Glasgow gears up for Mòd
Hundreds of people across Argyll and Bute will be looking out their best outfits this week in preparation for the Royal National Mòd, which starts tomorrow night.
This year’s festival of all things Gaelic is being held in Glasgow and will run from Friday October 11 until Saturday October 19.
And with the event being held in Scotland’s biggest city, there are a record number of entrants.
James Graham, Mòd manager, said: ‘The competitor numbers are up this year. They are the highest we have had in recent years. Our last highest [recent] record was in Lochaber in 2017 and Glasgow is up on that.
‘It is a bit different in the fact that it is the first urban Mòd. Usually we go to small towns. With that it brings opportunities for us to do stuff. The facilities are second to none. The concert hall, for example, is a readymade venue – it is brilliant.’
Despite being in a big city, people will still be able to visit the venues by foot.
James added: ‘All the venues are in a small footprint. It is in the centre of the town to try and create an atmosphere.’
The Glasgow Mòd is also trying to target a new audience: People who might not have heard of the Mòd before or are not involved in the Gaelic culture. In a bid to help with this, there will be a free opening concert tomorrow night (Friday October 11) in George Square, starting at 8.30pm, so people can see what the Mòd is all about.
Writing in this year’s official programme, Dòmhnall-Iain MacIlleDhiunn, convener of the local Glasgow Mòd committee, said: ‘There is a longheld relationship between Glasgow and An Comunn Gàidhealach, which goes back to the origins of the organisation, when a choir from St Columba’s Gaelic Church were asked to sing at a concert in Oban at the first Mòd.’
Dòmhnall-Iain said that in the 29 years since the Mòd was in Glasgow, Gaelic had grown inexorably.
He added: ‘This is a Mòd for the people. Whether you are a Gaelic speaker or not, we hope that you find something special within the scheduled events that have been produced.’
An Comunn Gàidhealach president Allan Campbell wished everyone an enjoyable and stimulating week.
He added: ‘Much has changed since the National Mòd was last held in the City of the Gaels – in Govan in 1990 – and isn’t it a particular cause for pride that Gaelic now enjoys greater status and political support than it had then.
‘Glasgow’s great reputation for hospitality will ensure that you will have a very warm welcome at the 2019 Royal National Mòd.’