Royal National Mòd News

ROYAL NATIONAL MÒD 2021 IN INVERNESS TO HOST PRESTIGIOUS MEDAL COMPETITIONS

Published: 01 Jun 2021

An Comunn Gaidhealach have published competition syllabuses for The Royal National Mòd 2021 which will take place in a hybrid format this year from 8th to 16th October 2021. The online syllabus, similar to the one used for the online Mòd last year, will give people the opportunity to take part in this year’s Mòd by submitting videos of their performances. Age ranges and disciplines in the online syllabus have been extended this year to encourage as many participants as possible.

A number of solo singing competitions, including the An Comunn Gàidhealach Gold Medal, The Mary Lamont Traditional Gold Medal and the An Comunn Gàidhealach Silver Pendant will be held at Eden Court as well as a selected, limited number of premier junior competitions. These include the James C MacPhee Memorial Medals as well as the An Comunn Gàidhealach Silver Pendant and Traditional Medals.

Information on both the online and Eden Court syllabuses can be found at: An Comunn Gàidhealach - Royal National Mod : Mòd Air Loidhne

Mòd 2021 in Inverness will also feature premier concerts showcasing some of the leading names in traditional Gaelic music. Acclaimed Highland-based musician Lauren MacColl will perform specially commissioned music as part of The Year of Coast and Waters themed year celebration which has been rolled over to 2021 due to the pandemic.

It is anticipated also that a special concert, Ar Cànan ‘s ar Ceòl will showcase the depth of musical talent in the Highlands. As a response to any on-going restrictions on audience capacities, it is hoped that many of these events will be streamed online for audiences to enjoy across the globe.

Although there will be no customary choral competitions this year due to choirs having been unable to come together to practise and prepare in the normal manner, An Comunn Gàidhealach are liaising with choirs, through The Association of Gaelic Choirs, as to how best to deliver a live event in Inverness which will celebrate Gaelic choral singing. Plans for this are at an early stage and with discussions ongoing.

An Comunn Gàidhealach Chief Executive, James Graham, said, “We appreciate the challenging circumstances we still find ourselves in, but we are extremely hopeful that competitors and audiences will be able to enjoy a live experience in Inverness this year, albeit different from the conventional format. We are pleased to be able to retain and capitalise on the benefits of the online aspect of the Virtual Mòd as it gives people across the world the opportunity to take part in the event.

We have been working very closely with our colleagues at Eden Court to plan the live element to this year’s event and we are excited to explore possibilities for this year’s event in Inverness. We are also extremely grateful to all our funders and wish to thank the leaders and officers at The Highland Council for their support to us in welcoming the Royal National Mòd back to the Highlands this year.”

Councillor Calum Munro, Chair of the Gaelic Committee said, “I’m delighted to confirm that the 2021 Royal National Mòd will take place in the Capital of the Highlands and the support of the Highland Council
is crucial to its success. The linguistic, cultural, and economic input of the Mòd is important to the Inverness and surrounding area particularly during the pandemic.

We are adhering to the Government guidelines in relation to the pandemic, therefore the Mòd will continue to develop both in a virtual and face to face format.

The Mòd will be a great platform for people of all ages to participate in events whether online or in the traditional manner.

Due to the pandemic An Comunn Gàidealach are developing a hybrid Mòd and Fringe events some of which will be held virtually online this allows for world-wide audiences to both view and participate in the
events.

I also wish to highlight that images of the Capital of the Highlands and surrounding areas will be viewed across the globe due to online broadcasting and social media platforms, therefore promoting and marketing the area as a ‘home’ for Gaelic and its associated culture.”

He continued, “I wish to take this opportunity to thank An Comunn Gàidhealach, the Local Committee and all the participants as it is a challenging time for organisations who are striving to organise quality key cultural events during these unprecedented times. On behalf of the Highland Council, I wish An Comunn Gàidhealach every success.”

Shona MacLennan, Head of Bòrd na Gàidhlig said, “An Comunn are one of Bòrd na Gàidhlig’s main delivery partners and we welcome the news that some competitions will go ahead this year in Inverness and that there’ll be an opportunity for the Gaelic community a come together again. The organisation has dealt with the challenge Covid professionally and competently and we commend An Comunn for their work in the past year.

An Comunn Gàidhealach will publish a full programme of events for this year’s Mòd when more details are confirmed, and planning has progressed.

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