Cultural Phenomenon

Celebrating 125 years, the Gaelic Mòd is an international success story

- Rhona Taylor

WHEN the first Mòd was held back in 1892, its unlikely the organisers of the two-day Gaelic festival in Oban could have envisaged how it would flourish and develop into today’s thriving celebration of language and culture.

Now, 125 years later, An Comunn Gàidhealach’s nine-day festival has been held all over Scotland, from the Highlands and islands to the central belt, attracting many thousands of competitors and visitors alike from all around the world each and every year – and generating millions of pounds for the local host economy as well.

In recent years, in addition to the traditional competitions and awards that have always formed the basis of the Mòd’s schedule, organisers have developed a varied fringe programme involving gigs, visual art, poetry, theatre and street performances that have broadened the appeal of the festival far beyond its traditional base. It has also opened up to an international audience, with past competitors coming from Russia, Australia and Germany, and an Argentinian Gaelic choir due to take part in 2018.

This year the Royal National Mòd – Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail – will be held in Lochaber in the Highlands for the first time in a decade.

As happens each year, the winning area was chosen from bids submitted to the board of An Comunn, and in October ithe chosen area will host approximately 200 competitions covering a range of disciplines from Gaelic music, song and spoken word to Highland dancing, sport and literature.