Robert’s Mòd

In an unorthodox approach, my Mòd article this week begins in the unlikely setting of sun-kissed Albufeira, Portugal.

As soon as Scotland’s premier Gaelic festival finished last Friday night, Ian Smith from Trail West and I jumped on a plane with another friend and headed for the Algarve.

We arrived at the hotel, dumped our bags and rushed out into the 25° C heat to find a bar for a refreshment or two.

As we approached the bar, Ian turned to me and said: ‘I’ve had a wonderful week at the Mòd but, my goodness, I’m glad to get away from it all and have a wee rest out in Portugal for a week.’

I agreed. We grabbed seats at a table next to a couple who were sitting on their own.

They recognised our accents and asked if we were from the Highlands, which we confirmed. ‘Did you go to the Mòd?’ said the gentleman.

‘My daughter, Julie Ann MacFadyen, won the silver pendant last week.’

It turned out Ian and I had travelled thousands of miles from Glasgow, only to sit down next to someone who wanted to talk about the Silver Pendant.

Quite a coincidence and proof, as if it were needed, that Mòd Ghlaschu really has got people talking about the Mòd all over the world.

This year, Ian saw more of the Mòd than I did. Trail West put in a huge shift all week playing in locations throughout the city including a mammoth eight-hour stint in the Park Bar on the Wednesday, which I write more about in my Glasgow Letter this week.

A real highlight appears to have been the ‘final fling’ in the Barrowlands with Trail West and Skerryvore.

I had a gig in London so, unfortunately, I missed the dance.

Ian told me what a tremendous night it was and I informed him I knew exactly what a good night it was because I spent the night in London jealously watching live footage of it on social media.

The Barrowland’s famous ballroom was bouncing for both bands and, by all accounts, it was an amazing way to finish off a historic week in Glasgow.

Congratulations to the Mòd Ghlaschu committee for doing such a great job in raising the awareness of Gaelic in Glasgow. Here’s to Inverness 2020.