The online entry system for this year’s Royal National Mòd is now open, An Comunn Gàidhealach has announced. Competitors wishing to take part in the 2023 event, taking place between 13-21 October 2023 in Paisley, have until midnight on Wednesday 31st May 2023 to submit their entries.
2023 will see the Gaeldom’s premiere musical and cultural event celebrating Gaelic language and culture return to Paisley for only the second time. The event was last held ten years ago in 2013 and proved to be a highly popular location among participants and audiences.
Last year’s 2022 event, held in Perth, saw the return of a full-scale Mòd following two years of disruption, with events held online and in a hybrid format in 2020 and 2021. Paisley will want to build on its successful legacy from the 2013 event by delivering another superb Mòd and having a positive effect on the town and the language in the area. The region has a rich cultural heritage of Gaelic-speaking people who migrated to Paisley in the late 18th and early 19th centuries to work in the thread-mill industry when the industry was thriving.
The full list of competitions taking place including singing, bàrdachd, instrumental, drama and Highland dancing categories can be found in the Mòd syllabuses at ancomunn.co.uk/nationalmod/syllabus and entries can be submitted at Entries
The online element remains a popular way for those wishing to take part in the event from afar and allows competitors to enter, record and upload their performances through the digital system. The online competitions and performances will be showcased via The Royal National Mòd’s social media channels as part of the event in October.
This year will also see the return of the prestigious Cogadh nan Còmhlan (Battle of the Bands) competition. Last year’s winners, BowReel, won the prize of a recording session experience with Wee Studio in Stornoway.
Outwith the syllabus, the popular TikTok competition and Sruth event will make a welcome return to the 2023 syllabus. Sruth is an event aimed at encouraging more natural conversation among young people and is a fantastic opportunity to meet and chat with some of the most well-known faces in the Gaelic world. More information on these new additions can be found at www.ancomunn.co.uk.
The senior competition syllabus will also welcome back the latest additions of a new accompanied choirs’ competition aimed at harmony singing groups consisting of between five and ten singers and a new solo singing contest, The CalMac Competition, open to adult learners.
The 2023 event will also see the return of the highly successful art exhibition coordinated by the Highland Society of London which champions creative works from across the Highlands and Islands. The exhibition will be hosted at The Briggait, Glasgow in conjunction with WASPS, a charity that provides affordable studios to artists across Scotland and will feature a special exhibition of last year’s winner, David Page from Mull.
Marina MacKay, Mòd Officer at An Comunn Gaidhealach, said: “I highly encourage anyone thinking about applying to take the plunge and submit their entry. Each year we see such a fantastic range of talent on display and Paisley 2023 will be no different. Those wishing to take part remotely can also apply online, making it accessible to all. We are so looking forward to seeing all of the amazing talent on offer at this year’s event.”
Shona MacLennan, Chief Executive Officer, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, said: “We are delighted to support the Royal National Mòd again, being held in Paisley for 2023. Its impact in increasing the use and promotion of Gaelic is invaluable, and its economic impact consistently demonstrates how important Gaelic is to the Scottish economy.”
Lorraine Cameron, Renfrewshire’s Provost, said: “I am looking forward to welcoming competitors and visitors to the area when The Royal National Mòd returns to Paisley this year, a decade since it was last hosted in the town.
“Preparations for Mòd Phàislig are well underway to showcase and celebrate the very best of Gaelic culture and heritage.”
The Royal National Mòd is supported by EventScotland, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Renfrewshire Council, EventScotland, The Scottish Government, HIE, Caledonian MacBrayne, BBC ALBA and SQA.
This year’s Mòd will take place in Paisley from 13th-21st October 2023. For full details of the Mòd 2023 online entry system and syllabuses visit ancomunn.co.uk/nationalmod/syllabus and for prescribed pieces for Mòd 2023, visit ancomunn.co.uk/store.
For more information, contact An Comunn Gàidhealach at info@ancomunn.co.uk or phone: 01851 703487.
Golden result for singers at Royal National Mòd’s Highland homecoming
It was a golden result for mens and womens Gaelic singing last night as the prestigious Traditional Gold Medal made its welcome return to the Royal National Mòd in Inverness.
Calum MacDonald of Fort William came out on top in the men’s competition, after making it through the qualifying round in the morning to be awarded the coveted gong at Eden Court Theatre last night.
