Perth hands flag over to Paisley for Mòd 2023

Published: 25 Oct 2022

The Royal National Mòd 2022 closed today with voices from across the country ringing out over Perth, marking the end of the nine-day festival’s vibrant programme of cultural events and competitions.

Scotland’s premier celebration of Gaelic language and culture was held at 14 venues across Perth from the 14th – 22nd October, and closed with a Massed Choirs Event at Perth High Street and Perth Concert Hall this morning, where the Mòd flag was handed over to Paisley, hosts of the Mòd 2023.

Throughout the course of the nine-day event, around 2,100 participants, including towns and villages across Scotland and as far away as Germany, took part in a total of 200 competitions.

Around 7,000 people are estimated to have visited Perth for the festival and it’s thought to have contributed around £1 million to the local economy. Thousands of people from around the globe, including the United States, also tuned in to watch selected Mòd events online.

This year saw a return to form for the Mòd following two years of disruption, with events held online and in a hybrid format in 2020 and 2021. The beloved Choir Competitions were held in person for the first time since 2019, and festival goers were able to enjoy a varied programme of fringe events alongside the flagship competitions and a range of new events including Battle of the Bands and a TikTok competition.

Yesterday saw another round of Choir Competitions – in the Area Choirs, Cumbernauld Gaelic Choir won the Puirt-à-beul competition, while it was an impressive and emotional win for Oban Gaelic Choir, conducted by Sileas Sinclair, who took home the Lovat and Tullibardine Shield. After entering the competition for the first time, Black Isle Gaelic Choir, conducted by Kirtseen Maclennan, won the Margaret Duncan Memorial Trophy. Argyll’s Atomic Piseag won the Area Choir Ladies’ competition.

Sileas Sinclair said: “I’m a bit stunned and speechless by the win and just so pleased for and proud of the choir who have worked so hard to prepare for the Mòd. For me personally, my family has always been involved in the choir, my father and my grandparents, so it just means so much.”

Kirtseen Maclennan said: “We’re absolutely overwhelmed and couldn’t be happier to have won. The choir has worked so hard through the challenges of the pandemic. This is the first time we’ve entered this competition, we’re a new choir, formed just after lockdown and in our first competitive Mòd have lifted the beautiful Margaret Duncan Memorial Trophy. This is especially poignant as this was the first trophy my father
Hamish Menzies won back in 1963, he was very fond of this trophy having won it multiple times, so it means a great deal to myself, my son and the rest of the choir.”

Elsewhere, Isle of Mull Gaelic Choir took first place in the Harmony Singing competition, while Badenoch was the winning Waulking Group, and Glasgow Gaelic Choir won the Men’s Choral Singing. London Choir Quartet were crowned winners of the Quartet Singing, bringing this year’s competition programme to a close.

Yesterday also brought the announcement of the winner of the first ever Highland Art Prize. Presented by the Highland Society of London, in conjunction with An Comunn Gàidhealach and Perth and Kinross Council, the competition celebrates yet another facet of Gaelic culture and Scottish life.

From a shortlist of 10 outstanding artworks selected by Islay artist and broadcaster Heather Dewar, David Page from Mull Highland Games was crowned the winner with his painting titled ‘Drift’. The award was presented by Mary Ann Kennedy at City Contemporary Art Gallery. The £1,000 prize will be shared between the winning artist and their corresponding art organisation, to help support local participation in art. David Page will also have the opportunity to present his work at an exhibition at the Briggait in Glasgow during 2023, courtesy of Wasps, a charity that provides studios and spaces to artists and creators.

Last night’s Mòd Grand Finale was a fitting final concert for the week, with one of Scotland’s biggest and best loved traditional bands, Trail West putting on an electric performance for the Perth Concert Hall crowd.

James Graham, Chief Executive Officer of An Comunn Gàidhealach, said: “What a joy it has been to have Gaels gather once again to showcase and honour our language and culture. It’s also been fantastic to be back in Perth after such a long stint - its fantastic venues, welcoming community and picturesque streets have made it a tremendous Mòd location.

“A huge thank you to everyone who makes the Mòd possible, from the hard-working volunteers to the participants and everyone who came to visit and support the event. To hear Gaelic language and music
around venues and on streets across the city all week has been incredible.

“We are looking forward to bringing our Gaelic festival of culture and song to Paisley in 2023, for the first time in a decade. The Mòd will bring a boost in culture and tourism to the town and I’m sure attendees will enjoy the beautiful surroundings and excellent hospitality Paisley has to offer.”

Perth & Kinross Council leader Councillor Grant Laing said: “The return of the Royal National Mòd to Perth had been well worth the wait and Saturday’s finale was spectacular.

“It’s been fantastic to welcome so many competitors and visitors to Perth. There has been a fantastic atmosphere in the city throughout the competition.

“Competitors and audiences have been full of praise for this year’s venues and I would like to thank all the staff and volunteers across Perth and Kinross who have made the Mòd such a success this year.”

Perth and Kinross Provost Xander McDade added: “The Mòd has been a fantastic celebration of Scotland’s Gaelic culture and a wonderful showcase of all Perth has to offer, and our own Gaelic culture and
heritage.

“It has been a fantastic eight days and I’m sure everyone who has been involved will remember it for years to come.

“I’d also like to wish Paisley all the best for hosting the Mòd next year – I am sure they will be fantastic hosts.”

Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events, said: “Perth has provided the perfect stage for this year’s Royal National Mod, and it is wonderful to see this celebration of Gaelic culture close in such spectacular fashion today with the Massed Choirs serenading the streets of the city for the 2022 finale.

“Events play an important role in our communities by allowing us all to connect, enjoy and share memorable experiences and I was delighted to see visitors from across the globe attending and participating in such numbers at this uniquely Scottish event, which has been proudly supported through EventScotland’s International Programme.”

Shona MacLennan, Ceannard, Bòrd na Gàidhlig said: “Mòd Pheairt has been a huge success – a real celebration of Gaelic language and culture. Following a difficult couple of years for everybody, these
opportunities to come together not only contribute so much to wellbeing but are also vitally important for the language. Bòrd na Gàidhlig are delighted to support the Mòd and it has been lovely to see new competitions and activities surrounding this years event. Well done to everybody who took part in the competitions and also to everybody who came to celebrate Gaelic. Congratulations to An Comunn Gàidhealach for another outstanding Mòd and to all of the people – young and old – who make the Mòd. Gaelic is for everybody and what better way to celebrate it. Bòrd na Gàidhlig look forward to Mòd Phàislig 2023. Ceud mìle
taing dhuibh uile agus meallaibh ur naidheachd le chèile.”

Renfrewshire’s Provost Lorraine Cameron said: “It’s an honour to accept the Mòd flag, signalling the return of the Royal National Mòd to Paisley in 2023, exactly ten years after it was last hosted in the town.

“The Mòd promises to be a fantastic celebration of Gaelic culture and heritage and I’m really looking forward to welcoming competitors and visitors to our area.

“Renfrewshire has a rich Gaelic history. There are currently more than 1,500 residents of Renfrewshire who speak, read or write Gaelic, and recently we welcomed the first of many children to our new Gaelic school at West Primary.

“We’ve been working hard alongside An Comunn Gàidhealach and our Local Organising Committee to prepare for the event and further details about the programme will be announced soon.”

The Royal National Mòd will be held in Paisley between 13-21 October 2023. More information is available at www.ancomunn.co.uk.

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