In just a week’s time the world’s biggest celebration of Gaelic language and music, the Royal National Mòd, will return to the town of Paisley for the first time in a decade.
The premier Scottish cultural event will be held in the town between October 13 – 21, with thousands of visitors expected to soak up the packed programme.
Concerts, sessions, ceilidhs, competitions, talks and cultural events will take place at more than 20 venues across Paisley and its surrounding areas, including the newly refurbished Paisley Town Hall, Paisley Abbey and The Sneddon.
The Royal National Mòd celebrates Scotland’s linguistic and cultural heritage and takes place in a different town each year. Oban will take charge in 2024, before it returns to Fort William in 2025.
James Graham, chief executive cfficer of An Comunn Gàidhealach, said: “As we begin to feel the bite of autumn, that can only mean one thing for Gaels, Gaelic supporters and fans of Scottish culture and music – the return of the Royal National Mòd.
“The October break will see thousands of people of all ages enjoy all that the world’s premier Gaelic festival has to offer, including late-night pub sessions, concerts from esteemed musicians and competitions featuring singers and musicians of all ages.
“The Gaelic language continues to flourish and we would encourage people to embrace this year’s event and get involved in the many cultural goings on we have lined up across the nine days.”
The Mòd’s prestigious competition schedule will see the usual array of talent vying for the most coveted titles in Gaeldom. The Gold Medal, Traditional Gold Medal Final and Silver Pendant competitions, choirs competitions, Drama Final and Battle of the Bands will all take place throughout the week, alongside children’s and music competitions, which will all welcome competitors from across Scotland and the wider world to Paisley.
A fitting finale to the Paisley Mòd will come in the form of the much-loved Massed Choirs. Hundreds of singers in choirs across Scotland will join in solidarity when they congregate outside Paisley Town Hall on Saturday October 21, before folk-electronica powerhouse Niteworks play to a sold-out crowd inside that night.
The full programme of fringe events and the competition schedule are available now at modphaislig.com/whats-on.