New Mòd for Dingwall confirmed at national Gaelic gathering.

Published: 29 Feb 2024

Scotland’s Local Mòds are set to come together for the first time as part of Seachdain na Gàidhlig (World Gaelic Week) 2024, marking a significant milestone in the preservation and celebration of Gaelic culture, as well as the launch of a brand new Mòd in Dingwall.

The first gathering of its kind organised by An Comunn, the joint conference, entitled Local Mòds Today and In the Future, will take place on Saturday 24 February at Eden Court Theatre in Inverness. The collaborative event stands as a testament to the growing importance of Gaelic cultural activity and community engagement across the country.

Local Mòds, or Provincial Mods, play a vital role in Scottish culture as vibrant hubs where Gaelic heritage thrives. These local events provide a platform for both junior and senior competitors to showcase their talents in various disciplines such as song, poetry, dance, and music, often serving as a stepping stone for the Royal National Mòd which takes place in a different Scottish town in October each year.

World Gaelic Week provides a fitting backdrop for representatives from each Local Mòd to come together in collaboration, at a time when there is a global focus on the celebration and promotion of the language.

As well as discussions around each of Scotland’s 18 Local Mòds’ successes and challenges and how each can be regulated to a national standard in the future, and an adult singing class, the gathering will also see the launch of Mòd Iondail Inbhir Pheofharain, which translates to Dingwall Provincial Mòd. As part of the event, pupils from schools such as Dingwall, Tain, Ullapool, Gairloch and Inverness, as well as further afield, will be able to compete and learn together through Gaelic music and song.

Set to take place on Saturday 7 September 2024, the brand new local Mòd will feature a partnership between An Comunn and Fèis Rois, offering non-competitive musical activities alongside traditional competitions. This latest collaboration underlines the commitment of Gaelic organisations to work together in promoting Scotland’s rich heritage and culture in ways which are both fun and accessible for all.

Prizes for the September celebration will include a recording session at Rosecroft Studio for the Senior Pupils Solo Singing competition, generously provided by Highland Council and presented by their Gaelic Committee Member and Dingwall resident, Margaret Paterson. Fèis Rois is also donating places for pupils at their Easter Weekend Feis, offering further opportunities for engagement with Gaelic culture.

James Graham, Chief Executive Officer of An Comunn, said: “Scotland’s Local Mòds are not just stepping stones for aspiring competitors, but are also vital promoters of Gaelic culture and heritage within our communities. We’re delighted to bring these vital local groups together under one roof and hope this new event will foster a sense of unity and camaraderie among Gaelic enthusiasts and only increase buy-in to this year’s Royal National Mòd in Oban. This collective effort reflects the shared commitment to preserving and nurturing Gaelic traditions across Scotland. As a united front, we can ensure the continued flourishing of our rich Gaelic heritage for generations to come. I would also like to congratulate the team in Dingwall on the launch of their new event. It’s heartening to see Local Mòds thriving in this way and I have no doubt Gaelic speakers, learners and music lovers in the area will benefit from its activities greatly.”

Steven MacIver, Chair of Meur Inbhir Pheofharain (Dingwall Local Branch of An Comunn Gàidhealach), said: “The local committee and I are delighted to be working to re-establish the Dingwall Provincial Mòd which hasn’t taken place in about 20 years. Our main focus is to offer another platform for children, both in Gaelic-medium education and Gaelic learner education, to use the Gaelic language and develop their fluency outwith the classroom. The Mòd provides a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the rich history and culture through friendly competition and we want to provide everyone, but in particular the next generation of Gaelic speakers, this precious opportunity. It is exciting to see such support from the local community in re-establishing the local Mòd and we very much look forward to working in partnership with others to create a successful event that will continue to drive the development of the Gaelic language.”

With representatives from each of Scotland’s Local Mòds invited to attend, the Local Mòds Today and In the Future conference will also launch a new Digital Support Pack for Local Mòds. This resource will contain sample templates for committees to use when setting up or developing their Mods, as well as valuable information on An Comunn, funding, insurance, venues, adjudicators and more, facilitating the smooth organisation and operation of these vital cultural events.

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