It’s festival time

MÒD-FESTIVALS

Get to the heart of the West Highlands with Gaeldom’s finest From Victorian beginnings to today’s computer age, An Comunn leads the way

THE bedrock of Gaelic culture in the Highlands has to be An Comunn Gàidhealach. Founded in Oban in 1891, the organisation has been at the heart of the promoting and keeping alive of Gaelic culture through its teaching, lobbying and the famous network of Mòds. It has also developed many international links and friendships not only with other Gaelic speaking countries but around the globe. Apart from being a great social and cultural event, there is a place in the Mòds for everyone from the tiniest tots and beginners in the language to fluent Gaelic speakers. Competitions include singing, all kinds of music-making through to drama, recitation and the written word. The ‘provincial’ Mòds are smaller local events in communities throughout the Highlands and also towns and cities that have Gaelic-speaking populations. They all build towards October and the annual Royal National Mòd – a glorious event lasting for more than a week, full of the finest that Gaeldom has to offer, not to mention some very impressive parties. Those in the know make their way to Mull for its Mòd only weeks before as many of the top choirs and soloist use this as their final ‘warm-up’ performances before the big event. This year the Royal National Mòd takes place in Dunoon, from October 12-20. The provincial Mòds Lochaber, 11-12 May Uist, 25-26 May Skye, 30 May - 2 June Harris, 31 May - 1 June East Kilbride, 1-2 June Oban, 1-2 June Sutherland & Caithness (Bettyhill) 2 June Lewis, 5-8 June Glasgow, 8-9 June Perth & Angus (Aberfeldy) 8-9June Ardnamurchan, Friday 15June Inverness, 15-16 June Islay, 23 June Mull 8-9 September Mòd Loch Aillse Barra

This list was compiled with the best available information at the time of going to press. Always check the event’s own website or with the organisers; circumstances can change.