Joy Dunlop must be one of the busiest people in Scotland.

As well as working as a development officer for An Commun Joy has a professional singing career, writes for An Gàidheal Ur, is a member of several Gaelic choirs [Atomic Piseag and Coisir Ghàidhlig Thaigh an Uillt’s mixed and ladies choirs], conducts a male voice choir and is just back from 6 months in Canada! We managed to get hold of her for a quick catch up after this year’s Mod!

So what was the highlight of the Mod for you this year?

Hmmm that’s a tough one! As a true Mod fan I enjoy all of it but competition wise it was probably the success of my choirs that I’m most proud of. I sing and do the Gaelic for Coisir Ghàidhlig Thaigh an Uillt [Taynuilt Gaelic Choir] and this year in the Sheriff MacMaster competition we won 1st place and also the Gaelic and music prizes. This was my first time ever tutoring Gaelic for a choir and I was a terrified that I might let them down-thankfully the judges seemed to like our efforts! Also my male voice Gaelic choir Coisir Ceann an Tuirc got their first ever placing [2nd and shared the music cup with the GGs] so we’re just over the moon about that!!!

As part of the bursting Fringe programme you did a talk about your time in Canada – tell us a bit about your trip for anyone who missed it?

Well I was offered the chance to work in Mabou, Cape Breton as the Gaelic Instructor in Residence for a community group called Fèis Mhàbu. I was developing Gaelic language, culture and song in the community and working with all ages from preschool to adults-it was an amazing experience. I actually stayed for 6 months in the end as I loved it so much and the project was a huge success, we had over 140 children involved altogether and many adults also took part giving a much needed boost to Gaelic in the area. I also made an effort to soak up as much of the local culture as possible and attended every square dance, cèilidh and session going, it was fantastic! I just need a new excuse to return…!

Atomic Piseag were busy at the Mod as well! What the choir were up to in Fort William?

This year we released our first ever cd entitled Piseag Gu Leor and had a wee launch party in the Alexandra Hotel on the Friday night. This was very exciting for us and great fun-lots of singing, socialising and some free booze to boot! As an area choir that covers the whole of Argyll we only meet once a month so it’s quite hard to get all the girls together but when we do-watch out!!! It was a lovely night with all our friends and rounded off the Mod nicely for us-if anyone’s interested in a copy see me for a discount!

And as well as all this you have your solo music as well – how’s that going?

This year was really exciting for me, I’ve been very busy doing loads of performing and teaching and am so grateful that I was lucky enough to get these opportunities. I did a fair amount of performing with new and exciting people in Canada when I worked there which was fantastic and this year I was also part of the Celtic Colours International Festival-a real honour and great fun. I really enjoy the performance side so it’s nice to get a chance to do this when I can. On the Mod front I was delighted to win the Oran Mòr competition and to come 2nd overall in the Gold Medal competition this year. This was pretty nerve racking to do but great to be part of and I wasn’t to give a huge congrats to this years deserving winners Jean Mackay and James Graham-nach math a rinn sibh!

You’re seen as a bit of a pin up – how does it feel to be a Mod babe?

Hahahahahahahaha, me a pin up?? You’ve obviously never seen me in the morning! I like the idea behind the “Mod Babes” though as it shows that An Comunn have a fun and youthful side, for too many years we’ve been wrongly perceived as being ancient and slightly fuddy-duddyish so perhaps this will prove to people once and for all that the Mod and An Comunn is suitable for all ages. We had badges created this year with several different slogans on them e.g. Mod Babe, Mod Pride, Suas leis a’ Mhod and Moiteil as a’ Mhod. These were free badges that people could wear and were such a success that they ran out by the first weekend! I’m hoping to run another batch off for those who want them and I think they are a fun way to promote the Mod- I saw a bodach of about 80 wearing a hot pink Mod babe badge and I thought that was fantastic!
* Its not cool but i like it…Christmas carols! My favourites to sing and dance to are “All I want for Christmas” by Mariah carey and “Do they know it’s Christmas?” by BandAid!

• When I was little I wanted to be… so many different things-a dancer, a singer, a Gladiator, a paramedic, a soap star, a Nobel prize winner, a doctor…

• You wouldn't know it but...I really don’t like cooking…but I love to eat!!!

• The soundtrack to my life…would be a very interesting mix of traditional music, cheesy pop, Gaelic songs, power ballads, Disney tunes and anything else that appeals to me at the time!

• The last time I cried… was at my leaving do in Mabou, Cape Breton-They did a wee presentation and gave me presents and I bawled my eyes out and then felt very embarrassed!