The ladies competitors came from as far afield as Glasgow and Harris to be part of the event this year but it was Emma MacLeod of Scalpay who impressed with a show-stopping performance that scored highest of her competitors.
Picture shows Peter MacPherson, 23, from Inverness who lives on Skye, studying at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig won the mens Silver Pendant Final and Shona MacQueen, who is from Inverness and stays in Drumnadrochit won the ladies Silver Pendant Final at The Royal National Mòd 2021
Peter MacPherson, 23, from Inverness who lives on Skye, studying at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig won the mens Silver Pendant Final.
He said: “It feels great and quite overwhelming to have won. I’ve been working really hard and friends of mine have all been so incredibly supportive and encouraging, alongside Christine Primrose my tutor and John Joe McNeil. I feel really blessed and buzzing to see the rewards of all the hard work.
“I’ve never experience doing four songs in the one day, that was quite an experience – but brilliant. The fun of the whole festival is just great. I did Gaelic at school and really enjoyed it, my grandparents on both sides are Gaelic speakers from the Isle of Skye so I’m dedicating this to them.”
Shona MacQueen, who is from Inverness and stays in Drumnadrochit won the ladies Silver Pendant Final.
She said: “I’m so excited and I’m still in shock that I’ve won. I haven’t sang in 30 years since high school and just thought if I don’t do it now, I’ll never do it. A lot of my family members sing, many of them have won the Gold Medal so thought it was time I got myself along to the Mòd. I never felt my Gaelic was good enough but I’ve gone right back to the start and I’m just going for it. It’s so nice to have my family here and I’d like to thank the other competitors, it was lovely to meet Rena and Mary, they did so well, as well as everyone at the local Mòd, An Comunn Gaidhealach and Eden Court, I felt so looked after.”
Our Language, Our Music concert will featuring an all-star line-up of guest musicians, the Choir from Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis, the Highland’s first designated purpose-built all Gaelic school, Astar and notable fiddle player Duncan Chisholm, award-winning multi-instrumentalist Mairearad Green, Isle of Lewis piper and flautist James Duncan Mackenzie and the amazing Cànan’s Ar Cèol
House Band will get toes tapping at the Empire Theatre, Eden Court at 7.30pm. There will also be a host of up and coming musical talent as young Gaelic musicians will take to the sfor the first time.
Picture shows Joy Dunlop compering on stage
at the special Our Language, Our Music concert will feature an all-star line-up of guest musicians.
Notable fiddle player Duncan Chisholm, award-winning multi-instrumentalist Mairearad Green, Isle of Lewis piper and flautist James Duncan Mackenzie and the amazing Cànan’s Ar Cèol
House Band will get toes tapping at the Empire Theatre, Eden Court at 7.30pm. There will also be a host of up and coming musical talent as young Gaelic musicians will take to the sfor the first time.
Assembled choir ssing as The Royal National Mòd 2021 closed in style today as the sounds of singing from choirs the length and breadth of Scotland rang out across Inverness, celebrating the nine-day festival’s triumphant return.
The 129 year-old event celebrating Gaelic language and culture was held at Eden Court Theatre in Inverness from the 8th to 16th October and closed with a Massed Choirs Event at The Northern Meeting Park, where the Mòd flag was handed over to the city of Perth, hosts of the Mòd 2022.
Inverness celebrate after winning the Mòd Shinty Cup on penalties at Bught Park, Inverness during The Royal National Mòd 2021 in Inverness, Scotland, 9/10/21
Presenter Ellen MacDonald opens The Royal National Mòd 2021 in Inverness
Picture shows Black Isle Gaelic Choir performing on stage at Eden Court in Inverness, as choirs from around Scotland graced the Royal National Mòd stage once again on Thursday 14th October to the warmest of welcomes in the first of this year’s choir showcase concerts.
John Joe MacNeil, from Barra, scored highest in the mens singing to win the coveted mens Gold Medal Final at The Royal National Mòd 2021 and become a double gold medallist.
He said: “I don’t it’s quite sunk in yet, but I’m just delighted to have won the Gold Medal this year and the Traditional Gold Medal in 2017 and to be a double gold medallist. I’m particularly proud of the fact I can take that home to my island of Barra. It’s just brilliant, I was very fortunate growing up to be immersed in such a wonderful culture of Gaelic song and of Gaelic music, particularly thanks to my grandparents who were very involved in passing on stories and songs. I’m just delighted to be taking this medal home.”
