica Hanvidge (15) won silver for fluent solo singers aged 13 to 15 at the festival.

“I am very happy as it is so unexpected,” she said afterwards. “I have been practising since last year, but properly got into the swing of it a couple of months ago, and it’s just hard work, going over it and practising.”

Her sister Saffron won the Duncan Johnston Memorial trophy for women vocal solos and came fourth in the gold medal finals.

Isabella Somerville made a clean sweep of awards on the clarsach, ranking first in the self-accompaniment solo junior competition, as well as in the advanced category and the under 13 duets, with Grace Scott.

Archie Drennan from Drumnadrochit came first in the hornpipe and jig competition and Maili Maclennan from Inverness Gaelic Primary School won the chanter march competitions for under 13s and was first in the vocal solos for fluent girl speakers aged 11 to 12.

Eilidh Morag Nic a’Phi from Inverness won in the piobaireachd and vocal solo competitions (girls 16-18) and Finlay MacLennan from IRA was first in the conversation competition for fluent speakers aged 13 to 15.

Inverness Gaelic Choir came third in the Lovat and Tullibardine Shield competition.

With an estimated contribution to the local economy of more than £2m for this year’s edition, Scotland’s biggest celebration of Gaelic culture will be staged in Inverness in 2020.

Depute Provost Graham Ross received the Mod flag on behalf of Highland Council at the end of this year’s event.

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