Royal National Mòd News

Mòd hosts non-stop activities for young Gaels and learners

Published: 14 Oct 2024

Celtic Praise

The Royal National Mòd® 2024 continues today with a host of activities and competitions primarily for young people and learners.

Children’s and junior competitions will take centre stage across a range of disciplines, from solo and choral singing to storytelling and poetry. Flagship competitions including the Open 16-18 Provost of Falkirk Medal and Boys and Girls 13-15 James C. MacPhee Memorial Medal will welcome youngsters from across Scotland, from Inverness to Skye, to put their best vocals forward.

The five best bands from the U13 Cogadh nan Còmhlan (Battle of The Bands Competitions) will perform at Argyllshire Gathering Halls this evening. The competition which showcases emerging talent on the Gaelic and traditional music scene will see the young bands vie for the top spot and recording time at a local studio. The final, alongside tomorrow night’s U19 final, will also be livestreamed for Scots at home and around the world to see.

There is also a packed schedule of engaging activities for young people and Gaelic learners running throughout this week, from digital storytelling to ceilidhs. The exciting array of events provide fantastic opportunities to immerse in Gaelic culture while attending Gaelic’s premier event.

For younger Gaelic speakers, the Sradagan Gaelic Club is offering a variety of fun and interactive activities at Oban’s Guide Hall. Running from 10am - 12 noon until Wednesday, this children’s club includes arts and crafts, parachute games, and ball games, creating a fantastic opportunity for primary school-aged children to gather, play, and practice their Gaelic.

At the Argyllshire Gathering Halls, Sruth drop-in sessions are running from 10am-12pm and 1pm-3pm today and tomorrow. This informal event offers young Gaelic speakers the chance to meet some of Gaeldom’s well-known figures and practice their language skills in a relaxed setting.

Over at Oban Youth Café from 10am-12pm today and tomorrow, the Cruth digital storytelling session invites young creatives to immerse themselves in content creation and video production. Participants will capture the vibrant spirit of the Mòd and learn new skills in digital media in the sessions run by FilmG.

Song, verse and story sessions will also come to the fore for Bookbug at Rockfield Centre’s Art Space, which also hosts an Art Session this afternoon. Last year’s Gaelic Ambassador and CBeebies ALBA presenter Linda MacLeod will also welcome youngsters for Leugh is Sinn le Linda (Read and Sing with Linda).

At 6:30pm this evening and tomorrow evening, the whole family is invited along to the Family Cèilidh at the Corran Halls. Filled with traditional Scottish music, dancing, and games, this event is perfect for families wanting to experience the joy of Gaelic culture together.

There will also be an Early Years Cèilidh taking place at the Guide Hall tomorrow at 1pm that is especially tailored for families with younger children. This session will provide a fun and gentle introduction to the traditional music and dances that form the heart of Gaelic culture.

James Graham, Chief Executive Officer of An Comunn Gàidhealach, said: “It is an incredibly exciting time to be a young Gael and the Mòd is the perfect opportunity for the next generation to embrace all that their language has to offer. Hearing young Gaelic voices raised together right across Oban is an absolute joy and there is no better way to get a full week of competitions underway. There are non-stop activities for all ages and levels on offer today and tomorrow and I would encourage children and parents to get involved and seize these wonderful opportunities.”

This year’s Royal National Mòd in Oban is supported by EventScotland, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Argyll and Bute Council, BID4Oban, The Scottish Government, Caledonian MacBrayne, BBC ALBA, Creative Scotland and SQA.

The Royal National Mòd runs in Oban until Saturday 19 October.

For more information, visit our website.

The fringe programme is available to view here.

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