Royal National Mòd kicks-
15 October 2016
The Royal National Mòd has kicked off with a torchlight procession through Stornoway.
Scotland’s biggest Gaelic cultural festival is organised by An Comunn Gàidhealach, which celebrates its 125th birthday this year.
The eight day festival will see over 200 competitions and events in highland dancing, sport, literature, drama, Gaelic music and song, with Gaelic speakers of all levels competing.
As well as the competitions, this year’s fringe showcases the best of Gaelic arts and sport with events for all ages, including the Shinty Mòd Cup, Mòd football, a piping ceilidh, drama and several stunning musical performances.
During the children’s Mòd on Monday and Tuesday, young Gaels will have the chance
to enjoy their own ceilidh and take part in puppet-
As well as the music and arts, various talks and exhibitions will run throughout the Mòd marking the contributions of Lewis communities to the Great War, and a lecture from Deputy First Minister John Swinney on ‘The Place of Gaelic in a Modern Scotland.’
The opening ceremony took place at the Lewis Sports Centre, presented by the BBC’s and previous Mòd Gold Medal winner, Kirsteen MacDonald, with sensational performances from Gaelic super group Dàimh and the Mischa Macpherson Trio.
Maggie Cunningham, chair of MG Alba, opened the ceremony. Ms Cunningham is at the forefront of a campaign to persuade the BBC to extend the hours of Gaelic broadcasting.
This sentiment was bolstered by a stirring opening address from the President of An Comunn Gàidhealach, John Macleod.
The address commended developments in Gaelic-
Mr Macleod also praised the Western Isles for its ability to maintain the Gaelic language in daily use and called for the Isles to be recognised by Unesco as a World Heritage Site.
