Royal National Mòd Kicks Off in Style in Lochaber

The Royal National Mòd (Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail) opened on Friday night as Scotland’s biggest Gaelic cultural festival arrived in Lochaber for the first time in a decade. Running until Saturday 21st of October, the Mòd will bring thousands of people to Lochaber as visitors and competitors make their way from across Scotland, the UK, and even the US.

Friday saw a torchlight procession through the streets of Fort William ahead of the official opening, with hundreds in attendance. At the ceremony, the new President of An Comunn Gàidhealach, Allan Campbell, gave his inaugural president’s address. In his speech, Mr Campbell called for the Royal National Mòd to be acknowledged as a Scottish cultural treasure. The opening ceremony included sensational performances by a former Mòd gold medallist Robert Robertson with Ross Wilson, and Gaelic folk group Na h-Òganaich completing the musical highlights.

On Saturday, the Mòd played host to the international Colmcille Shinty competition, where Scotland triumphed against Ireland’s Fir Uladh 4-1. In the football, Mallaig took home the Mod cup on their home turf, beating Sleat and Strath of Skye with a score of 6-1.  

The main competitions also kicked off with young Gaels vying for medals in fiddle, piano, accordion, melodeon and bagpipes.

In the Fringe, Alexandra Hotel played host to a training session from The National Library of Scotland and Wikipedia – where locals could learn about the Gaelic site and how to edit it. A foraging walk also allowed guests to explore the local area and discover Scotland’s natural larder of edible plants, fungi and berries, before the party kicked off in the evening with the Fiddler’s Rally, with performances from Gold Medallists Eilidh Davis and Alasdair Whyte.

Sunday brings with it a day of rest in Lochaber, with the Royal National Mòd hosting a Gaelic service at Duncansburgh Church, ahead of a Celtic praise – a celebration of praise with music and song from the Church Gospel Band and more.

Over the next six days, the Royal National Mòd will host the highest number of participants in a decade, performing in competitions for Gaelic music, song, drama, highland dancing and literature, with all levels of Gaelic taking part.

John Morrison, Chief Executive of An Comunn Gàidhealach said: “This year’s Royal National Mòd has got off to a flying start and we’re looking forward to welcoming a record number of participants to Lochaber this year. It’s a joy to be back here after ten long years, and we thank the local community for such a warm welcome.

We have already seen some amazing performances, competitions and sport at this year’s festival, and we’re only three days in. The rest of the Mòd promises more exciting contests and performances, especially with the coveted Gold and Traditional Medal finals, and the Lovat and Tullibardine and  Margrat Duncan awards later in the week.”

Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail a’ tòiseachadh le stoidhle ann an Loch Abar

Chaidh Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail fhosgladh air oidhche Haoine agus am Fèis Cultarail Gàidhlig as motha an Alba air a thighinn gu Loch Abar airson a’ chiad uair ann an deich bliadhna. Bidh i a’ ruith gu Disathairne 21 Dàmhair, agus bheir am Mòd na mìltean de dhaoine gu Loch Abar le luchd-tadhail agus farpaisich a’ dèanamh an slighe ann bho air feadh na h-Alba, na RA agus eadhon na SA.

Air Dihaoine chaidh caismeachd lòchranach tro shràidean a’ Ghearasdain air thoiseach air an fhosgladh oifigeil, agus na ceudan an làthair. Aig an tachartas, thug Ceann-suidhe ùr a’ Chomuinn Ghàidhealaich, Ailean Caimbeul seachad a’ chiad òraid aige mar cheann-suidhe. Anns an òraid aige, dh’iarr Mgr Caimbeul gun deidheadh Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail aithneachadh mar sheud chultarail Albannach. Thug an tachartas fosglaidh a-steach ceòl is òrain thlachdmhoir bhon bhuannaiche Bonn Òir Raibeart MacDhonnchaidh le taic bho Ros Macuilleam, agus buidheann ceòl dùthchail Ghàidhlig Na h-Òganaich a’ cur crìoch air fìor oidhche chiùil.

Air Disathairne, thug am Mòd aoigheachd don fharpais eadar-nàiseanta Iomain Cholmcille, far na bhuannaich Alba 4-1 an aghaidh Sgioba Èirinn, Fir Ullaidh.  Anns a’ gheam ball-coise, thug sgioba Mhalaig cupa a’ Mhòid dhachaigh ann am Malaig, a’ cur ruaig air Slèite is Srath bhon Eilean Sgìtheanaich le scòr de 6-1.

Thòisich na prìomh fharpaisean cuideachd le Gàidheil òga an sàs airson buinn ann am farpaisean fìdhlearachd, piana, bogsa agus pìob mhòr.

Air an Iomall, chaidh seisean trèanaidh air adhart ann an Taigh-òsta Alexandra a’ toirt a-steach Leabharlann Nàiseanta na h-Alba agus Uicipedia – far am b’ urrainn daoine sa choimhearsnachd ionnsachadh mun làrach Ghàidhlig agus mar a b’ urrainn dhaibh a dheasachadh. Leig lorg solar nàdair cuideachd le aoighean sgrùdadh a dhèanamh air an sgìre ionadail agus faighinn a-mach mu stòras nàdarra na h-Alba de phlanntrais, fungasan agus dearcan a tha rim faotainn mun cuairt oirnn, mus do thòisich an fhèisteas air an oidhche le Cuirm nam Fìdhlear, le òrain bho Bhuannaichean nam Buinn Òir Eilidh Davis agus Alasdair MacIlleBhàin.

Air Didòmhnaich gheibhear beagan fois ann an Loch Abar, agus am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail a’ cur air adhart seirbheis Ghàidhlig ann an Eaglais Bhaile Dhonnchaidh, air thoiseach air Moladh Ceilteach – cuirm de mholadh le ceòl is òrain bho Chòmhlan Soisgeul na h-eaglaise agus barrachd.

Thairis air na sia latha ri thighinn, bheir Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail aoigheachd don àireamh as àirde de luchd com-pàirt ann an deich bliadhna, a’ dol an sàs ann am farpaisean ciùil, òrain, dràma na Gàidhlig, dannsa Gàidhealach is litreachas, le daoine le gach ìre de Ghàidhlig a’ gabhail pàirt.

Thuirt Iain Moireasdan, Àrd-oifigear a’ Chomuinn Ghàidhealaich: “Tha Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail na bliadhna-sa air deagh thòiseachadh fhaighinn agus tha sinn a’ coimhead air adhart ri bhith a’ cur fàilte air an àireamh as àirde de luchd com-pàirt ann an Loch Abar am bliadhna. Tha e na thoileachas dhuinn a bhith air ais an seo às deidh deich bliadhnaichean fada, agud tha sinn a’ toirt taing don choimhearsnachd ionadail airson an fhàilte chridheil a tha iad a’ toirt dhuinn.

Mu thràth tha sinn air fìor chuirmean, fharpaisean agus spòrs fhaicinn aig fèis na bliadhna-sa, agus chan eil sinn air a bhith an sàs ach trì latha. Tha an còrr den Mhòd a’ gealltainn a bhith toirt dhuinn tuilleadh fharpaisean is thachartasan, gu sònraichte le cuairtean deireannach Buinn Òir a’ Chomuinn is an t-Seann Nòis, agus gan leantainn duaisean MhicShimidh is Thulaich Bhàrdainn agus Mhàiread NicDhonnchaidh nas fhaide air an t-seachdain.”