Duncan MacLeod from Bonar Bridge, winner of the Traditional Gold Medal

Duncan’s journey to winning the Men’s Traditional Gold Medal at the Royal National Mòd

By Fiona Macleod

Although Duncan’s maternal grandfather and paternal great grandparents were Gaelic speakers neither of his parents were brought up speaking the language so Duncan began learning Gaelic at Croileagan (Gaelic playgroup) and through Gaelic Medium Education. He was exposed to music from an early age both at home and attending concerts with his parents. It was clear from early on that Duncan had a passion for music, and particularly loved Gaelic singing.


At the age of 5 he desperately wanted to take part in the local Mòd in Golspie so his mother, Fiona, taught him the one Gaelic song she could remember all the words to - Gleann Gollaidh.


Fiona, a native of Bettyhill, was one of of the many pupils of Janette Mackay, Strathy, who shared her love of Gaelic singing with her classes, and taught all her pupils a Gaelic song every year to enable them to attend the Caithness and Sutherland Mòd as well as local ceilidhs.


Duncan diligently learnt all the words but on the day of the Mòd, still a nursery pupil at that point, walked into the busy classroom and took fright; the competition age groups have changed since then, but it was 8 years and under at the time so the room was very busy and Duncan was the youngest by a good bit. He decided he would sing but only if he sang with his back to the adjudicators and audience, so that’s what he did.


He wasn’t put off by this experience though and the following year Duncan sang at the National Mòd in Dunoon in a very large room with a full audience. He was so relaxed at performing this time that he was one of the few out of over 20 competitors that managed to add expression to his song, so despite unknowingly singing one line twice he was awarded 2nd place.


Duncan continued to compete and enjoy taking part in the local and National Mòds most years throughout his childhood. He also wanted to encourage his younger sister, Rona, so suggested duet singing so she could gain confidence. This resulted in pre Mòd trips to Kenny Mackenzie in Lochinver for duet tuition and possibly their first introduction to harmony singing. They both very much looked forward to these visits.


Duncan attended Gaelic Medium Education in Bonar Bridge and Tain and has always been passionate about the language and keen to use it. Music also featured throughout his primary education. One of his teachers, Ellen Jack, encouraged singing in her class to the delight of her musical pupils. She also formed small folk groups with her pupils and these groups performed at the Inverness Mòd every year and were a great source of learning and enjoyment.


Once in secondary school, Duncan took part in one of the Highland Youth Music groups, Còsir G, a Gaelic choir taught by Eilidh Mackenzie. All groups had several weekend residential practices in Inverness and two performances per annum in The Macdonald Resort in Aviemore and Eden Court. Duncan adored these weekends of learning new songs and harmonies and continued in this group up until the end of 5th year.


Outwith school Duncan was a regular attendee at Fèisean, initially at the Gaelic Medium Fèisean - Fèis a’ Chaolais in Bonar Bridge and Fèis Tìr a Mhurain, in Uist. He also attended the annual residential Fèis Rois week in Ullapool annually and continued to successfully audition for their Ceilidh Trail aged 16 which he did for 3 years as summer employment. This gave him the opportunity to perform with other young musicians all over Scotland as well as Cambridge and Sidmouth music festivals in England. He also took part in the Fèis Rois project, ‘Kin in the Community’ led by Duncan Chisholm which involved research, filming and multimedia performances.


Through Fèis a’Chaolais, Duncan came in contact with singing tutor, Catriona Macleod from Strathnaver - another ex-pupil of Janette Mackay. Catriona encouraged Duncan’s singing over the years and in 2013 Catriona put together the fantastic multimedia show, Drìne, celebrating the songs of Sutherland Bard, Robb Donn. She asked Duncan to join the all-Sutherland band to sing on stage to a sold-out venue at Celtic Connections in 2014 and in some of the Sutherland village halls. As a 14-year-old, and at a point where some singers may give up, the experience this gave Duncan was incredible and so valuable. It was also the beginning of his curiosity for the local dialect and Robb Donn songs.


Duncan was also fortunate to take part in the Fèisean Nan Gàidheal Fuaran project which encourages young Gaelic singers to research Gaelic songs from their area. These are then recorded and made public. Duncan chose to research a Polbain Bard song which was saved through the collection of the Bard’s songs by a late relative, Roddy Macleod.


Duncan will be singing at a special concert in Lairg Hall on Saturday the 24th January 2026

For 6th year Duncan wanted to attend the Plockton school of music to further his piano playing and Gaelic singing. This involved staying in the school hostel during the week, with school as usual during the day, music practice in the evenings and a residential weekend once a month as well as tours and performances.


After leaving Plockton Duncan headed to Edinburgh University to study Linguistics and Celtic Studies and has recently started a graduate post as a song archivist for the Royal National Mòd and also does a few hours a month as a Gaelic CBeebies presenter.


Duncan is a member of Binneas, a choir made up of 16 young people from all over a Scotland led by John Joe MacNeil. It is based on the classical concept, ‘the 16’ and the voices sing complex harmonies within Gaelic song.


When time allows Duncan and his sister Rona perform as a duo singing both Gaelic and English songs with harmonies and accompanying themselves on piano, fiddle and guitar.


Despite being involved in music all his life the Traditional Mòd Gold competition is something Duncan always wanted to try. To enter, you have to be fluent in Gaelic. Competitors firstly compete in a morning qualifying competition where they sing one song in the traditional style in front of an audience and two adjudicators. The four highest scoring competitors get through to the final which takes place in the evening where they sing a further two traditional songs in front of a different two adjudicators, an audience, and live TV.


Duncan had a couple of attempts at this, once during his degree and once just after finishing it. He made it into the final on both occasions, a feat in itself, but this year he succeeded. It’s possible he may be the first person from Sutherland to win the Traditional Gold Medal.

And completing the circle was that one of the adjudicators in the final was the very first adjudicator he’d sung with his back to as a 5-year-old
Duncan will be singing at a special concert in Lairg Hall on Saturday the 24th January - more information will be available locally soon.