ABSTRACT
In 1892 Lord Archibald Campbell proposed that there should be a new prize at the National Mod, the annual competitive festival of the Scottish Gael which took place for the first time that year. Lord Archibald was President of the Mod, and was anxious to revive the playing of the clarsach. He offered an award for the best Gaelic song with self accompaniment on the clarsach. Only two competitors entered: Miss Kate MacDonald and Miss Lizzie B. Mackay, who were both members of the St. Columba Choir, Glasgow, and the first prize was shared equally by both. The sums of money involved were large enough to be a considerable incentive for potential clarsach players — they were sufficient to purchase a harp at that time. After the 1895 Mod, the Celtic Monthly printed the prize list for solo singing with clarsach accompaniment: “First, Miss Emily Macdonald, Cathcart, £7.; Second, Miss M.A. Mackechnie, Oban, £3. (In comparison, the winners of the Premier prize for unaccompanied singing received, as first prize, a gold medal and £1 and as second prize, £2). These two ladies again won the competition in 1896 with the placings reversed.
