Paisley vies for top festival's return

A bid to bring the world’s largest celebration of Gaelic language and culture back to Paisley has been lodged.

The town is bidding for the Royal National Mòd in four years’ time — with the town’s one previous staging of the event in 2013 being the secondlargest in the event’s history.

Renfrewshire Council has already ringfenced a budget of £185,000, plus substantial extra in-kind support to cover hosting costs, with the event expected to bring thousands of visitors and a seven-figure economic boost to the area.

Described as Scotland’s premier Gaelic festival, the Mòd provides opportunities for people to perform across a range of competitive disciplines, including Gaelic music and song, highland dancing, instrumental, drama, sport and literature.

Bid bosses believe Paisley’s central location, excellent transport links, unique venues and established major event track record will add up to another successful event.

If Paisley is named UK City of Culture 2021, the Mòd would be key to that year’s programme of events.

Paisley’s Mòd 2021 bid was handed in at the Inverness offices of event organisers An Comunn Gaidhealach yesterday by the chair of the local organising committee, Gordon MacLennan.

Gordon, who is also chief executive of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, was joined at Paisley Gilmour Street station to see the bid off by vice- chair, Provost Lorraine Cameron, members of the Renfrewshire Schools pipe band and some of top trad band Skerryvore, who are backing Paisley’s Mòd bid.

He said: “We would be absolutely thrilled if An Comun were to bring the Mòd back to Paisley in 2021.

“The last — and only — Mòd held here in 2013 attracted 8,000 people over nine days and delivered a £1.4million economic impact, and Paisley was very well received as a location by visitors from across Scotland.”

Provost Cameron said it would be fabulous for the town to welcome the event back. She added: “Renfrewshire is committed to the development of the Gaelic language, with a fivefigure annual investment in arts programming, Gaelic language plan, and more than 1,500 local people with Gaelic language skills.

“We have also invested in the next generation, with our annual Fèis Phàislig music festival having seen around 700 local young people engaged in Gaelic and traditional music.

“We want to build on that by hosting another successful Mòd whether we win the UK City of Culture title or not.”

Paisley’s bid to be UK City of Culture 2021 is part of a wider push to transform the town’s future using heritage, culture and events.

The UK Government is expected to announce the shortlist for the next stage of the competition over the summer.