Festival city has the right ring for the Royal National Mod THE director of the Royal National Mod has welcomed the plan for Edinburgh to host the event for the first time in more than 25 years. Speaking at the 109th celebration of Gaelic arts, dance, drama, music and literature currently being held in Dunoon, festival director John Macleod said that the capital's interest in hosting the festival for the first time since 1986 would be a significant boost. Edinburgh Council said last month that it will bid to host the event by 2017 as part of its Gaelic Language Plan. Mr Macleod, who is also president of Gaelic body An Comunn Gàidhealach, said: "It's encouraging to us that the city the size of Edinburgh is really keen to host the Royal National Mod as one of their major festivals. Edinburgh is known as the city of festivals, and if it could be done we'd be delighted to add the Royal National Mod to the number of festivals it already has. However, he cautioned that any plans for the festival to be held there were at a very early stage. Attendance figures released yesterday for this year's event also showed that the number of adults competing was up compared to the 2011 Mod, which was held in the Western Isles. But there was also a small drop in the number of young people attending, meaning overall attendance was down. Mr Macleod insisted that the prevalence of Gaelic speakers in the Western Isles meant that figures for other Mod venues would almost always suffer comparison. He said: "The Western Isles are, some say, the heartland of Gaelic, so our competitor numbers are extremely high - the local people tend to take part. Whereas if we're in, say, Dunoon or the south of Scotland, then there is a cost element, so they may be reluctant to go there. C100 Poetry Recitation (13-15) Eilidh MacDonald, Ard-sgoil Ile. Natalie Dunn, Isle of Islay. Ruby Miller, Port Ellen Primary School. Aileas Colthart, Port Ellen Primary School. C49 (9-10) (Cowal Trophy) Maisie Logan, Port Ellen Primary School. Abbie Morris, Port Ellen Primary School. Elizabeth MacMillan, Port Ellen Primary School. C26A (7-8) (Falkirk Rotary Club Trophy) Rae MacIver, Sgoil Ghaidhlig Ghlaschu. Emily Gray, Bun-sgoil Bogh Mor. Elliot MacKinnon, Bun-sgoil Chondobhrait. C26 (5-6) (Phemie Wilson Memorial Trophy) Seona Brown, Sgoil Ghaidhlig Ghlaschu. Finlay McLennan. Joel Robertson, Bun-sgoil Chondobhrait. C99 Conversation (13-15) Nuala Neary, Ard Sgoil Dhun Omhain. Mitchell Kilpatrick, Bun-sgoil Chondobhrait. Riona Kennedy, Bun-sgoil Chondobhrait. Elliot MacKinnon, Bun-sgoil Onthank. C25A Story Telling (7-8) Eilidh Quinn, Sgoil Ghaidhlig Ghlaschu. Archie Campbell, Sgoil Ghaidhlig Ghlaschu. C113 Unison (13-18) (Rona MacVicar Trophy) Comunn Gaidhealach Mhuile. C115 Port-a-Beul (13-18) (Donald D. MacIsaac Trophy) C173 Unison (under 19) (Queen Elizabeth 1937 Coronation Trophy) Coisir Og Ghaidhlig Ile. Rionnagan Rois (Na Deugairean). Falkirk Junior Gaelic Choir. C174 Two-Part Harmony (under 19) (Tom Crawford Trophy) Falkirk Junior Choir. Glasgow Islay Junior Gaelic Choir. C175 Puirt-a-Beul (under 19) (Martin Wilson North Berwick Trophy) Coisir Og Dhail Riata. C145A Traditional (16-18) (Provost of Falkirk Medal) Krista NicAonghais, An t-Eilean Sgitheanach. C102 Girls (13-15) (James C. MacPhee Memorial Medal) Mairi McGillivray, Isle of Islay. Katie MacFarlane, Falkirk Junior Gaelic Choir. Emma MacFarlane, Tarbert Academy. C51A Girls (11-12) (Ronald MacEachen Memorial Cup) Donna MacLeod, Banavie Primary. Elizabeh Aitchison, Bun-sgoil Bogh Mor. Anna Morrison, Sgoil Lionail. C52A Boys (11-12) Ryan Johnston, Bun-sgoil Bogh Mor. Lewis Davey, Bun-sgoil Bogh Mor. C52 Boys (9-10) (Dr Archie MacKinnon, Islay, Memorial Trophy) Calum MacDonald, Lochgilphead Campus. Finlay Cameron, Comunn Gaidhealach Mhuile. Craig Miller, Lochgilphead Joint Campus. C27 (5-6) (Joan Campbell Memorial Trophy) Nuala Iona NicDhomhnaill, Bun-sgoil Ulapuil. Caitlyn Yule, Bun-sgoil Chondobhrait. C104 (13-15) (Donald Ross Memorial Trophy) Anna MacDonald & Eilidh MacDonald, Ard-sgoil Ile. Hannah Prill & Emma MacFarlane, Tarbert Academy. Evie Waddell & Bethany MacKay, Wallace High School. C79 (under 13) (Angus MacTavish Memorial Trophy) Elizabeth Aitchison & Kayla Woodrow, Bun-sgoil Bogh Mor. Cara Blyth & Molly Renton, Bun-sgoil Inbhir Aora. Ellen Johnston & Emily Logan, Port Ellen Primary School. C172A (under 13) (Murdo MacFarlane Trophy) Bun-sgoil Stafainn. Sgoil Lionail. Sgoil an Rubha. Poetry Recitation (13-15) 1. Cowal Trophy (9-10) 1. Falkirk Rotary Club Trophy (7-8) 1. Phemie Wilson Memorial Trophy (5-6) 1. Conversation (13-15) 1. Story Telling (7-8) 1. Rona MacVicar Trophy (Unison 13-18) 1. Donald D. MacIsaac Trophy (Port-a-Beul 13-18) 1. Queen Elizabeth 1937 Coronation Trophy (Unison under 19) 1. Tom Crawford Trophy (Two-Part Harmony under 19) 1. Martin Wilson North Berwick Trophy (Puirt-a-Beul under 19) 1. Provost of Falkirk Medal (Traditional 16-18) 1. James C. MacPhee Memorial Medal (Girls 13-15) 1. Ronald MacEachen Memorial Cup (Girls 11-12) 1. (Boys 11-12) 1. Dr Archie MacKinnon, Islay, Memorial Trophy (Boys 9-10) 1. Joan Campbell Memorial Trophy (5-6) 1. Donald Ross Memorial Trophy (13-15) 1. Angus MacTavish Memorial Trophy (under 13) 1. Murdo MacFarlane Trophy (under 13) 1.