Town set for honour after application wows organisers
The world’s biggest celebration of Gaelic culture is coming back to Paisley.
Organisers of the Royal National Mòd revealed the town will stage the world- famous event in either 2021 or 2022.
If the town wins the UK City of Culture 2021 title, it will stage the annual Mòd festival that year.
But, if Paisley, which last hosted the prestigious event in 2013, is not named UK City of Culture, either Paisley or Perth will host in 2021, with the decision made on a pointscoring system.
The place that does not host the event in 2021 will stage it the following year.
It’s the first time the Mòd’s organising body, An Comunn Gàidhealach, has announced plans for more than a single year, due to the ‘exceptional standard’ of applications by both areas.
Renfrewshire Council leader Iain Nicolson said: “We are delighted the Mòd is coming back to Paisley and we look forward to working with our friends at An Comunn Gàidhealach to deliver another successful event.
“Paisley’s central location, outstanding transport links and proven record as a major event host will make Gaelic culture accessible to new audiences.
"Our last Mòd in 2013 saw 8,000 people attend over nine days, with a great atmosphere.
“The legacy of that was to strengthen Renfrewshire’s commitment to Gaelic language development.
“We have since invested in arts programming and our annual Fèis Phàislig music event has reached around 700 schoolchildren so far.
“Should Paisley be named as UK City of Culture in 2021, that year’s Mòd will form part of an international-class cultural programme.
“Even if we are waiting another year, we will be ready to welcome Gaels from across the world, and delighted to do so.”
John Mor r ison, chief executive of An Comunn Gàidhealach, said: “The applications to host Mòd 2021 was exceptionally high, and we were particularly impressed by the two bids from Paisley and Perth.
“With each bid offering unique features, we felt it only fair to recognise their strength by offering them both the opportunity to host the Royal National Mòd — one in 2021, and the other in 2022.
“We feel that the chance to host our Royal National Mòd in the UK City of Culture would be too good an opportunity to forego, and we wish our friends in Paisley luck ahead of the final decision on the UK City of Culture title.
“Equally, we look forward to returning to the lovely city of Perth in the not too distant