Fwd: ROYAL NATIONAL MOD RETURNS TO ITS ROOTS AS FESTIVAL PROGRAMME LAUNCHES FOR 2009
Fred Riley
I thought the announcement below might be of interest to folk who
fancied a bit of Gaelic culture in October, with the Mòd being held in
Oban 9-17 October. It'll be good for the town to be hit with a dose of
Gaelic as the times I've been there it's been pretty much Gaelic-free
other than the roadsigns (I do like the place, though). Anyway, skip
through the guff from the great and the good below, saying very little
in a lot of words, and you'll come to the schedule which looks
interesting. Maybe worth a wee train trip for those of youse in the
Central Belt?
Tìoraidh an-dràsda
Fred
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Laura Duncan <Laura....@dada.co.uk>
Date: 2009/8/31
Subject: ROYAL NATIONAL MOD RETURNS TO ITS ROOTS AS FESTIVAL PROGRAMME
LAUNCHES FOR 2009
To: fred....@gmail.com
ROYAL NATIONAL MOD RETURNS TO ITS ROOTS AS FESTIVAL PROGRAMME LAUNCHES FOR 2009
Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail (The Royal National Mod), one of Scotland’s
major cultural festivals and the Gaelic community’s most eagerly
anticipated celebration of arts, music, culture and language, is set
to return home to Oban as a highlight of the national Homecoming
celebrations.
Running from Friday 9th October to Saturday 17th October, the Mòd is
set to attract both Scottish and international competitors over the
course of the week-long event and thousands of spectators are expected
to fill the town.
Philip Preston, managing director of Caledonian Macbrayne, President
of An Comunn Gaidhealach John Macleod and Mòd director Janet MacDonald
will all attend the official opening ceremony in the Corran Halls
which will feature a performance from a junior choir.
Organised by An Comunn Gàidhealach, which is the oldest and most
respected Gaelic organisation, Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail is a festival
which celebrates the Gaelic language and culture through music, dance,
drama, arts and literature. It was first held in Oban in 1892, and
since then has grown to become the second biggest festival in
Scotland.
As well as the many members of the Gaelic community who attend
regularly, the Mòd also attracts visitors and competitors from
throughout the UK, Ireland, Australia, Germany, Canada and the USA.
John Morrison, chief executive of An Comunn Gàidhealach said: “The Mòd
is hugely important to Gaelic culture both in Scotland and
internationally and we are delighted to bring the Mòd back to Oban,
the place where it all started, as a highlight of Scotland’s
Homecoming year.
“The success of the Mòd largely relies on the support we receive from
the host communities and businesses and we are hugely thankful to them
for making us so welcome.
“We are expecting a great turn out this year and hope that the
location will make it accessible for as many people as possible so
that everyone can enjoy the event.”
The Royal National Mòd is supported by EventScotland, the national
events agency, through its International Funding Programme and by
Argyll and Bute Council.
Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer at EventScotland, said: “2009
is Scotland’s year of Homecoming, a year long celebration of
Scotland’s great contributions to the world. It is also a year where
we are inviting all those with their roots in Scotland and an affinity
and love for the country to come home and celebrate with us. It is
therefore particularly appropriate that the Mod itself, an event which
plays such a vital role in preserving and promoting Scotland’s
heritage and Gaelic culture, should be coming home to Oban.
“EventScotland has supported the Royal National Mòd since 2004 and
continues to invest in the event through a period of growth and
development. In 2008, the Mòd generated nearly £2 million in economic
impact for Scotland and welcomed thousands of visitors from around the
world. We anticipate that, in this year of Homecoming, the festival
will attract record numbers to Argyll and Bute, an area of outstanding
natural beauty which will really showcase Scotland’s spectacular
scenery and warm hospitality.”
Councillor Dick Walsh, Leader of Argyll and Bute Council also welcomed
the Mòd home to Oban. “Argyll and Bute Council has been an
enthusiastic supporter of the Year of Homecoming and the Royal
National Mod is certainly one of the crowning jewels of the year long
programme of events. It is particularly fitting in this year of
Homecoming that the Royal National Mòd should return to its roots. Not
only will it be a huge economic boost for Oban but will impact on the
whole of Argyll and Bute. It will delight residents and visitors alike
and provide a showcase for the Gaelic culture.
“Argyll and Bute Council is pleased to support the Mòd and to welcome
visitors to the area.”
The competitions for the 2009 titles start in earnest with the
children’s events over Monday 12 and Tuesday 13 October. Over 1,500
children from across Scotland will compete. Disciplines include a
range of events from solo singing to choral competition and the
contest to become a Junior Prizewinner is strong.
Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 October will see the start of the hotly
contested Mòd Gold Medal and Traditional Gold Medal competitions.
Previous winners include James Graham and Kirsteen MacDonald who have
each scooped both of the coveted medals in recent years.
A range of choral events take place across the Thursday and Friday and
end with the choirs competing for the coveted Lovat & Tullibardine
Trophy and Margrat Duncan Memorial Trophy amongst others. The grand
finale is on Saturday 17 October when over 300 choir members will
gather on the waterfront in Oban for a stunning final performance to
mark the end of this year’s event.
Philip Preston, Caledonian Macbrayne's managing director said: "The
Mòd is a great occasion to celebrate Gaelic culture and to meet
friends old and new. CalMac has been the main commercial supporter of
the Royal National Mod since 2002 but this year's event in Oban will
be extra-special for everyone at CalMac.
"Oban sits at the very heart of the CalMac network and is the arrival
and departure port for many of the ferries that bring competitors and
visitors to the Mod.
"I and many of the senior management team at CalMac will be in Oban
for the Mòd, and we all hope to meet as many Mòd -goers as possible."
The majority of venues in and around Oban including scout halls,
church halls and schools will play host to the competitions with the
Corran Halls acting as the main venue for the festival.
For full festival programme and details, visit www.acgmod.org
ENDS
For media information please contact:
Julie MacSporran at DADA on 0141 222 2266 / 07989 924176 /
julie.ma...@dada.co.uk
Tracy Simpson at DADA on 0141 222 2266 / 07515 066358 /
tracy....@dada.co.uk
ROYAL NATIONAL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS – October 2009
Date Event
Friday 9 Opening ceremony
Saturday 10 Mod Shinty Cup Final
Fiddlers’ Rally
Sunday 11 Mod Church Service
Celtic Praise
Monday 12 Junior Prizewinners’ Concert
Tuesday 13 Junior Prizewinners’ Concert
Wednesday 14 Literature Awards
Gold medal
Silver Pendant Final
Ceolraidh Clarsach
Drama Finals
Thursday 15 Gold Medal Finals
Highland Dancing
Traditional Qualifying
Traditional Final
Rural Choirs Concert
Convener’s ceilidh
Friday 16 Lovat & Tullibardine
Margrat Duncan
Final Concert
Saturday 17 Mass choir/pipe band parade
Notes to Editors:
EventScotland
EventScotland, the national events agency, was established in 2002
with the aim of strengthening and promoting Scotland’s events
industry. EventScotland does this by attracting, generating and
sustaining a portfolio of world class events in Scotland.
In 2009, EventScotland launched the new national events strategy which
will lead Scotland’s events industry into and beyond 2020.
The national events strategy, Scotland: The Perfect Stage, outlines a
clear mission and vision to further establish Scotland as a world
leading event destination, to grow the industry and the expertise
within it and to deliver events which provide impact and international
profile for Scotland.
Laura Duncan
Account Executive
DADA
events | public relations | advertising | design
T: 0141 222 2266 M: 07988152261 F: 0141 223 8840
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