Royal National Mod heads to the Highlands

The Highland Council and An Comunn Gàidhealach looked ahead to the Royal National Mod in Inverness next year and announced that Lochaber will host 2017 Mod.

Provost of Inverness Councillor Alex Graham and Councillor Hamish Fraser, Chair of The Highland Council’s Gaelic Implementation Group, were both present in Paisley at the 2013 National Mod to welcome the Mod back to Inverness next year and to jointly announce the venue for 2017.

Councillor Alex Graham said: “The Council is delighted that the Mod will be staged twice in the Highlands in the coming years and that is returning to the Highland Capital after 17 years. The Gaelic language is thriving in Inverness, home to a rapidly expanding Gaelic school and a place with a great Gaelic heritage. Having the Mod here will give Gaelic another boost.

“Inverness is a great venue with excellent connections, facilities, and accommodation and there will be a warm welcome for the thousands of participants and spectators who will come here. As well as enjoying the Mod they will find much to do in our City which has everything from fine riverside scenery to first-class shopping.  The 2014 Mod is one of many events taking place in the Highlands in 2014 as part of the Year of Homecoming Scotland and the Highland Homecoming, and it will provide a real showcase for the vast wealth of talent that exists in the Gaelic-speaking community and especially among our young people.”

The Council and An Comunn Gàidhealach were also delighted to announce that the 2017 Mod will take place in Lochaber. Leader of the Lochaber Area Committee, Councillor Thomas MacLennan, said: “This is great news for Lochaber, a stronghold of the Gaelic language and culture.  Those attending the Mod can be assured of a warm and friendly welcome in 2017 and I am sure it will be a great success.”

Councillor Hamish Fraser, said: “The Council is hugely supportive of the Royal National Mod.  Our Gaelic Language Plan states that we will work with An Comunn Gàidhealach to deliver a Royal National Mod in Inverness in 2014 befitting the world’s premier Gaelic cultural event, particularly given the other international events Scotland is hosting in 2014. 

"We also aim to increase the number of participants and visitors to the Mod when it is based in the Highlands, and we will work to achieve this through an active Council Mod Liaison Group which will support the Local Mod Committee. I wish both the 2014 and the 2017 National Mods every success.”

John Macleod, president of An Comunn Gàidhealach, said:  “Lochaber has proved to be a most suitable venue for the requirements of the Royal National Mod and we’re delighted to be returning to the town for 2017.”

Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail a’ tighinn chun na Gàidhealtachd

Tha Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd agus An Comunn Gàidhealach a’ coimhead air adhart ris a’ Mhòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail ann an Inbhir Nis an-ath-bhliadhna agus tha iad air ainmeachadh gum bi Mòd 2017 air aoigheachd ann an Loch Abar.

Bha Pròbhaist Inbhir Nis, An Comhairliche Ailig Greumach agus An Comhairliche Sheumais Friseal, Cathraiche Buidheann Buileachaidh na Gàidhlig aig Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd an làthair ann am Pàislig aig Mòd Nàiseanta 2013 gus fàilte a chur air a’ Mhòd air ais a dh’Inbhir Nis an-ath-bhliadhna agus gus làthair a’ Mhòid ann an 2017 ainmeachadh.

Thuirt an Comhairliche Ailig Greumach: “Tha a’ Chomhairle fìor thoilichte gum bi am Mòd stèidhichte sa Ghàidhealtachd dà thuras sna bliadhnaichean air thoiseach agus gu bheil e a’ tilleadh gu prìomh bhaile na Gàidhealtachd às dèidh seachd bliadhna deug. Tha a’ Ghàidhlig a’ soirbheachadh ann an Inbhir Nis, far a bheil sgoil Ghàidhlig a tha a’ sìor leudachadh agus tha dualchas làidir Gàidhlig co-cheangailte ris an àite. Bheir e spionnadh eile dhan Ghàidhlig am Mòd a bhith an seo.

“’S e àite sgoinneil a th’ ann an Inbhir Nis airson Mòd agus tha ceangalan-còmhdhalach, goireasan is àiteachan-fuirich air leth ann.  Bidh fàilte chridheil ro na mìltean fharpaiseach is neach-èisteachd a thig an seo.  A bharrachd air a bhith a’ gabhail tlachd às a’ Mhòd fhèin, bidh gu leòr eile ri dhèanamh sa Chathair-bhaile againn eadar seallaidhean bòidheach ri taobh na h-aibhne agus bùithtean matha.  A bharrachd air Mòd 2014, bidh tachartasan eile sa Ghàidhealtachd ann an 2014 mar phàirt de Bhliadhna Tilleadh Dhachaigh na h-Alba agus Tilleadh Dhachaigh dhan Ghàidhealtachd. Bidh cothrom ann am beairteas tàlant a tha am measg na coimhearsnachd Gàidhlig, is gu sònraichte am measg na h-òigridh, a thaisbeanadh.”

Bha a’ Chomhairle agus An Comunn Gàidhealach cuideachd moiteil ainmeachadh gum bi Mòd 2017 ann an Loch Abar. Thuirt Ceannard Comataidh Sgìre Loch Abar, An Comhairliche Tòmas MacIllinnein: “’S e fìor dheagh naidheachd a tha seo do Loch Abar far a bheil cànan is cultar na Gàidhlig cho làidir. Faodaidh iadsan a bhios a’ frithealadh a’ Mhòid a bhith cinnteach gum bi fàilte chridheil romhpa ann an 2017 agus tha mi cinnteach gum bi e soirbheachail dha-rìribh.”

Thuirt an Comhairliche Sheumais Friseal: “Tha a’ Chomhairle uabhasach fhèin taiceil dhan Mhòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail.  Tha am Plana Gàidhlig againn ag innse gun obraich sinn còmhla ris a’ Chomunn Ghàidhealach gus Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail a lìbhrigeadh a bhios aig ìre a fhreagras air prìomh thachartas cultarail Gàidhlig an t-saoghail, gu h-àraid seach gu bheil na h-uidhir de thachartasan eile air aoigheachd ann an Alba ann an 2014.  Tha sinn cuideachd ag amas air an àireamh fharpaiseach is luchd-tadhail chun a’ Mhòid àrdachadh nuair a tha e stèidhichte sa Ghàidhealtachd, agus bidh Buidheann Ceangail a’ Mhòid ag obair gu gnìomhach gus seo a choileanadh is gus taic a thoirt do Chomataidh Ionadail a’ Mhòid.  Tha mi a’ guidhe gach soirbheis do Mhòdan Nàiseanta 2014 agus 2017.”

Thuirt Iain MacLeòid, Ceann-suidhe a’ Chomuinn Ghàidhealaich: “Tha sinn air dearbhadh fhaighinn roimhe gur e àite air leth freagarrach a th’ ann an Loch Abar airson feumalachdan a’ Mhòid Nàiseanta Rìoghail agus tha sinn fìor thoilichte a bhith a’ tilleadh dhan bhaile ann an 2017.”

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