In the ladies Gold Medal Final at The Royal National Mòd 2021, young singer Màiri Aisling Callan from Annathill near Coatbridge put on a show-stopping performance to claim the prestigious title at Eden Court Theatre in Inverness. A music student at Edinburgh University, Màiri’s principal study is the lever harp clarsach and her family is originally from North Uist.
She said: “It was really lovely to perform in front of a very friendly audience again. I’ve really enjoyed singing again and I’m delighted to have won. This is my first time competing in the adult competitions, having competed in the juniors previously. I was brought up listening to songs so singing in Gaelic is part of my heritage and there’s something very special about continuing the tradition. I’m lucky to have such great tutors including Savourna Stevenson and Kenna Campbell.”
For immediate release, Thursday 14th October 2021
Performers bring home gold, Clàrsach showcase and Gaelic Choirs come together in song
Singers crowned at the Gold Medal & Silver Pendant competitions and groups take to the stage at the Thursday Choirs Concert
Press images of events will be available here throughout the week
An amazing showcase of talent was on display on Wednesday, with the
Sian perform on stage at the Mòd Grand Finale, featuring Gaelic all-female vocal group Sian and five-piece country band New Tradition, made for a very special night.
The Royal National Mòd 2021 closed in style today as the sounds of singing from choirs the length and breadth of Scotland rang out across Inverness, celebrating the nine-day festival’s triumphant return.
The 129-year-old event celebrating Gaelic language and culture was held at Eden Court Theatre in Inverness from the 8th to 16th October and closed with a Massed Choirs Event at The Northern Meeting Park, where the Mòd flag was handed over to the city of Perth, hosts of the Mòd 2022.
Further information can be found in the press release below, with versions in English and Gaelic attached.
Media Release
For immediate release, Saturday 16th October
The Royal National Mòd’s return in Inverness hailed huge success as flag handed over to Perth for 2022
The prestigious eight-day event came to a close with choirs from across the country joining together in song at Inverness’ Northern Meeting Park
Press images will be available here shortly
The Royal National Mòd 2021 closed in style today as the sounds of singing from choirs the length and breadth of Scotland rang out across Inverness, celebrating the nine-day festival’s triumphant return.
The 129 year-old event celebrating Gaelic language and culture was held at Eden Court Theatre in Inverness from the 8th to 16th October and closed with a Massed Choirs Event at The Northern Meeting Park, where the Mòd flag was handed over to the city of Perth, hosts of the Mòd 2022.
After last year’s event was unable to go ahead in person, the national festival organised by An Comunn Gàidhealach took a hybrid approach this year, with performances, competitions and cultural activities in-person and online. There were 70 competitors in the live children and adult singing competitions, including the Silver Pendant, An Common Gàidhealach Gold M
Lauren MacColl (LEFT) presented her newly commissioned work, ‘An Ear / East’ at The Royal National Mòd at Eden Court in Inverness 12/10/21. The local fiddler and composer performed a piece inspired by coastal happenings and stories from around the Moray Firth as part of the celebrations for Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters and was joined by fellow musicians Mairearad Green (SECOND LEFT), Anna Massie (THIRD LEFT) and Rachel Newton (RIGHT) with songs from Arthur Cormack and Emma MacLeod and Ali Levack playing pipes. The concert also featured exciting visuals by filmmaker Zoe Paterson MacInnes.
Picture shows Maria Monk, age, from Glasgow Gaelic School winner of the Solo Singing Fluent – Girls ages 13-15 – Traditional Silver Pendant at The Royal National Mòd 2021, in Inverness, Scotland, photographed wearing her Silver Pendant prize and holding the Ann Kelly MacDonald Memorial Trophy at the River Ness on Tuesday 12th October 2021
A Paisley brewing company is set to host the first Paisley Craft Beer Festival in the heart of the town centre. On the 11th March between 1 and 9pm, Sandy and the team from Two Towns Down Brewing will host brewers from all over Scotland at the Coats Memorial Church for the festival, promising a brilliant day of fun for Paisley and the surrounding areas. Speaking to PaisleyRadio.com, Sandy said […]
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